There is no such thing as conscious artificial intelligence

2025
journal article
article
3
dc.abstract.enThe claim that so-called artificial intelligence (AI) can gain consciousness is on the verge of becoming mainstream. The thesis of this conceptual study is simple: There is no such thing as conscious AI. We argue that the association between consciousness and the computer algorithms used today (primarily large language models, LLMs), as well as those that would be invented in the foreseeable future, is deeply flawed. We believe that these flawed associations arise from a lack of technical knowledge and the way several new technologies (especially LLMs) work, which can create the illusion of consciousness. Moreover, we argue that the public discourse about AI is skewed by “sci-fitisation”, which involves the unsubstantiated influence of fictional content on perceptions of this technology. To justify our claim, we reveal the incoherence in the argument that several computer algorithms are treated differently from other computer algorithms despite congruent modes of operation and a reliance on binary code and semiconductors. We believe that mathematical algorithms implemented on graphics cards cannot become conscious because they lack a complex biological substrate. We emphasise that the recognition of the consciousness of LLMs on the basis of their assertions is flawed because the language usage of LLMs is strictly probabilistic. Unfortunately, because the remarkable linguistic abilities of LLMs are increasingly capable of misleading people, people may attribute imaginary qualities to LLMs. Thus, a socially dangerous phenomenon referred to as “semantic pareidolia” is reinforcing.
dc.affiliationWydział Prawa i Administracji : Katedra Socjologii Prawa
dc.affiliationSzkoła Doktorska Nauk Społecznych
dc.contributor.authorPorębski, Andrzej - 371234
dc.contributor.authorFigura, Jakub - 416837
dc.date.accession2025-10-31
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-31T07:58:23Z
dc.date.available2025-10-31T07:58:23Z
dc.date.createdat2025-10-30T15:19:03Zen
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.openaccess0
dc.description.accesstimew momencie opublikowania
dc.description.additionalStreszcz. ang. s. 1. Bibliogr. s. 10-12
dc.description.sponsorshipidubidub_yes
dc.description.versionostateczna wersja wydawcy
dc.description.volume12
dc.identifier.articleid1647
dc.identifier.doi10.1057/s41599-025-05868-8
dc.identifier.eissn2662-9992
dc.identifier.project2022/45/N/HS5/00871 , NCN
dc.identifier.projectDRC AIpl
dc.identifier.urihttps://ruj.uj.edu.pl/handle/item/564625
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-05868-8
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-05868-8.pdf
dc.languageeng
dc.language.containereng
dc.rightsUdzielam licencji. Uznanie autorstwa 4.0 Międzynarodowa
dc.rights.licenceCC-BY
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.pl
dc.share.typeotwarte czasopismo
dc.source.integratorfalse
dc.subject.enartificial intelligence
dc.subject.enAI
dc.subject.enconsciousness
dc.subject.entrustworthy AI
dc.subject.enchatbots
dc.subject.enlarge language models
dc.subject.ensci-fitisation
dc.subject.enanthropomorphism
dc.subject.enhype
dc.subject.ensemantic pareidolia
dc.subtypeArticle
dc.titleThere is no such thing as conscious artificial intelligence
dc.title.journalHumanities & Social Sciences Communications
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublicationen
dc.abstract.en
The claim that so-called artificial intelligence (AI) can gain consciousness is on the verge of becoming mainstream. The thesis of this conceptual study is simple: There is no such thing as conscious AI. We argue that the association between consciousness and the computer algorithms used today (primarily large language models, LLMs), as well as those that would be invented in the foreseeable future, is deeply flawed. We believe that these flawed associations arise from a lack of technical knowledge and the way several new technologies (especially LLMs) work, which can create the illusion of consciousness. Moreover, we argue that the public discourse about AI is skewed by “sci-fitisation”, which involves the unsubstantiated influence of fictional content on perceptions of this technology. To justify our claim, we reveal the incoherence in the argument that several computer algorithms are treated differently from other computer algorithms despite congruent modes of operation and a reliance on binary code and semiconductors. We believe that mathematical algorithms implemented on graphics cards cannot become conscious because they lack a complex biological substrate. We emphasise that the recognition of the consciousness of LLMs on the basis of their assertions is flawed because the language usage of LLMs is strictly probabilistic. Unfortunately, because the remarkable linguistic abilities of LLMs are increasingly capable of misleading people, people may attribute imaginary qualities to LLMs. Thus, a socially dangerous phenomenon referred to as “semantic pareidolia” is reinforcing.
dc.affiliation
Wydział Prawa i Administracji : Katedra Socjologii Prawa
dc.affiliation
Szkoła Doktorska Nauk Społecznych
dc.contributor.author
Porębski, Andrzej - 371234
dc.contributor.author
Figura, Jakub - 416837
dc.date.accession
2025-10-31
dc.date.accessioned
2025-10-31T07:58:23Z
dc.date.available
2025-10-31T07:58:23Z
dc.date.createdaten
2025-10-30T15:19:03Z
dc.date.issued
2025
dc.date.openaccess
0
dc.description.accesstime
w momencie opublikowania
dc.description.additional
Streszcz. ang. s. 1. Bibliogr. s. 10-12
dc.description.sponsorshipidub
idub_yes
dc.description.version
ostateczna wersja wydawcy
dc.description.volume
12
dc.identifier.articleid
1647
dc.identifier.doi
10.1057/s41599-025-05868-8
dc.identifier.eissn
2662-9992
dc.identifier.project
2022/45/N/HS5/00871 , NCN
dc.identifier.projectpl
DRC AI
dc.identifier.uri
https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/handle/item/564625
dc.identifier.weblink
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-05868-8
dc.identifier.weblink
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-05868-8.pdf
dc.language
eng
dc.language.container
eng
dc.rights
Udzielam licencji. Uznanie autorstwa 4.0 Międzynarodowa
dc.rights.licence
CC-BY
dc.rights.uri
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.pl
dc.share.type
otwarte czasopismo
dc.source.integrator
false
dc.subject.en
artificial intelligence
dc.subject.en
AI
dc.subject.en
consciousness
dc.subject.en
trustworthy AI
dc.subject.en
chatbots
dc.subject.en
large language models
dc.subject.en
sci-fitisation
dc.subject.en
anthropomorphism
dc.subject.en
hype
dc.subject.en
semantic pareidolia
dc.subtype
Article
dc.title
There is no such thing as conscious artificial intelligence
dc.title.journal
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
dc.type
JournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeen
Publication
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