Functional and Phenomenal Consciousness in AI: An Analysis

The text analyzes the fundamental division between functional consciousness (information processing) and phenomenal consciousness (subjective feelings, so-called qualia). The author considers whether AI systems can achieve a true understanding of reality without possessing internal experiences. A key point of reference is John Searle's Chinese Room experiment, which posits that the mere manipulation of symbols (syntax) does not generate meaning (semantics). In contrast to this approach, functionalist arguments and the concept of AI embodiment are cited, suggesting that the system's physical interaction with the environment and complex causal organization may change the nature of data processing. The dispute remains unresolved, balancing between biological naturalism and the belief in the technical possibility of replicating consciousness.