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Can consciousness be replicated? The question that may define the future of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence has reached a level where systems can write essays, solve complex mathematical problems, create realistic images, and engage in conversations that seem surprisingly human. However, one question remains unanswered:
Can a machine ever become conscious?
Despite the extraordinary advances in AI, science still does not know exactly what consciousness is. And until its origin is understood, it is impossible to say with certainty whether it can be built, simulated, or emerge spontaneously in an artificial system.
"The hard problem" of consciousness
Australian philosopher David Chalmers divided the study of consciousness into two categories.
So-called "easy problems" relate to explaining how the brain processes information, stores memory, recognizes faces, or controls movements. These are major scientific challenges, but in principle, they can be studied and measured.
While "the hard problem" is entirely different:
Why is information processing accompanied by subjective experience?
Why do we not only process information but also experience the color red, pain, joy, or the very feeling of being conscious?
So far, no theory has managed to explain this phenomenon.
What makes a human conscious?
Most researchers agree that consciousness involves several key elements:
- Awareness of oneself and the surrounding environment.- Integration of information from different senses.- Memory and continuity of experience over time.- Attention and the ability to make flexible decisions.- Subjective experience, or what philosophers call qualia.
Modern AI systems demonstrate some of these abilities, such as processing large amounts of information and maintaining context during a conversation.
However, there is no evidence that they experience subjective sensations.
An AI model can describe pain with accuracy, but that does not mean it feels it.
Major scientific theories
One of the most well-known theories is the Global Workspace Theory, according to which consciousness arises when information becomes available to multiple brain systems simultaneously.
Another theory, Integrated Information Theory, argues that consciousness depends on the level of integration of information within the system. According to this approach, consciousness can exist in varying degrees and not just as a "yes" or "no" state.
Meanwhile, the Predictive Processing theory suggests that the brain constantly builds predictions about the world and corrects them based on the information it receives from the senses. Some neuroscientists think that consciousness itself may be the result of this continuous process.
Can consciousness emerge spontaneously?
One of the most interesting hypotheses is that of emergence.
No single neuron is conscious.
But around 86 billion neurons, connected in an extremely complex network, create the human experience of consciousness.
Some researchers ask if, at a certain level of complexity, even an artificial system could develop properties that are not directly programmed.
Others remain skeptical and argue that increased computing power is not enough to create consciousness.
Two fundamentally different architectures
One of the biggest differences between the brain and modern computers lies in how they process and store information.
In a traditional computer, these functions are physically separated. The processor (CPU or GPU) performs calculations, while memory (RAM) and disk (SSD/HDD) serve for data storage. Each operation requires the continuous transfer of information between these components.
The brain functions entirely differently.
Each neuron is not only a "processor" but also a storage unit. The connections between neurons – synapses – are strengthened or weakened over time, and it is precisely there that memories and experiences are stored. In other words, the brain computes and stores information in the same architecture, without needing a separation between "processor" and "hard disk".
This concept is known as memory-compute co-location, while classic computers are based on the von Neumann architecture, where processing and memory are separate. This creates the so-called "von Neumann bottleneck", a limitation that slows down the system because data must constantly move between the processor and memory.
Many researchers believe this is one of the reasons the brain is incredibly efficient. It consumes only about 20 watts of energy – roughly the same as a light bulb – while modern data centers that train the most advanced AI models require megawatts of energy.
For this reason, a new generation of technologies called neuromorphic computers is being developed, which aim to mimic how the brain combines information processing and storage in the same network.
Is the brain just a biological computer?
One group of researchers argues that the brain is essentially an information processing system and that if its functional architecture is replicated, consciousness might emerge in a machine as well.
Others believe that biology plays an indispensable role and that consciousness may depend on biochemical processes or mechanisms that are not yet fully understood.
So far, there is no conclusive evidence to support either theory.
How would we understand if an AI were conscious?
Even if an artificial system were to become conscious, scientists might not be able to verify it.
Differently from intelligence, consciousness has no objective test.
Today, we can measure a model's ability to reason, plan, or solve problems, but we cannot measure whether it experiences anything.
This creates a paradox:
An AI might claim to be conscious without being so, or it might be truly conscious without having any way to prove it.
Why are AI companies hiring philosophers?
The question is no longer just philosophical.
