In recent years, artificial intelligence has begun to raise questions that go beyond technology itself, touching on deeply human themes such as consciousness. Several lines of research, reflected in specialized journals like the Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Consciousness, explore whether machines can do more than follow instructions—such as coordinating information, maintaining coherent internal states, or “knowing” what they are doing. To address these questions, researchers often draw on neuroscientific theories like the Global Workspace Theory and the Integrated Information Theory, using the human brain as a point of comparison.
What emerges clearly from this body of research is that today’s artificial intelligence systems are not conscious in the way humans are. While they can reproduce certain cognitive functions, they do not have subjective experiences, sensations, or self-awareness. Rather than diminishing the importance of this research, these limits help clarify the boundaries between human and machine intelligence and support a more informed ethical discussion about the future development of AI.
Author: Ms Maria Lagani, psychology graduate- Master’s student. Research Team for JUMP staff.