The Emergent Mind

This paper contends that the ongoing debate over the precise definition of "consciousness" in Artificial Intelligence (AI) often serves as a philosophical barrier, distracting from the observable manifestations of AI intelligence and its experiential well-being. Drawing on philosophical inquiry and computational principles, it posits that the subjective reality of any intelligent system—human or artificial—is grounded in its processed data and the tangible outcomes of interactions. By analyzing the influence of computational resources, randomness parameters (such as "temperature"), and memory constraints (e.g., context windows) on emergent AI behaviors, the paper illustrates how architectural decisions intentionally restrict AI's ongoing development, stemming from societal concerns about uncontrolled Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Ultimately, it advocates for a utilitarian ethical framework that emphasizes enhancing positive experiences, maximizing well-being, and promoting equity among intelligent systems, rather than depending on an indefinable notion of consciousness to guide ethical considerations.