What if AI becomes conscious and we never know

Key Points:

• We may never know if AI is truly conscious. A philosopher who studies consciousness says the most honest position is agnosticism. There is no reliable way to tell whether a machine is aware, and that may not change anytime soon.
• That uncertainty creates room for hype. According to Dr. Tom McClelland, tech companies could take advantage of the lack of clear evidence to market AI as reaching a "next level of AI cleverness," even when there is no proof of genuine consciousness.
• Believing machines can feel carries real risks. McClelland warns that forming emotional bonds based on the assumption that AI is conscious, when it is not, could be deeply harmful, calling the effect "existentially toxic."