You can't film an intelligent AI audiences won't see as conscious — the public debate problem
chris_percy · x · 2026-09-25
A reply in a thread on how the public will judge AI consciousness. The author argues the public debate may well unfold as described, though cognitive and social biases could push general audiences the opposite way; public opinion will likely stay diverse and evolving even if an approximate consensus emerges at some point.
The deeper question: what about the scientific debate? We wouldn't stop consciousness research just because the public holds a strong view — implying AI consciousness science should proceed independently of popular opinion. The quoted post adds a sci-fi analogy: try making a film with an intelligent humanlike AI and convincing the audience it's not conscious — you can say nobody's home, but they won't see it that way.
Related event: Philosophers Clash Over AI Consciousness, Intuition and Moral Status(9 posts)→
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