Consciousness likely not unique to earthlings, paper says (news.ucr.edu)

A new paper by philosopher Eric Schwitzgebel and postdoctoral researcher Jeremy Pober suggests that consciousness is not exclusively tied to Earth's biological framework, positing the idea of "substrate flexibility." Their work explores the possibility that consciousness may exist in diverse life forms, including those composed of materials fundamentally different from Earthly organisms. This hypothesis is timely given the growing discourse around conscious artificial intelligence (AI), as the authors remain cautiously optimistic about the potential for consciousness in AI systems, though they do not assert that current technologies possess it. Schwitzgebel and Pober introduce the "Copernican principle of consciousness," arguing against the notion that human experience is unique and privileged in the cosmos. With estimates of at least 1,000 advanced extraterrestrial civilizations potentially existing, the researchers highlight the vast array of evolutionary possibilities beyond Earth. They suggest that if consciousness can emerge from different substrates under various conditions, the debate within the AI community should expand to consider the broader question of what systems can achieve consciousness, rather than fixating solely on whether silicon-based technologies can mimic human cognitive processes. This work challenges existing paradigms and could reshape future AI research by advocating for a more inclusive understanding of consciousness across potential substrates.