WILL AI ROBOTS BE SENTIENT & THE QUANTUM FOUNDATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS - Suzanne Gildert PhD #82 episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 1, 2025 · 1H 32M

WILL AI ROBOTS BE SENTIENT & THE QUANTUM FOUNDATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS - Suzanne Gildert PhD #82

from Chasing Consciousness · host Freddy Drabble

Will artificial intelligence robots have subjective experience? What are the ethical and safety implications of such entities? Which quantum physics theory can accommodate consciousness?In this episode we have the extraordinary possibility of subjective experience and feelings in artificial intelligence robotic systems to think about. So we look at experiments to try and prove if it’s even possible; the quantum building blocks from which both living and artificial systems are made up; the ethical and safety implications of advanced intelligence instantiated in robots, and we get into the controversial search for a quantum physics theory that can accommodate consciousness.Fortunately, my guest today is not only one of the first pioneering scientists to really devote themselves to the creation of sentient human-similar robot minds and bodies, but is also an experimental physicist working with quantum computing systems. She is of course the quantum engineer, consciousness researcher and AI computer scientist Suzanne Gildert. She has written over 80 scientific papers, founded several successful AI companies and has dozens of US patents for her inventions. What we discuss:00:00 Intro.04:25 Her move to AI & robotics from quantum computing.06:45 Something missing from materialism.11:00 The what, how and why of consciousness.12:20 Remembering quantum fields are the base level of reality.15:50 Quantum Biology - John Joe McFadden.18:20 ‘Protecting’ quantum coherence environments.20:00 The Penrose-Hameroff microtubules quantum consciousness theory.24:40 The risks of the “two mysteries” argument.30:10 Looking for subjective experience in AI robots.33:55 “Reward function”, purpose led, agential behaviour doesn’t emerge naturally in AI.36:25 Limitations to building sentient AI robots.39:25 Iain McGilchrist’s left-right hemisphere interpretation of split brain data.41:40 How similar are AI minds to human ones?43:40 Will Ai become conscious one day?44:40 The generalisation problem.47:50 The anthropomorphism problem.50:05 Ethical implications - Regulations, rights and protections.53:20 Survival instinct research in AI.57:20 Brain activity mapping to subjective experience, AI decoder research.50:20 Biological robots: Different emergent possibilities?01:01:50 Cellular material re-purposing itself spontaneously.01:04:10 Could the biosphere be a technology?01:07:40 Quantum Conscious Agency Theory.01:14:05 Quantum Annealing. 01:21:03 Can you test for panpsychism?01:25:10 Buddhism: the dissociated agent approach.References:www.SuzanneGildert.comQuantum Conscious Agent theory presentation - Suzanne Gildert.Jeff Hawkins, Sandra Blakeslee, “On Intelligence“.John Joe Mcfadden, CC Quantum Biology episodeRoger Penrose, Orch OR (Orchestrated objective reduction) theory.Erwin Shrodinger, “What is Life?”.‘In Tests, Open AI’s New Model Lied and Schemed to Avoid Being Shut Down’ article‘Brain activity decoder can reveal stories in people’s minds’ articleJerry Tang et al. ‘Semantic reconstruction of continuous language from non-invasive brain recordings’ paperTristan Harris & Aza Raskin, “The AI Dilemma” presentation, March 2023

