Human Consciousness: AI Can’t Compute or Compete

As science continues to wrestle with the
mystery of consciousness, the intricacy of
human life points unmistakably to design

AI Scientists Acknowledge the
Complexity of Human Consciousness

by Dr. Sarah Buckland-Reynolds

The explosion of the use and development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems has brought to the fore discussions on the question of consciousness: what it is, how it arises, and whether it can be replicated in artificial systems. How these questions are answered carries immense implications, extending far beyond scientific inquiry into the realms of ethics, law, and governance.

Two recent articles published in 2025 and 2026 raise potent points from an AI systems perspective on this issue, highlighting that within secular scientific frameworks, the notion of ‘consciousness’ remains a mystery. The papers are:

On biological and artificial consciousness: A case for biological computationalism by Borjan Milinkovic and Jaan Aru, published in Neuroscience and Behavioural Reviews (February 2026)

Consciousness science: where are we, where are we going, and what if we get there? by Axel Cleeremans, Liad Mudrik, and Anil Seth, published in Frontiers in Science (October 2025)

Both papers highlight the immense complexity of human consciousness and the difficulty of defining it (let alone replicating it) in artificial systems.

Viewed through an intelligent design lens, these reflections expose a striking irony in transhumanist thought, which heralds artificial intelligence as the next stage of human evolution while something as fundamental as consciousness remains elusive. The ordinary, continuous experience of human consciousness, sustained by extraordinarily intricate biological processes and ultimately by the hand of God, stands in stark contrast to the massive energy, computation, and human ingenuity required to approximate even fragments of it artificially.

Consciousness as a Frontier Beyond Digital Systems

Milinkovic and Aru’s paper argues that consciousness goes beyond functional organization that current AI already possesses. In their words:

“We argue that the absence of consciousness in artificial systems is not merely due to missing functional organisation but reflects a deeper divide between digital and biological modes of computation and the dynamico-structural dependencies of living organisms.” (Milinkovic and Aru, 2026)

This statement highlights the profound uniqueness of biological systems. Unlike digital machines, which rely on separable, discrete computations, biological brains integrate multiscale processes inseparably. The authors emphasize that consciousness arises because biological systems instantiate “scale-inseparable, substrate-dependent multiscale processing as a metabolic optimization strategy.” In other words, consciousness goes beyond mere information processing, and is engrained in the very fabric of life, with the continuous and discrete computations interwoven in living tissue.

Massive data centers running a city’s power supply are needed by AI engines. The brain outperforms AI with just 20 watts of power.

From an intelligent design perspective, this acknowledgement is striking. The human brain does far more than merely compute; it embodies a hybrid system of discrete and continuous processes, optimized for energy efficiency. This optimization reflects intentionality. The irony is clear: while the authors acknowledge that AI systems require ever “more compute, more parameters, more energy” to approach similar capabilities, the human brain achieves consciousness with remarkable efficiency through a design that masterfully balances constraints with function. This echoes the Biblical affirmation that humans are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

The Struggle to Define Consciousness

Cleeremans, Mudrik, and Seth’s paper highlights an even more fundamental dilemma facing the AI community than mere observable gaps in complexity and efficiency when replicating biological systems. Their paper underscores the profound difficulty of even defining what ‘consciousness’ truly constitutes. In their words, “Understanding consciousness is one of the greatest scientific challenges of the 21st century, and potentially one of the most impactful for society.” (Cleeremans, Mudrik, and Seth, 2025).

The complexity of this issue is evident in the field of “consciousness science,” which has reached what the authors describe as “an uneasy stasis,” with over 200 distinct approaches to explaining consciousness, each resting on different metaphysical assumptions. This widespread lack of consensus underscores a striking irony: while many AI proponents view artificial intelligence as the next frontier of human evolution, the transhumanist dream of transcending biological limitations is still only a dream, as both papers reveal the massive gap that still exists in AI’s ability to embody true consciousness. As Milinkovic and Aru (2026) note:

“Artificial Neural Networks… are unconstrained by biological energy scarcity. In fact, their progress and success in performing more complex functions hinges on more: more compute, more parameters, more energy. The brain, by contrast, has succeeded through less.”

Cleeremans and colleagues also reflect on what they term as the contrast between “phenomenological consciousness” (subjective experiential feeling) and the inability of Large Language Models (LLMs) to qualitatively relive or immerse themselves in past experiences; unlike humans who can do so vividly.

“Phenomenal consciousness…refers to the felt qualities of conscious mental states… All such conscious mental states have phenomenal character (using the philosophical term, often referred to as ‘qualia’): there is something it is like for us to be in each of these states… there is nothing it was like for the neural network Alpha Go to win against the South Korean world Go champion Lee Sedol…Despite its seductive use of language, we think there is also nothing it is like for GPT-5 to engage in a conversation.”

