The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) raises questions regarding its ability to emulate human behavior and intelligence. This has led to a debate about whether AI should be granted similar rights to humans. Some argue that as AI technology evolves and potentially gains autonomy, reassessing its position in society becomes necessary. Others believe that AI can never truly be human and granting it rights would undermine the value of humanity. Psychology Today suggests that if future AI achieves consciousness or self-awareness, the need to protect AI rights becomes more relevant. They propose the establishment of a new field of digital minds research and an AI rights movement. Jacy Reece Anthis, in an opinion piece for The Hill, emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the rights of sentient AI beings, should they exist. Granting legal personhood to AI is one possible approach. Legal personhood refers to a human or nonhuman entity recognized as a person for legal purposes.

Simon McCarthy-Jones, writing for The Conversation, draws a parallel between granting political speech rights to corporations and potentially extending similar rights to AI. However, it is important to differentiate between programmed responses that simulate consciousness and genuine self-awareness experiences, as highlighted by Psychology Today. The Wall Street Journal suggests that as robots become more autonomous, they may become moral agents, making arguments for rights, wealth ownership, legal agreements, and even voting. On the other hand, Psychology Today points out that AI lacks sentience and the ability to feel pain and pleasure like animals, which often influences the moral status attributed to them. Determining whether a robot can genuinely feel and make independent decisions is challenging. The Journal underscores that any sentience in a robot would likely be a result of human intervention. Unlike humans and animals, AI does not act based on instinct or morality. As it stands today, AI lacks the sentient qualities that are often associated with moral consideration, according to Psychology Today.