Top researchers say today's AI is not conscious
Anil Seth, Ned Block and Giulio Tononi argue in Nature that AI is not conscious and probably cannot be on silicon, according to The Decoder.
The facts
- According to The Decoder, Anil Seth, Ned Block and Giulio Tononi argue in a Nature commentary that today's AI is not conscious and probably cannot be on silicon hardware.
- They reject computational functionalism, the idea that the right computations are enough for consciousness, and call it "fatally flawed".
- They say falsely attributing consciousness to AI is far more likely than missing real consciousness, so they reject a precautionary principle and say research should assume AI is not conscious.
- The commentary responds to figures such as Richard Dawkins and Geoffrey Hinton, and cites an Anthropic study that Anthropic itself does not treat as evidence of subjective experience.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
This debate is not only philosophy. If people believe a chatbot has feelings, they trust it more, defend it and become easier to manipulate. The authors also say AI rights would make systems harder to control exactly when oversight matters most. Intelligence and awareness are different things. A tool that talks well is still a tool.
For traders
Consciousness claims can turn into marketing and policy narratives. Watch whether AI companies and regulators start using "AI welfare" language, and treat loud claims as a narrative to check, not evidence.
For builders
If you build chatbots or companions, be careful with design that makes users think the system has feelings. Expect more scrutiny of how products present AI personality, and avoid claims you cannot back up.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from The Decoder's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.