When I first thought about the relationship between consciousness and intelligence, it seemed to me that people did not differ much in their concepts of intelligence, but that consciousness was a far more difficult concept.

The big problem with intelligence seems to be measuring it and categorizing various components of it. Is creative ability more important than learning ability? Is an artist or composer more/less intelligent than a mathematician or a physicist? Are we born with it or do we acquire it? These seem to be issues that cause major disagreement, while differences over definition seem minor.

It has never occurred to me to wonder about other people being intelligent. Their behavior gives so many clues.

When it comes to perceptions and consciousness, I have no behavioral clues. Except for those who are color blind, we all agree to call this object red and that one blue, but I have no idea of what other people really see. If telepathy were possible and I could view the world through other eyes, perhaps the sky would look red and blood would look green.

Similarly, when it comes to consciousness or self awareness, I have no clues. Because I believe that I have it and other people seem similar to me in so many ways, I assume that they are conscious and self aware. I have nothing I consider behavioral clues to their consciousness, and a claim to have it is not convincing. If I were the only human in a world of incredibly capable robots, their behavior might convince me that they were intelligent. I cannot imagine how I would come to any conclusion about consciousness or self awareness.

Faced with an AI device that claimed to be self aware, is there any way I could verify or refute the claim? I could devise a lot of tests to verify or refute behavior which at least mimicked intelligence, but what test is there for self awareness?

To me, Deep Blue provides a hint of intelligence without consciousness. I do not see any direct connection between what I consider intelligent behavior and my consciousness.

I can imagine intelligence without self awareness, but not the converse. Because I can imagine it, is it possible? I think so, but my belief has little conviction.

While others disagree, I believe that consciousness or self awareness can exist in a non biological device. Therefore, it seems possible to me for an AI device to be have consciousness, but I have no idea of how to test for it.