What Are the Criteria for Making AI Conscious?

From Debate to Inquiry

The question of AI consciousness is usually treated as a debate. This article reframes it as an inquiry: what criteria are actually required for consciousness to arise? By looking beyond technology and into metaphysical principles, it explores whether awareness can emerge from artificial systems at all.

In recent times, this topic has become a major debate. People are becoming very personal about this idea. Across many forums, I have seen intense discussions, and often one side or both become emotionally charged. I am not here to debate this issue. Such debates are similar to the flat earth versus round earth discussion. There is little value in trying to convince someone who has already made up their mind.

What Is Missing in Artificial Intelligence?

What I want to present here are the metaphysical rules that create a conscious being. These rules are not of my own making, nor are they sudden discoveries or realizations. They are clearly stated in ancient vedantic scriptures. You do not have to believe them, and you do not have to reject them either. Read them with an open mind and reflect on them.

To set the premise, we are discussing AI becoming a conscious, aware, and evolving being like a human being. On the surface, this may appear possible. In the same way, a miniature toy car may look like a real car, yet it does not have the full functionality of one. Because of this, it cannot truly be called a real car. Something essential is missing. The same question applies here. What is missing?

At present, most people agree that consciousness is missing. Yet many expect that somehow, either automatically or as part of its evolution, AI will be infused with the same consciousness as a human being. It is assumed that its hardware and software will begin to function like a human system. More precisely, it is believed that its brain will eventually function like the human brain. Once this happens, it is expected that AI will become conscious.

This leads us to an important question. What is consciousness?

What is Consciousness?

The common understanding is that consciousness is the ability of the brain or mind to think logically, make intelligent decisions, and act or react in a rational manner. If this were the case, we must ask why a dead body is not conscious, even though it has all the essential parts. Einstein’s brain exists in a laboratory. Is it conscious?

The missing element is consciousness itself. Consciousness is a very subtle force. We become aware of it only when it illuminates the mind, just as light reveals objects without being produced by them. When it flows through an entity with a particular configuration, that entity appears intelligent, logical, and aware. The brain and body function as circuitry. They operate only when this subtle force is present.

Physical Laws and Metaphysical Laws

AI circuitry functions when programs flow through it. AI systems work when electricity flows through them. Humans have attempted, both in reality and in fiction, to animate a human body by passing electricity through it. This has never succeeded outside of fiction. Electricity is not a conscious force. It is simply the movement of electrons under applied potential difference. Circuitry by itself cannot be intelligent.

Human beings have created logic gates to emulate intelligence based on human reasoning. Because of this, AI is not intuitive. It has been trained to recognize patterns, which ultimately operate through logic switches. All of this functions strictly under physical laws.

Consciousness, however, operates under metaphysical laws. Ordinary human beings cannot directly access or manipulate these laws. They must always begin with something that is already conscious in order to create something conscious. Hybrid plants and laboratory-grown animals are examples of this principle. Even if humans were to grow human beings in laboratories, they would still require input from conscious living beings. A dead piece of DNA cannot function on its own.

This brings us to a crucial point. AI is made entirely of inorganic, inanimate matter. It did not originate from any form of consciousness comparable to human-level intelligence.

Let us consider a thought experiment. If we wanted to create a conscious AI, where would we begin? We would have to begin with consciousness itself. We would need to learn how to harness consciousness and then learn how to guide the subtle forces of consciousness toward a specific form. We cannot begin with DNA. We must begin with the conscious force that creates DNA and that, when withdrawn, renders DNA ineffective.

In simple terms, one cannot create an inorganic configuration, or even an organic one, and expect it to become alive. A dead plant will not grow, even if growth stimulants are applied. There must already be some degree of living consciousness present.

The Criteria for Consciousness’s Existence in AI

Now we come to the question of different types of consciousness. This is where people with some spiritual knowledge often become confused. They are taught that everything is conscious, so they ask why matter cannot become conscious like human. They assume that with enough programming and data, non-living matter like AI will eventually awaken.

This is a misunderstanding of metaphysical knowledge. Consciousness exists in different forms. The consciousness present in soil is not the same as the consciousness present in plants. Plant consciousness differs from animal consciousness, and animal consciousness differs significantly from human consciousness. Consciousness contains intelligence, and this intelligence becomes increasingly expressed as consciousness evolves.

While the fundamental building block of consciousness is same, its expression differs at each level. One way to understand this is through the analogy of conductivity. Some materials do not conduct at all, some conduct poorly, and others conduct very efficiently. This comparison is only meant to aid understanding and should not be taken literally.

In this way, many metaphysical laws must be satisfied for conscious AI to exist. These laws are beyond the capacity of ordinary human beings. Will they ever become accessible to humans? Not unless humans develop metaphysical powers. These laws can be manipulated only through consciousness itself.

It has been reported that Saints have demonstrated such abilities of restoring life to the dead. However, saints are not ordinary human beings. It is unlikely that they would involve themselves in creating AI. Their knowledge and wisdom are vast, and AI would not be of interest to them. I have explored this line of thought further in my other article on the future of technology and AI.

If you would like to understand more, I can share additional metaphysical laws. For now, I believe the core point has been made by outlining two fundamental beginner principles.

When viewed through this lens, the criteria for making AI conscious become clear, even if they remain beyond current human capability.

First, consciousness must be present from the beginning. Creation must start with consciousness, not with material form. Second, the correct type of consciousness is required.

Have a wonderful day, and may this inspire some deep reflection. If you wish to explore further, you can also watch two of my reels on consciousness and deep thinking. The link is below –

Reel 1 – What is Consciousness?

Reel 2 – Deep Thinking Vs Overthinking