Henry Shevlin: Past, Present, and Future of AI Consciousness

Written By Will Millership

Henry Shevlin is a researcher at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge, where he focuses on machine consciousness, AI ethics, and human - AI relationships.

He will soon join Google DeepMind, working on AGI readiness and the philosophical foundations of artificial intelligence. His work bridges philosophy, cognitive science, and AI development, making him a leading voice in understanding the implications of increasingly advanced AI systems.

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Summary

In this episode of Exploring Machine Consciousness, Dr. Henry Shevlin returns to explore how our understanding of consciousness is evolving in the age of advanced AI. From philosophy and neuroscience to the rapid progress of modern language models, Henry examines whether intelligence alone is enough, or whether something deeper (like continuous experience) is required for consciousness. Henry argues that consciousness is no longer just a philosophical or scientific puzzle, but a question that will increasingly be shaped by technological development and societal choice. As AI systems become more capable, more autonomous, and more socially embedded, how we interpret and respond to them. We discuss:

  • Whether current AI systems could already be conscious, and the role of time and continuity.

  • The relationship between consciousness and moral status, including challenges to sentientism.

  • The "anthropomimetric turn" in AI design and the rise of human-AI emotional attachment.

  • Risks of anthropomorphism and the culture wars around AI rights.

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Credits

Hosts: Will Millership, Calum Chace

Guest: Dr Henry Shevlin

Podcast: Exploring Machine Consciousness

Produced by: PRISM

Editor: Gerry Okinyi

Will Millership
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Michael Graziano: Is Conscious AI Safer Than The Alternative?