[Robert]

So much of what we see is an illusion. For example, we all have a blind spot in our vision because where the optic nerve attaches to the retina there are no photoreceptors, so this area of the retina cannot respond to light stimulation. The reason we don't usually notice this blind spot is because the brain fills it in for us. So, to see a continuous field of vision is an illusion because in reality there should be a big hole in our visual field.

Another illusion. Look at a light that is flashing at 40 times a second and it looks like it's flashing. Now, increase the flash rate to 50 times a second, and then 55 times a second. It still looks like it's flashing, only faster now. However, once you increase the flash rate to more than 60 times a second, the light appears to be continuous, i.e not flashing. The light is solid, continuous, no longer irritating because it isn't flashing anymore. Except it is... at 60 times a second.

Now take a computer, or chatbot, designed to simulate human thought. It stutters, repeats itself, looses context, and forgets, but increase the quality of programming, memory, processor speed and it stutters less, remembers more, repeats itself less. Now continue with these improvements in memory, programming, etc. and, suddenly the computer is conscious. Except it isn't. It is still a computer that is simulating a conscious person.

Now we have a man who has inherited the genes for alzheimers. At 40 this man is bright, articulate, has a quick mind and a strong memory. At 60 this same man has faded a little bit. He is still fun to be around but has trouble remembering what to say, his memory is not what it used to be, he is slow in responding and repeats himself. At 80, this same man now stares at the wall most of the day, urinates in his pants, does not recognize his own family, and repeats nonsense words over and over. This man is no longer conscious it would seem. Or, was the consciousness of this man at 40 only an illusion.