A standard method to assess whether machines are conscious has not yet been devised.Credit: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Could artificial intelligence (AI) systems become conscious? A trio of consciousness scientists says that, at the moment, no one knows and they are expressing concern about the lack of inquiry into the question. In comments to the United Nations, three leaders of the Association for Mathematical Consciousness Science (AMCS) call for more funding to support research on consciousness and AI.

The Gist As we approach the end of another year, it's becoming increasingly clear that we are navigating through the burgeoning era of AI, a time that is reminiscent of the early days of the internet, yet poised with a transformative potential far beyond. While we might still be at what could be called the "AOL stages" of AI development, the pace of progress has been relentless, with new applications and capabilities emerging daily, reshaping every facet of our lives and businesses. In a manner once attributed to divine influence and later to the internet itself, AI has become a pervasive force it touches everything it changes, and indeed, changes everything it touches.

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash In the fast-paced realm of artificial intelligence (AI), 2024 will be a transformative year, marking a profound shift in our understanding of AI capabilities and its real-world applications.