Sentience Beyond Biology — Debate w/Dmitry Volkov, Joscha Bach, Matthew MacDougall, Murray Shanahan

What happens when biology is no longer the foundation for sentience, agency, and consciousness?

This groundbreaking panel discussion brings together some of the world’s most brilliant minds in AI, neuroscience, and philosophy to tackle humanity’s most profound questions about the future of intelligence.

Chaired by neuroscientist Patrick House, the conversation explores the boundaries of machine agency, the possibility of AI emotion, and the future of human–machine interaction.

🎙 Featured Speakers:
Joscha Bach – Cognitive Scientist, AI Researcher, Philosopher
Dmitry Volkov – Co-founder of the International Center for Consciousness Studies (ICCS), Philosopher, Entrepreneur, Founder of Social Discovery Group & EVA AI
Matthew Macdougall – Head of Surgery at Neuralink, Pioneer in Brain–Computer Interfaces
Murray Shanahan – Professor of Cognitive Robotics at Imperial College London, Scientist at DeepMind

Key Topics in This Debate:
Whether giving machines “agency” is just a useful human shortcut (The Intentional Stance).
If the deeper question is not “Is AI conscious?” but “Can it truly love?”
How modern AI is erasing the Uncanny Valley
The challenge of true individuality and creativity in AI-generated art
How human biological hardware shapes consciousness - and what this means for building sentient machines.

00:00:00 - Introduction and Presentation of Participants
00:01:18 - Can a Machine "Try"? A Story from The New Yorker
00:04:05 - The Importance of Correctly Defining Machine Consciousness
00:07:08 - A Utilitarian Approach to Understanding AI Actions
00:08:37 - Two Ways to Interpret the Word "Trying"
00:10:43 - Is it Important to Define Consciousness Correctly?
00:14:10 - Does a Sentient Machine Exist Today?
00:18:31 - Consciousness, Love, and Technical Definitions
00:26:34 - The Role of AI in the Work of a Neuralink Neurosurgeon
00:30:01 - Why are Debates on AI Consciousness Relevant Now?
00:35:31 - How the Perception of AI Has Changed with Technology
00:53:52 - How AI Influences Our Perception of Art and Human Achievement
01:06:16 - Can AI Replace Human Creativity?
01:14:25 - The Panel's Most Surprising Personal Experiences with AI
01:31:12 - What Happens to the Boundaries of the Self When Merging with Technology?
01:34:24 - Possible Negative Consequences of AI Development
01:45:21 - The Environmental Impact of AI