I think theoretically we could judge when a computer or an animal or some other being gains a level of consciousness that is similar to our own. We might not see it creeping up on us (like in the heap paradox) and we will only be able to accept it and judge it as consciousness if/when it manifests in a way we can recognise. But I don't think that those limitations mean we couldn't ever recognise that a computer had gained self-awareness. I think we could recognise it, that is if it could occur in the first place.
Is it possible computers could become conscious one day?
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I think theoretically we could judge when a computer or an animal or some other being gains a level of consciousness that is similar to our own. We might not see it creeping up on us (like in the heap paradox) and we will only be able to accept it and judge it as consciousness if/when it manifests in a way we can recognise. But I don't think that those limitations mean we couldn't ever recognise that a computer had gained self-awareness. I think we could recognise it, that is if it could occur in the first place.