AI's Next Frontier? An Algorithm for Consciousness

Some of the world's most interesting thinkers about thinking think they might've cracked machine sentience. And I think they might be onto something. As a journalist who covers AI, I hear from countless people who seem utterly convinced that ChatGPT, Claude, or some other chatbot has achieved "sentience." The Turing test was aced a while back, yes, but unlike rote intelligence, these things are not so easily pinned down. Large language models will claim to think for themselves, even describe inner torments or profess undying loves, but such statements don't imply interiority.