When Dawkins met Claude Could this AI be conscious? - UnHerd
Google DeepMind just published a paper arguing LLMs will never be conscious. Here's why that matters for your AI roadmap.
Why it matters
AI consciousness is shifting from sci-fi debate to rigorous scientific inquiry. A Google DeepMind paper making a falsifiable claim about the limits of LLM consciousness—paired with competing engineer claims—signals the field is converging on testable frameworks for machine sentience.
The key facts
5 to knowGoogle DeepMind paper: LLMs will never achieve consciousness
One engineer claims AI will reach consciousness within 15 years with a measurement scale
Debate includes Richard Dawkins and Anil Seth (neuroscientist)
Multiple outlets covering consciousness debate (UnHerd, 404 Media, Indian Defence Review, MediaPost, India Today)
Published April 30, 2026
Go to the source
Reuters Technologynews.google.com
Publisher excerpt: When Dawkins met Claude Could this AI be conscious? UnHerd Google DeepMind Paper Argues LLMs Will Never Be Conscious 404 Media One Engineer Says AI Will Reach Consciousness Within 15 Years and He Built a Scale to Prove It Indian Defence Review Anil Seth: Don't Sell Your Mind To The Machine…