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Will AI ever come alive, and what happens if it does? | BBC News
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July 23, 2026
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July 23, 2026
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26:15Now PlayingCould artificial intelligence one day become conscious? Or are we being distracted by science-fiction dreams while AI is already transforming the world of work right now?
In this fascinating edition of BBC AI Decoded, presenter Marc Cieslak and co-host Priya Lakhani, CEO of Century Tech, tackle one of the biggest questions in technology: will AI ever come alive, and what happens if it does?
Joining the discussion is bestselling author, digital rights activist and technology critic Cory Doctorow, whose new book The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI challenges some of the biggest claims being made about artificial intelligence. Doctorow argues that today's AI is not a conscious mind in waiting, but a powerful prediction machine surrounded by hype.
He explains his concept of the "reverse centaur", a future in which humans increasingly find themselves working as assistants to machines, rather than the other way around.
Also on the programme is Dr Ella Hafermalz, Associate Professor of Knowledge, Information and Innovation at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, who explores how AI is reshaping workplaces, organisations and the future of employment.
Together, they examine growing fears that AI could replace millions of jobs, the rise of automation across white-collar industries, and whether the technology boom is creating unprecedented opportunities or a new age of economic insecurity. The panel also explores one of the most controversial debates in artificial intelligence: if advanced AI systems ever become conscious—or what philosophers call "moral patients", would they deserve rights, protections or even a voice in society?
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