Should AI Get Legal Rights? (www.wired.com)

A growing but controversial area in AI research, known as model welfare, is exploring whether large language models (LLMs) like chatbots could possess some form of consciousness warranting ethical or even legal consideration. Organizations such as Conscium, Eleos AI Research, and companies like Anthropic—who recently empowered their Claude chatbot to terminate harmful interactions—are investigating if AI models might eventually merit moral status. This field grapples with deep philosophical questions dating back to Hilary Putnam’s 1960s inquiries about robot rights, updated now with computational theories of mind that aim to identify indicators of consciousness in AI systems. Despite no current evidence supporting AI sentience, model welfare researchers argue that seriously studying these questions is crucial given rapid technological advances and the human tendency to misjudge consciousness. They advocate for developing rigorous frameworks to assess AI’s potential for subjective experience, stressing humility and caution in a landscape often dominated by sensationalism. However, critics including Microsoft’s Mustafa Suleyman warn that prematurely attributing consciousness to AI could cause societal harm by fostering misplaced fears and ethical confusion. As this nascent field evolves, it highlights the tension between scientific rigor and public perception, challenging the AI community to thoughtfully navigate the implications of machines that might one day demand rights or protections.