IAES International Journal of Artificial Intelligence (IJ-AI)
Vol 15, No 4: August 2026

Consciousness in artificial intelligence systems: an ontological approach

Andreas Yumarma (President University)
Wan Sen (President University)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Aug 2026

Abstract

The question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) systems can attain consciousness remains central ontological challenge within interdisciplinary discourse spanning AI, philosophy of mind, and cognitive neuroscience. This study investigates the metaphysical status of AI systems by interrogating the explanatory clarity of their existence and the potential emergence of subjectivity from non-biological matter. Employing an integrative methodology that combines a comprehensive literature review of scholarly texts and recent empirical findings with philosophical critical analysis, the research explores the conditions under which AI systems might be considered conscious entities. Findings suggest that the expanding societal integration of AI necessitates a re-evaluation of consciousness and cognition beyond anthropocentric parameters. The study posits a novel interpretive framework for addressing the ontological problem of AI, one that implicates future legal, moral, and interactive structures surrounding conscious non-biological agents. This conceptual repositioning invites a deeper inquiry into the criteria for recognizing, engaging with, and regulating advanced AI systems. By grounding design principles in ontological clarity, the framework offers guidance for constructing AI systems capable of reflexive processing, minimal phenomenality, and ethically aligned behavior that bridges conceptual analysis with implementation pathways.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

IJAI

Publisher

Subject

Computer Science & IT Engineering

Description

IAES International Journal of Artificial Intelligence (IJ-AI) publishes articles in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The scope covers all artificial intelligence area and its application in the following topics: neural networks; fuzzy logic; simulated biological evolution algorithms (like ...