Psychologist backs Suleyman: no scientific theory of AI consciousness, so model welfare may be a distraction

Dr_Atoosa · x · 2026-09-17

Responding to Mustafa Suleyman's essay arguing AIs are not conscious and that the model-welfare movement could make alignment and containment harder, this psychologist agrees: there is no agreed scientific theory of consciousness even for humans, no serious psychology or theory of mind for AI, yet we simultaneously worry AI might kill us, have welfare, be conscious, deserve moral consideration, and be kept safe. The author finds it refreshing for an AI leader to simply say current systems aren't conscious, model welfare is a distraction, and we should focus on humans.

Related event: Microsoft's Suleyman rails against model welfare, drawing academic support and firing at Anthropic(8 posts)→

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