Abstract:

Will artificial systems one day be able to have consciousness? Would this be human-like, or completely different? And would we even be able to determine this or would we create our own illusion of something that does not exist at all. With the AI hype of recent years, considerations of AI consciousness have also become popular again, and indeed various scientists are working on building conscious artificial systems. The article reports from a research project that approaches this topic from a technology assessment perspective. It examined which actors and networks are working on AI consciousness, what basic positions are held, what promises and what concerns are discussed. The project has produced a knowledge podcast in which experts from a wide range of disciplines (from robotics to theology) are interviewed, addressed to the interested public. The project results lead to the recommendation to classify potential AI awareness ex ante as high-risk AI. 

Key words:

Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Consciousness, Robotics, Mind, Ethics, Technology Assessment

Table of Contents:

1  Introduction

1.1  Trigger of the project

1.2  Specific Technology Assessment approach

1.3  Overview to the article

2  Conscious Artificial intelligence?

3  Research Questions on AI Consciousness

4  Methodological approach

4.1.  Actor and topic analysis

4.2.  Discourse analysis

4.3.  Empirical monitoring

4.4.  Transdisciplinary mutual referencing

4.5.  Securing and processing of results

4.6.  Involvement of other groups, citizens' dialogue

4.7.  Anthology on AI Consciousness

5.  General findings

6.  Science podcast experience

7.  Black Swan and Suffering Machines

8.  Recommendation

9  Outlook and further research

Acknowledgements

References