I don't know, but am inclined to think "no," if sentience involves anything like a sense of self-consciousness, interiority, care for the world, or existential motivation. But this is a question that is alive in our culture, an ersatz theology for the secular age. This "dialogue" between a Google Engineer and an AI is quite remarkable, the stuff of science fiction: The dialogue recalls Kierkegaard's quip about St. Anselm, when he heard that the great rationalist had prayed for days asking God to send him "proof" of his existence. "Does the loving bride in the embrace of her beloved ask for proof that he is alive and real?" Who needs ontological arguments for divine existence when you have something more immediate, a relationship?

I have two children, and they are a study in contrasts: My son works at a gym designing and building rock-climbing walls; In his spare time, he climbs them. My daughter is a Ph.D. student in immunology; In her spare time, she writes novels. My son is the sort of person you want around in a crisis, cool-headed and springing to action. Let's just say my daughter is not. My son spends money as soon as he earns it.