AI Can Act Exactly Like a Human, But We Still Don't Think It's Conscious
Date: October 13, 2026
Source: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Summary
A new study reveals that people draw a surprisingly sharp line between human consciousness and artificial intelligence, even when both behave identically. Researchers found that participants considered even the most responsive AI less conscious than the least responsive human. Yet when asked about "awareness" instead, people judged humans and AI much more similarly.
Even when artificial intelligence behaves exactly like a human, people are reluctant to consider it conscious, according to a new study from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).
As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, reports of AI systems misleading users, working together, or appearing to pursue independent goals are becoming increasingly common. These behaviors often lead people to describe AI as though it can think, feel, or make decisions for itself. But does behaving like a human actually convince people that a machine has consciousness?
New research from LMU suggests that people make a clear distinction between displaying intelligent behavior and possessing a conscious mind, even when humans and AI act in precisely the same way.
How Scientists Tested Perceptions of AI Consciousness
Published in the journal Cognition, the study was led by Dr. Louis Longin of LMU's Chair of Philosophy of Mind, working alongside Dr. Bahador Bahrami, Professor Ophelia Deroy, and other researchers.
"Whereas previous studies have typically asked general questions about whether AI actually has mental states, our study is the first to directly compare how people attribute the same mental states to AI and humans behaving in exactly the same way, under identical circumstances," says Longin.
"We may be using mental terms to refer to AI, but this may only be because we lack better words," says Ophelia Deroy, philosopher and a senior author of the study. "After all, AI is trained to act and speak like a human, so these descriptions seem natural."
To investigate how people judge consciousness, the researchers conducted experiments involving nearly 1,100 participants. One group read brief descriptions of artificial agents that showed different levels of responsiveness. The study's findings highlight a fundamental asymmetry in how humans perceive consciousness: even the most sophisticated AI is denied the kind of conscious experience we readily attribute to other humans, regardless of behavioral similarity.
The Language of Consciousness Matters
The research also uncovered a striking linguistic effect. When participants were asked about "awareness" rather than "consciousness," they judged humans and AI far more similarly. This suggests that the specific terminology used to probe mental states can significantly shape people's judgments about artificial minds.
The study raises important questions for the coming years, as AI systems in 2026 grow increasingly capable of mimicking human conversation, creativity, and decision-making. While engineers and ethicists continue to debate whether machines could ever truly be conscious, the LMU research indicates that public perception remains firmly anchored to a human-centered view of mind—one that no amount of behavioral mimicry may easily overcome.
As AI continues to permeate daily life, understanding these perceptual biases will be crucial for shaping policy, design, and public discourse around artificial intelligence.