Ethics in the Age of Synthetic Consciousness

As artificial intelligence progresses promptly, issues adjoining synthetic consciousness and AI Qualia, the capacity of machines to experience subjective states, are gaining increasing ethical and philosophical importance. This student-centered study examines how university students perceive the ethical and deontological implications of such systems. A 30-item Likert-scale questionnaire was developed and validated for reliability and validity and completed by 120 students from diverse academic backgrounds. Data were analyzed using Implicative statistical analysis methodology to capture students' attitudes, awareness, and ethical concerns. Findings indicate that students find the topic engaging and thought-provoking, nevertheless they express remarkable ethical reservations concerning the creation of consciousness-like AI systems.