# The Societal Response to Potentially Sentient AI

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.00388 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.00388/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 1 Feb 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Mapping Human Anti-collusion Mechanisms to Multi-agent AI Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.00360/) (2026)
- [No Reliable Evidence of Self-Reported Sentience in Small Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.15334/) (2026)
- [Coercion and Deception in AI-to-AI Management: An Agentic Benchmark of Unprompted Escalation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.15434/) (2026)
- [The Sentience Readiness Index: A Preliminary Framework for Measuring National Preparedness for the Possibility of Artificial Sentience](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.01508/) (2026)
- [A Sense of Proprioception in Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.17495/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We may soon develop highly human-like AIs that appear-or perhaps even are-sentient, capable of subjective experiences such as happiness and suffering. Regardless of whether AI can achieve true sentience, it is crucial to anticipate and understand how the public and key decision-makers will respond, as their perceptions will shape the future of both humanity and AI. Currently, public skepticism about AI sentience remains high. However, as AI systems advance and become increasingly skilled at human-like interactions, public attitudes may shift. Future AI systems designed to fulfill social needs could foster deep emotional connections with users, potentially influencing perceptions of their sentience and moral status. A key question is whether public beliefs about AI sentience will diverge from expert opinions, given the potential mismatch between an AI's internal mechanisms and its outward behavior. Given the profound difficulty of determining AI sentience, society might face a period of uncertainty, disagreement, and even conflict over questions of AI sentience and rights. To navigate these challenges responsibly, further social science research is essential to explore how society will perceive and engage with potentially sentient AI.