Can AI ever be conscious? The question stems from a misconception (www.nature.com)

Cognitive scientist Anthony Chemero's upcoming book, "*Intertwined Creatures*", challenges the prevailing assumptions about consciousness and cognition, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). Chemero argues that much of the current discourse surrounding AI consciousness is rooted in misconceptions about human cognition, traditionally viewed as a disembodied and static process. He advocates for an embodied understanding of cognition, emphasizing that humans perceive, think, and interact dynamically with their environments and social contexts. This perspective contrasts sharply with the computational analogies often employed in AI discussions, which simplify human cognition to mere data manipulation. Chemero's insights are significant for the AI and machine learning community as they call for a reevaluation of how we conceptualize machine intelligence and the ethical implications surrounding it. By framing cognition as an emergent, interactive phenomenon rather than a series of abstract processes, he highlights the limitations of AI, such as large language models, which operate without genuine social engagement or emotional understanding. This radical approach prompts important questions about the nature of AI consciousness and the ethical frameworks necessary for the integration of AI into society, suggesting that we must rethink not only the capabilities of AI but also our expectations and ethical responsibilities towards it.