Scientists sound the alarm: artificial intelligence is developing too rapidlyThe scientific community expresses serious concern about the pace of artificial intelligence development. Experts in the field of technology emphasize that the speed of progress

SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH: SCIENTISTS RAISE ALARM ABOUT THE NEW STATUS OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Consciousness is no longer an abstract philosophical concept. In the context of the rapid development of artificial intelligence and neurotechnology, an international team of researchers emphasizes the critical importance of understanding the nature of consciousness, reports the journal Frontiers in Science.

What is consciousness? It is a state in which an organism is aware of itself and the world around it. Surprisingly, even after many decades of scientific research, we still cannot precisely explain how subjective experience arises from biological processes.

"Consciousness is no longer just a philosophical category. It's a question that directly affects medicine, law, ethics, and our understanding of human existence itself," said Professor Axel Cleeremans from the Free University of Brussels, one of the authors of the work.

Modern science offers several competing hypotheses: from the global workspace theory, which explains the emergence of consciousness through the integration of information from various parts of the brain, to the integrated information theory, which asserts that a system acquires consciousness when its components interact closely.

In the new study, scientists conducted an in-depth analysis of the current state of consciousness science and considered the potential consequences if humanity manages not only to understand but also to create consciousness artificially – in AI systems or laboratory brain organoids.

According to the authors, reliable tests for consciousness are needed to determine whether a system – be it a human, animal, embryo, organoid, or AI – exhibits signs of consciousness. This will help diagnose consciousness in patients with severe brain damage or dementia, as well as understand when exactly it emerges in a fetus or in animals.

However, such discoveries will also entail profound ethical and legal consequences: if a system is recognized as conscious, society will have to answer the question – how to treat it.

"Progress in the study of consciousness will change our understanding of ourselves, of artificial intelligence, and of humanity's place in nature," noted Professor Anil Seth from the University of Sussex.

The authors warn: technologies related to AI and brain interfaces are developing faster than the science of consciousness – and this could lead to serious ethical consequences.