# Will we ever have Conscious Machines?

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.14132 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.14132/

## Key facts

- Cited by 7 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 31 Mar 2020.

## Built on by (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [Known Operator Learning and Hybrid Machine Learning in Medical Imaging -- A Review of the Past, the Present, and the Future](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.04543/) (2021)
- [Neural Network based Formation of Cognitive Maps of Semantic Spaces and the Emergence of Abstract Concepts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.16062/) (2022)
- [Classification at the Accuracy Limit -- Facing the Problem of Data Ambiguity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.01922/) (2022)
- [Eight challenges in developing theory of intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.11232/) (2023)
- [Can a Machine be Conscious? Towards Universal Criteria for Machine Consciousness](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.15369/) (2024)
- [Probing for Consciousness in Machines](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.16262/) (2024)
- [ChatGPT (Feb 13 Version) is a Chinese Room](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.12411/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The question of whether artificial beings or machines could become self-aware or consciousness has been a philosophical question for centuries. The main problem is that self-awareness cannot be observed from an outside perspective and the distinction of whether something is really self-aware or merely a clever program that pretends to do so cannot be answered without access to accurate knowledge about the mechanism's inner workings. We review the current state-of-the-art regarding these developments and investigate common machine learning approaches with respect to their potential ability to become self-aware. We realise that many important algorithmic steps towards machines with a core consciousness have already been devised. For human-level intelligence, however, many additional techniques have to be discovered.