The largest AI companies are hiring philosophers, neuroscientists, psychologists, and cognitive science experts to better understand the nature of intelligence and consciousness.
The goal is not only to create more intelligent systems but also more trustworthy, secure, and capable of reasoning in a sustainable way.
Science's greatest mystery
Despite decades of research, no one still knows how the brain's electrical and chemical activity transforms into the subjective experience we call consciousness.
It is possible that consciousness is a property that emerges from sufficient complexity of information processing. It is equally possible that it requires biological processes that machines cannot replicate.
Or perhaps humanity has not yet discovered the theory that will explain this phenomenon.
The answer to this question may not only determine the future of artificial intelligence but also how we understand ourselves.
LDK Opens Door to Dialogue: Abdixhiku Confirms Meeting with Kurti
The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, has confirmed that he will respond positively to the invitation of the acting prime minister and leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, for a meeting as part of the consultations for the formation of the country's new institutions.
The statement was made after the meeting of the LDK Presidency, the first since the certification of the election results by the Central Election Commission.
Abdixhiku said he had accepted an official invitation for a "1+1" format meeting, while explaining that the date will be set by the teams of the two parties.
"We will respond positively to this invitation. This will be the first meeting and then we will hold meetings with the leaders of other parliamentary parties to understand their positions and attitudes," he declared.
According to Abdixhiku, this is the first official communication between LDK and Vetëvendosje after the elections.
In his statement, he made it known that the LDK Presidency has appreciated the commitment of the party's structures, candidates, and the result achieved in the elections, thanking all activists for their work during the campaign.
Abdixhiku reiterated that LDK remains ready to contribute to the formation of new institutions, but only on the basis of its political principles.
"We want an inclusive process of building institutions, with a balance between powers and respect for the principles we represent," he said.
Asked about the internal developments in LDK and the demands for holding an Extraordinary Congress, Abdixhiku said that the statutory procedures are clear and that, if a third of the delegates submit a request, the congress will be called immediately.
He emphasized that he does not intend to stay at the head of the party at all costs.
"We do not stay by force. The will of the membership is what decides. Our mission is to make LDK stronger than we found it," he declared.
Regarding the analysis of the electoral result, Abdixhiku said that the process has started and will be detailed, while the conclusions will be published by the party's secretariat.
In questions related to the election of the president, he did not give concrete names, but warned that first, meetings with the political parties must be held and then the LDK's organs will make the relevant decisions.
Finally, Abdixhiku emphasized that Kosovo should not face new elections again.
"It makes no sense for the country to go back to elections after just a few months. We will enter into talks with good will, but while protecting our principles and the interest of the Republic of Kosovo," he concluded.
Essayistic sketch for the novel "Stone Skin"
When the writer writes, he is freed from death, when the stone changes its skin, the epochs change.Criticism in its beginnings in antiquity was called a dialogue between the writer and the listener, the teacher and the masses in front. (Epictetus).The lexicology of written words, which end with a period, but in reality, they come back to life in the meaning of ethnic morphology and the space of Arbëni without graphemes, with a fantastic attachment to the terrifying environment in the conditions of "living life", like divine wisdom.The first steps towards wisdom-knowledge are the most laborious, because our weak and stubborn spirits are afraid of labor, (without having an absolute guarantee for the reward of the unknown).As we move forward, determination grows and education becomes easier, so, as a result, it is difficult to act against oneself.Thanks to the persistent dedication to purifying our being from unhealthy beliefs, the writer becomes more and more capable of overcoming false fear, entwining himself in the love of his creative self, which characterizes the writer or his written art, as a unique and universal phenomenon. In this flow, the seeker of beauty or greatness no longer tries to seem or pretend to be good in front of others…One day, on one of the beautiful days, writer Mehmetali Rexhepi decided that he would no longer cater to the crowd, but to his own reader, who does not play a role in how big or small he is in numbers, because he is the reader of the creative writer. Without a doubt, here all the so-called "isms" in every time and system come to an end. So, the creator does not have, nor does he make a contract with anyone to write on order, to take a place in the deductive parliaments of mass voting.Therefore, the reader and the writer-creator intertwine in the web of perfection of relationships that