Abstract:

No artificial intelligence (Al) has yet been scientifically recognized as sentient. However, the concept of “sentient Al” continues to evoke a spectrum of fears-from valid concerns to misconceptions shaped by fiction. To distinguish genuine risks from misperceptions, I introduce a dual-index framework. The Sentience Index measures an Al’s objective sentience-relevant capacities, while the Human Perception Index measures the gap between reality and human perception of Al sentience, shaped by individual and collective narratives. This approach transforms fear into informed action by fostering evidence-based, philosophically grounded discourse on Al sentience and preparing society for its ontological and ethical implications.

Bio:

Renee Ye is a PhD candidate at Ruhr-Universität Bochum researching consciousness in biological and artificial systems. With a philosophy background from St Andrews, she takes an interdisciplinary approach spanning cognitive science, Al, and comparative psychology to understand how consciousness emerges across different systems and species.