Consciousness and Artificial Intelligence: Can Machines Truly Think

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has reignited one of the oldest philosophical questions: can machines truly think? This paper examines the relationship between consciousness and artificial intelligence by exploring competing theories of mind, computational models of cognition, and recent developments in machine learning. It analyzes classical arguments such as the computational theory of mind and functionalism, alongside critiques including the Chinese Room argument and embodied cognition perspectives. The discussion evaluates whether current AI systems, including large language models and neural networks, demonstrate genuine understanding or merely simulate intelligent behavior. By distinguishing between intelligence, awareness, and subjective experience, the study argues that while machines can replicate complex cognitive tasks and exhibit adaptive learning, there remains insufficient evidence to claim that they possess phenomenal consciousness or self-awareness. The paper concludes that AI challenges traditional definitions of thinking but does not yet fulfill the philosophical criteria associated with conscious experience.