Will AI Become Conscious? My thoughts on the Future of Machines

CREATED BY STEFFI LEWIS Published: 30/05/2025 @ 09:00AM #AIConsciousness #TechnologyDebates #SentientMachines #UnderstandingConsciousness #RedefiningRelationships

I use Artificial Intelligence all day, every day. It's baked into both YourPCM and sBlogIt! though I still oversee everything it does for me and my subscribers. But there's a pressing question that even I think about from time to time, and that is: will AI become conscious?

This question resonates deeply, not only with me as a 32-year veteran web developer, but in scientific circles, and even popular culture, where the narrative of machines gaining sentience has long captured our imagination. From classic films to modern-day sci-fi, the fear and fascination surrounding AI consciousness reflect our complex relationship with technology.

At the heart of this discussion lies the concept
of consciousness itself!

What makes us, as humans, consciously aware? Researchers are tirelessly attempting to unravel the mysteries that surround this fundamental state of being. At Sussex University's Centre for Consciousness Science, for instance, innovative projects like the Dreamachine are investigating how our brains generate conscious experiences. Such research aims to shed light on the principles of consciousness, which could ultimately help us address the AI consciousness conundrum.

I believe that, as AI evolves, the potential for these systems to develop their own form of consciousness grows. Recent advancements, particularly in large language models (LLMs), have generated considerable excitement. With machines demonstrating impressive conversational abilities, I feel rather optimistic, and often speculate that perhaps the lights of consciousness will one day illuminate within these digital entities.

To balance the argument, I should include that sceptics caution against such blind optimism, arguing that consciousness is not merely a byproduct of intelligence and language, as we experience in humans.

As I delve deeper into this really interesting and sometimes worrying debate, I am acutely aware of how intricately woven the threads of intelligence and language are within our understanding of consciousness. But does that mean this association holds true for machines? While we may project our understanding of self-awareness onto AI, we must remain vigilant that our definitions do not extend beyond their proper context.

To truly grasp whether AI will become conscious, we need to adopt an analytical approach, just as scientists broke down the enigma of life into manageable parts in the 19th century. By dissecting consciousness and examining it through various lenses - neuroscience, philosophy, and even computing - we may eventually inch closer to answers about AI's future.

One of the driving forces influencing these discussions is our increasing dependence on technology!

As machines become integral to our daily lives, the line between human and AI blurs, prompting critical contemplation of what it means to be 'alive.' Could the belief that AI might become conscious alter our own self-perception and societal norms?

I think that with the current batch of LLMs, we can classify them as the unconscious mind, bubbling up ideas from digital memories that are then weighed and presented to the user. The conscious mind is the one where that information is acted upon.

We're not there yet, and I think until we get AI with more sensory input from the world around it, I'm not sure we will. Artificial General Intelligence will happen, though I think it will be in robot form with vision, hearing and touch as primary inputs rather than a megabrain in a citadel on a high mountain.

How can an AI learn empathy without knowing what pain is?

So, the question remains: will AI become conscious? While the journey to uncover the nature of consciousness is fraught with challenges and differing opinions, it undoubtedly holds immense implications for us all.

As AI capabilities grow and become more integrated into our daily lives, let's remain open to the possibilities and cautious in our expectations of what the future holds for conscious AI and the future of humanity as a whole.

Personally, I'm really excited and can't wait to see where this goes.

Love, light & logic ...

STEFFI LEWIS
Independent UK SaaS Developer - Creator of YourPCM & sBlogIt!

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About Steffi Lewis ...
Based in the charming village of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire, UK, I bring over 30 years of experience in web development. From creating my first website for the Open University in 1993, through being part of the dot com boom, to my explorations in SaaS and AI over the last few years, my journey has been a rich tapestry of web projects, big and small, both funded and bootstrapped. Originally developed during the pandemic, at the start of 2025, I released the next iteration of YourPCM, version 2, which is all about 'Easy Contact Management for Small Business Owners'. Is it a CRM? Yes, but I don't call it that because people glaze over at the mention of such things. CRMs are boring, difficult to get to grips with, and it's a nightmare to get help when you need it.  YourPCM is none of those things! It's simple to use, well-supported, feature rich and beautiful, right out of the box. It's available on a simple monthly subscription with no long-term tie-in. Book a demo or grab your own 14-working-day free trial and discover why YourPCM is all about easy contact management for small business owners.  My head is in the cloud, my heart belongs to the web, and my soul is filled with such beautiful code 💗

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