Public Beliefs about AI Sentience

This chapter explores the psychological foundations and social implications of public beliefs regarding sentience in artificial intelligence. As Large Language Models become integrated into everyday life, they display human-like behaviours that trigger ingrained human tendencies to attribute mental states to other agents. This chapter examines empirical research revealing that a majority of the public attributes some possibility of phenomenal consciousness to these systems, often driven by impressions of subjective experience over general cognitive competence. These beliefs subsequently influence users’ attitudes towards the systems, such as interpersonal trust and moral concern, but not their tendency to rely on them. The discussion highlights a significant divergence between intuitive public perceptions and current expert scientific views, likening the impression of machine consciousness to a persistent psychological illusion. Readers will gain insights into the factors shaping these attributions—including individual personality traits and cultural contexts—and understand why these perceptions are a crucial driver for future design, regulation, and ethical governance. By addressing the consequences of living with machines that seem alive, the chapter provides a necessary framework for navigating the evolving relationship between humans and artificial agents.