Conscious AI is “absurd” to pursue, says Microsoft AI head Mustafa Suleyman

Microsoft’s AI Chief, Mustafa Suleyman, has reportedly said that artificial intelligence cannot be conscious.

He is said to believe that AI cannot be compared to humans because AI does not feel emotions or have real experiences. He considers such research pointless and says AI systems are only simulations.

The comments come when several companies are pushing AI companions and when emotional dependence on chatbots is increasing.

Suleyman spoke at the AfroTech Conference in Houston.

He said AI or chatbots are not conscious. His comments are in line with a post he wrote in August about AI being able to “fundamentally change our sense of personhood and society.” Suleyman has supported building AI safely and responsibly. He has also described the new Copilot features as a “humanist AI.”

When asked about organisations researching conscious AI, he reportedly said, “I don't think that is work that people should be doing. If you ask the wrong question, you end up with the wrong answer. I think it's totally the wrong question.”

He is also reported to have pointed out that humans can feel physical pain and feel sad as a result, but AI cannot do that. He said AI only simulates. Since AI has no pain network, it cannot suffer. He said this is why AI should not be given rights like people.

He concluded by saying, “They're not conscious. So it would be absurd to pursue research that investigates that question, because they're not and they can't be.”