Rethinking Consciousness | Prof. Michael Graziano

In this episode, Michael Graziano discusses what consciousness and subjective experience are, followed by his journey toward developing Attention Schema Theory. He explains how the brain builds schematic models, controls internal processes, and how attention evolved, also touching on ADHD and what traits make a being conscious. The conversation then moves to the evolution of consciousness, theory of mind, and whether animals or AI could be conscious or deserve rights. Later, they discuss artificial neural networks, the history of AI, Professor Graziano’s current work on AI, and his views on illusionism. The episode ends with reflections on belief in a “magic” essence of consciousness, his thoughts on God, and why consciousness feels mysterious to humans.