This robot behaves autonomously, doing the right thing at the right time to fulfil its goals. In doing so, it gives the outward impression of being an intelligent, sentient agent. Internally, its mechanisms map directly onto the predictive machinery which I’ve suggested underlies basic human experiences of embodiment and selfhood. It is a silicon beast machine. Would such a robot be conscious? The unsatisfying but honest answer is that I don’t know for sure, but probably not.
