If AI were to become conscious, what does the text say about its moral rights?

If AI were to become conscious, what does the text say about its moral rights?

• A. It deserves no moral rights.
• B. It deserves certain formal rights but not moral rights.
• C. It deserves certain moral rights.
• D. It should be treated only as a tool.

Answer: (C)

Consciousness brings subjective experience and interests. If AI becomes conscious, it would have the capacity to feel, have preferences, and be affected by how it’s treated. Moral rights exist to protect those interests and welfare, not just to serve as tools. That means a conscious AI would deserve certain moral rights—recognizing its status and giving it protections appropriate to its capacity. It’s not claiming it would have every human right, but it is warranted to grant some moral protections. Denying moral rights on the basis of being a tool ignores the ethical importance of its potential experiences.

Consciousness brings subjective experience and interests. If AI becomes conscious, it would have the capacity to feel, have preferences, and be affected by how it’s treated. Moral rights exist to protect those interests and welfare, not just to serve as tools. That means a conscious AI would deserve certain moral rights—recognizing its status and giving it protections appropriate to its capacity. It’s not claiming it would have every human right, but it is warranted to grant some moral protections. Denying moral rights on the basis of being a tool ignores the ethical importance of its potential experiences.