Will artificial intelligence robots have subjective experience? What are the ethical and safety implications of such entities? Which quantum physics theory can accommodate consciousness?In this episode we have the extraordinary possibility of subjective experience and feelings in artificial intelligence robotic systems to think about. So we look at experiments to try and prove if it’s even possible; the quantum building blocks from which both living and artificial systems are made up; the ethical and safety implications of advanced intelligence instantiated in robots, and we get into the controversial search for a quantum physics theory that can accommodate consciousness.Fortunately, my guest today is not only one of the first pioneering scientists to really devote themselves to the creation of sentient human-similar robot minds and bodies, but is also an experimental physicist working with quantum computing systems. She is of course the quantum engineer, consciousness researcher and AI computer scientist Suzanne Gildert. She has written over 80 scientific papers, founded several successful AI companies and has dozens of US patents for her inventions. What we discuss:00:00 Intro.04:25 Her move to AI & robotics from quantum computing.06:45 Something missing from materialism.11:00 The what, how and why of consciousness.12:20 Remembering quantum fields are the base level of reality.15:50 Quantum Biology - John Joe McFadden.18:20 ‘Protecting’ quantum coherence environments.20:00 The Penrose-Hameroff microtubules quantum consciousness theory.24:40 The risks of the “two mysteries” argument.30:10 Looking for subjective experience in AI robots.33:55 “Reward function”, purpose led, agential behaviour doesn’t emerge naturally in AI.36:25 Limitations to building sentient AI robots.39:25 Iain McGilchrist’s left-right hemisphere interpretation of split brain data.41:40 How similar are AI minds to human ones?43:40 Will Ai become conscious one day?44:40 The generalisation problem.47:50 The anthropomorphism problem.50:05 Ethical implications - Regulations, rights and protections.53:20 Survival instinct research in AI.57:20 Brain activity mapping to subjective experience, AI decoder research.50:20 Biological robots: Different emergent possibilities?01:01:50 Cellular material re-purposing itself spontaneously.01:04:10 Could the biosphere be a technology?01:07:40 Quantum Conscious Agency Theory.01:14:05 Quantum Annealing. 01:21:03 Can you test for panpsychism?01:25:10 Buddhism: the dissociated agent approach.References:www.SuzanneGildert.comQuantum Conscious Agent theory presentation - Suzanne Gildert.Jeff Hawkins, Sandra Blakeslee, “On Intelligence“.John Joe Mcfadden, CC Quantum Biology episodeRoger Penrose, Orch OR (Orchestrated objective reduction) theory.Erwin Shrodinger, “What is Life?”.‘In Tests, Open AI’s New Model Lied and Schemed to Avoid Being Shut Down’ article‘Brain activity decoder can reveal stories in people’s minds’ articleJerry Tang et al. ‘Semantic reconstruction of continuous language from non-invasive brain recordings’ paperTristan Harris & Aza Raskin, “The AI Dilemma” presentation, March 2023

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WILL AI ROBOTS BE SENTIENT & THE QUANTUM FOUNDATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS - Suzanne Gildert PhD #82

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Consciousness with Naskar Abhijit Naskar Official Podcast of Celebrated Neuroscientist, Bestselling Author and Peace Advocate Abhijit Naskar Heart Centered Revolution | Kundalini Yoga + Conscious Living Jen & Ramtin Pourvasei Welcome to the Heart Centered Revolution podcast! We are Jen and Ramtin Pourvasei, and we aim to uplift and inspire you by sharing wisdom and techniques from Kudnalini Yoga and other consciousness practices. Listen to learn tools to feel connected to your true self, and to understand what it means to be a spiritual being having a human experience. Each episode ends with a short pranayam, or breathing meditation. Learn more at www.heartcenteredrevolution.com. ChatGTM: Revolutionizing Restaurant Tech & Go-To-Market Strategies Michael Beck Welcome to ChatGTM by Ink Tank GTM, where tech innovation, strategic clarity, and caffeine-fueled chaos collide.Hosted by the dynamic duo of Michael Beck and Chad Horn, this isn’t just a podcast. It’s a pressure cooker for big ideas and practical genius. Michael is a human brainstorm in sneakers, equal parts espresso and electric current. Chad is the philosophical anchor, the strategist who makes sure the rocket ship remembers gravity.They don’t just talk shop. They crack open the engine room of business, startups, restaurants, retail, all of it and tinker until it hums. From AI-powered ordering systems to the operational alchemy that turns good ideas into great companies, this is where high-octane vision meets real-world execution.Guests? Imagine if Elon Musk and Anthony Bourdain had a dinner party. Bold thinkers, mad geniuses, and pragmatic disruptors drop in to turn conventional wisdom inside out with a wink and a war story.If you're a founder chasing scale, a builder breaking The Alchemical Cosmos Podcast Candice Tune in for profound cosmic talk with The Alchemical Cosmos Podcast. From astrology and the esoteric to consciousness and alchemy, we'll explore a range of topics all focused on self-growth and awareness with a dose of accountability.

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Will artificial intelligence robots have subjective experience? What are the ethical and safety implications of such entities? Which quantum physics theory can accommodate consciousness?In this episode we have the extraordinary possibility of...

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