The hard problem of AI rights

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
• Neuroscience
• Ethics

Background:

• The concept of AI rights, extending moral consideration to artificial intelligence, is gaining scholarly traction.
• Current AI rights discussions often consider grounding rights in superintelligence, empathy, or consciousness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify an epistemic problem hindering the AI rights research program.
• To argue that a solution to the "Hard Problem" of consciousness is necessary for advancing AI rights.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of proposed grounds for AI rights (superintelligence, empathy, consciousness).
• Comparison of the AI rights debate with the established framework for animal rights.
• Philosophical examination of the relationship between consciousness and moral status.

Main Results:

• Appeals to superintelligence and empathy as bases for AI rights are deemed problematic.
• Consciousness is identified as the most pertinent grounding for AI rights, paralleling animal rights.
• AI rights are disanalogous to animal rights because the former requires understanding the "Hard Problem" of consciousness, which remains unsolved.

Conclusions:

• The AI rights research program is significantly impeded by the lack of a scientific or philosophical solution to the "Hard Problem" of consciousness.
• Unlike animal rights, which can proceed without fully explaining animal consciousness, AI rights necessitate understanding the "why" behind conscious experience.
• Further progress in AI rights is contingent on breakthroughs in understanding the biological and philosophical basis of subjective experience.