Guiding research
into machine consciousness

Organisations should prioritise research on understanding and assessing AI consciousness with the objectives of (i) preventing the mistreatment and suffering of conscious AI systems and (ii) understanding the benefits and risks associated with consciousness in AI systems with different capacities and functions.

Organisations should pursue a phased development approach, progressing gradually towards systems that are more likely to be conscious or are expected to undergo richer conscious experiences. Throughout this process, organisations should (i) implement strict and transparent risk and safety protocols and (ii) consult with external experts to understand the implications of their progress and decide whether and how to proceed further.

Organisations should refrain from making overconfident or misleading statements regarding their ability to understand and create conscious AI. They should acknowledge the inherent uncertainties in their work, recognise the risk of mistreating AI moral patients, and be aware of the potential impact that communication about AI consciousness can have on public perception and policy making.