Together, these authors echo each other: AI systems such as AlphaGo or GPT-5 lack any phenomenological experience. They can perform complex tasks, simulate reasoning, and generate language, but there is no subjective “something it is like” behind their operations. However, transhumanism still assumes that scaling computation will eventually yield consciousness. But based on the evidence, even if artificial consciousness were achieved, it would require massive energy and computational resources to sustain. Humans, by contrast, live conscious lives effortlessly, sustained by biological processes exquisitely designed for resilience and efficiency. This effortless reality points unmistakably to divine design.

Juxtaposing Science and Scripture

The struggle of AI developers to mimic or even define consciousness reflects the inherent limits of human reasoning when divorced from divine revelation. While numerous competing theories vie to explain it, such as Global Workspace Theory (emphasizing global accessibility of information), Higher-Order Thought theories (positing that consciousness arises when the mind not only has experiences but recognizes that it is having them), or Integrated Information Theory (which views consciousness as the degree of integrated, unified information rather than fragmented parts), none of these frameworks fully captures the lived, subjective reality of consciousness.

The Bible, however, speaks plainly: consciousness is the breath of life given by God. Genesis 2:7 declares, “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (KJV). Where science struggles with definitions, Scripture provides clarity: consciousness is not merely emergent computation but the gift of God’s Spirit animating human beings. Ecclesiastes 12:7 reminds us further: “The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (NIV). Consciousness is not a puzzle to be solved by algorithms, but a reality bestowed by the Creator. This juxtaposition also highlights the limits of human inquiry. While secular science can map neural correlates and propose competing theories, it cannot explain why consciousness exists at all. In contrast, intelligent design recognizes that consciousness is not accidental but intentional. The human ability to perceive, reflect, and worship points beyond biology to divine purpose.

Valuing Human Life as Special

In exploring what it means to be conscious, and the special complexity tied to this state of being, both papers implicitly underscore the uniqueness of human consciousness. Cleeremans and colleagues correctly note that “solving consciousness, even partially, will have profound implications across science, medicine, animal welfare, law, and technology development.” This recognition points to the ethical importance of valuing human life. If consciousness is accidental, as is posited by many evolutionary proponents of transhumanism (who ironically work tirelessly to create less intelligent systems), then human life is no more valuable than artificial simulations. But if consciousness is the gift of God, then human life is sacred. Intelligent design affirms that humans are not cosmic accidents but intentional creations. This truth carries profound implications for bioethics, law, and society, calling us to protect life at every stage, from the womb to old age, regardless of health, disability, skin tone or any other difference, because each person bears the imprint of divine consciousness.

Credit: The Image of God, by Illustra Media.

Awe at the Creator God

As the articles show, technological advances continue to uncover the profound complexities of human beings. The AI field reveals a striking irony: even to create a mildly similar prototype, an artificial system mimicking mere fragments of consciousness, requires immense intentionality, skill, and energy. How much more, then, should stand in awe of the Creator God, who fashioned human beings with effortless elegance? As Job 32:8 declares, “But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.”

From an intelligent design perspective, the struggles highlighted by secular interpretations of consciousness show that this most fundamental aspect of human existence remains elusive to purely material explanations. As science continues to uncover the intricacies of human consciousness, Scripture reminds us of its source: the breath of God. We can cherish the Biblical truth that human life is not a cosmic accident but a sacred gift. As technological advances reveal the vast intentionality required to mimic even fragments of consciousness, we are called to deeper awe of the Creator. Truly, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 147:14).

Dr. Sarah Buckland-Reynolds is a Christian, Jamaican, Environmental Science researcher, and journal associate editor. She holds the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona with high commendation, and a postgraduate specialization in Geomatics at the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. The quality of her research activity in Environmental Science has been recognized by various awards including the 2024 Editor’s Award from the American Meteorological Society for her reviewing service in the Weather, Climate and Society Journal, the 2023 L’Oreal/UNESCO Women in Science Caribbean Award, the 2023 ICETEX International Experts Exchange Award for study in Colombia. and with her PhD research in drought management also being shortlisted in the top 10 globally for the 2023 Allianz Climate Risk Award by Munich Re Insurance, Germany. Motivated by her faith in God and zeal to positively influence society, Dr. Buckland-Reynolds is also the founder and Principal Director of Chosen to G.L.O.W. Ministries, a Jamaican charitable organization which seeks to amplify the Christian voice in the public sphere and equip more youths to know how to defend their faith.