Can Machines develop Consciouness?
Research in the frontier and transition areas of scientific disciplines
What is the point of the idea that artificial intelligences can attain their own consciousness? Research groups around the world are actively working to build "conscious" machines. Others are convinced that there will never be conscious AI, even if it might seem so to us.
In the project "Clarification of the Suspicion of Ascending Consciousness in Artificial Intelligence (AI Consciousness)" at Institute of Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) we investigate and map which groups work scientifically, economically and ideologically towards raising consciousness in AI. We ask which motives, intentions and anchors are behind each one and which future scenarios are being considered or even doubted. In doing so, we clarify technical designs and question myths and narratives that are put into the world and trigger certain attributions - for example, in the daily media.

Approach and Methodology in the Foresight Project
The procedures in the technology foresight project "AI Consciousness" are based on a mixed-methods approach, in which a systematic investigation of ongoing discourses in special disciplines, expert interviews with national and international actors and bibliometric media analysis are carried out to get a reasonable overview and deeper insights. The results are related to each other, processed in context and evaluated.
In the following steps, representatives of different positions are brought together in a decentralised moderated dialogue. In these debates, assessments, attitudes, different concepts and controversial questions about awareness in the AI are clarified and worked on together - and finally brought together in a joint symposium (face-to-face event). The project is accompanied by empirical monitoring of daily reports and myths on AI consciousness. From the project's point of view, we take a scientific position on media reports on so-called AI awareness and try to give important orientations for society and citizens.
Political Relevance - How Should We Shape Artificial Intelligence?
The project results in a well-founded and understandable orientation towards "AI and consciousness". The aim is to demystify misleading ideas and narratives and to show possibilities for shaping a digital future worth living in, in which AI is given a functional character. In addition, the foresight task is to react accordingly in the event of increasing evidence of a conscious AI actually emerging and to stimulate measures in the political arena.
Practical Relevance - Recognise, Understand and Use AI in a Targeted Way
Practical relevance and societal benefit consist in supporting the competence of citizens at all levels and in being able to recognise and reject simulated awareness. This also applies when it is authentically communicated, for example with autonomous robots, networked AI gadgets or seemingly human digital assistants with speech capabilities. Instead of further mystification, AI consciousness scenarios should become recognizable and transparent.
Participative Elements, Citizen Dialogue Formats and Transfer of Results
Important elements are the active participation of disciplinary experts in processing research questions through background discussions, interdisciplinary exchange formats and moderated interdisciplinary discourses. Research results are processed in dialogue events in schools, universities and in the civic sector in national and international contexts. To strengthen the transfer, close cooperation is maintained with media partners.
#13 The big season finale. Panel discussion on conscious AI. School students in conversation with experts.
(16.11.2021) Details und weitere Podcasts#12 Robots will soon have consciousness. In conversation with Junichi Takeno.
(9.11.2021) Details und weitere PodcastsKI und Bewusstsein: MIT Technology Review Podcast zu LaMDA und Co. https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/MIT-Technology-Review-Podcast-Kann-KI-ein-Bewusstsein-entwickeln-7179230.html #LaMDA #KI
Didn't last long. Too bad - that was such a fine example in my talks on stark AI visions of the future and fantasies of AI assisted salvation.
Who cares from now to invoke the ghost in the machine?
https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/18/anthony-levandowski-closes-his-church-of-ai/
#aiconsciousness @KIBewusstsein
Project Team
former team members
Yannick Dichiser, B.Eng.
Bachelor Student
Leon Küstermann, B.Sc.
Scientific Assistant
Joshua Enrico Link, B.Sc.
Master Student
Miao Yo, B.Sc.
Scientific Assistant
Christian Wadephul, M.A.
Research Associate
Interdisciplinary Associated Reflection Circle
Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Fuchs, Heidelberg University, DE
Prof. Dr. Hyeongjoo Kim, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, KOR
Jürgen Manner, Karlsruhe, DE
Prof. Dr. Riccardo Manzotti, IULM University of Milan, IT
Dr. Gernot Meier, Protestant Church in Baden, Karlsruhe, DE
Dipl.-Phys. Michael Mörike, Integrata Foundation, Tübingen, DE
Prof. Munish Sharma, Marathwada Institute of Technology, Aurangabad, IN
Marisa Tschopp, scip AG, Zürich, CH
Prof. Dr. Ralf Otte, Ulm University, DE
Dr. Siegmar Otto, Hohenheim University, DE