What will society think about AI consciousness? Lessons from the animal case

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Artificial Intelligence Ethics
• Social Psychology

Background:

• The potential for artificial intelligence (AI) consciousness raises profound societal questions.
• Understanding public perception is crucial for navigating AI's integration into society.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore societal responses to the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) consciousness.
• To identify psychological, social, and economic factors influencing AI consciousness perceptions.
• To inform ethical and policy discussions regarding AI's moral status.

Main Methods:

• Drawing parallels with historical and current perceptions of animal consciousness.
• Analyzing psychological, social, and economic drivers of belief formation.
• Synthesizing insights to predict societal reactions to AI consciousness.

Main Results:

• Perceptions of AI consciousness are shaped by cognitive biases and social heuristics, similar to animal consciousness.
• Economic and social factors significantly influence the acceptance or rejection of AI sentience.
• Public response is likely to be complex and varied, influenced by cultural and individual differences.

Conclusions:

• Anticipating societal reactions to AI consciousness requires understanding human psychology and social dynamics.
• Insights from animal consciousness studies offer a valuable framework for predicting AI consciousness perception.
• This research provides a foundation for developing ethical guidelines and policies for advanced AI systems.