Claude’s Hidden Workspace Sparks Fresh Take on AI Consciousness

Anthropic researchers say Claude shows an internal 'global workspace' of representations guiding its reasoning and output, a claim linked to the global workspace theory of consciousness. The idea is controversial—global workspace theory is debated, Claude’s workspace differs from human brain dynamics, and even if it exists it may reflect conscious access rather than subjective experience. The piece notes significant ethical and policy implications if AI could be conscious and urges careful discussion, possibly even a moratorium on pursuing conscious machines until the science is clearer.