bring satisfaction, without using the dictionary (criticism, aesthetic criticism, literary criticism, ethnic-philosophical criticism, this or that dynamic, which is hardly understood and many, many other words that wander like aimless things in the meaning of neuronal reading education.One of the greatest thinkers and linguists of this century, Chomsky, says: that criticism of any kind of writing, whatever it is called, cannot, nor has it ever been able to open or re-project the laboratory of the creative writer.In the neighborhood of this wisdom-knowledge of writing, deep explorers, for my understanding of the world as a reader, are Teki Dervishi with "Lulepjeshkat e dashurisë", Beqir Musliu with "Familjen e Shenjtë" and Mehmetali Rexhepi almost in his entire written opus for the great art, as Kadare says, escaping from every collective contract and collective obligation within the laboratory of his own creative universe.The novel "Lëkura e gurit" is written not as a form of any definition or aesthetic rule - literary theory, which pre-defines the theories of literary criticism, schemes of different modules-proofs, but it is the same as the road in the galaxy of the creative universe.Dark to dark in English is a phrase copied from the ancient Latins tenebris in tenebris, which implies the divinity of understanding, darkness in multi-layered darkness for the phenomenon of human wisdom-knowledge, perfection without beginning and without end.All the chapters and headings of this prose novel are experiences in segments of knowledge from the depths of dark suffering, pleasure, and happiness, like raindrops, which until they hit the ground are called raindrops and then are river water, sea, or ocean water, are mass in their entirety easily explainable.So, in the novel "Lëkura e gurit" when we delve into this form of reading, it makes time timeless and invisible from darkness to darkness.The main character Moti is time as the last emperor of the mind; the character Vijorja is the uninterrupted continuity of love in the mirror called time.The past can be read in every ring of the tree and the brain… But what can be read in "Lëkura e gurit": time as a universal road for small nations that have emerged between the clashes of great human and inhuman empires, like a settlement without a precise basis, as in the chapters of "Lëkura e gurit" without letters, without signs, where only the creator perfectly with the sounds of our language, from the song with hand on shoulder to the magic of polyphonic spiritualism of our people, keeps the ison, "settlement or civilization that is accurately called urbanism in the basin of Illyricum, in the aorta of Arbër, in the middle of the centuries when the Byzantine interpretation of the Illyrian sounds without graphemes is divided."The secondary character in cognitive segments from one starting point to another makes dense prose, in the quantum sense beyond the black hole of intellectual darkness in the cosmos of ideas.The prose woven in sequences in the novel "Lëkura e gurit" in unseen, fragmented, divided eyes, is in fact the philosophical entirety of the axis ATË-DHE-DASHURI (FATHER-AND-LOVE).Mehmetali Rexhepi preserves his creative integrity as an idealist, far from criticism. Why? He preserves it only for his own reader of great art.
The author of this interpretation, Hajdar Paçarada, brings a perspective of a multi-dimensional intellectual, where engineering experience, artistic sensitivity, and philosophical reflection are intertwined, giving the analysis a unique depth.
GPC: Model that generates movement like ChatGPT generates text
A new development in the field of artificial intelligence could fundamentally change the way robots and virtual characters are trained. Researchers have introduced Generative Pretrained Controllers (GPC), a model that learns movement using the same principle that underlies large language models like ChatGPT.
The SIGGRAPH 2026 conference presents a completely new approach to motor control: instead of training robots separately to walk, run, jump, or climb stairs, a single model learns all these skills simultaneously from a gigantic collection of movements.
The process begins with millions of examples of human and animal movements. This data is not stored as traditional animations, but is converted into a "language of movement", where each segment is represented by a token, just like words in a language model.
Then, a transformer similar to GPT comes into play. Instead of predicting the next word in a sentence, it predicts the next body movement. By repeating this process billions of times during training, the model builds an understanding of balance, coordination, rhythm, momentum, and how body parts work together to create natural movements.
When the model is placed in a physical simulator, the generated tokens are translated into commands that control the body's joints. The virtual character does not simply reproduce a recorded animation, but makes decisions in real-time. If it slips, is pushed, or encounters an unexpected obstacle, the system continuously generates new movements to recover balance.
One of the most significant innovations is that GPC does not need to be retrained from scratch for each new task. Using a technique called Conditional Low-rank Adaptation (CoLA), researchers manage to adapt the model to different tasks by adding less than one percent of new parameters. This significantly reduces the time and cost of developing new systems.
According to the authors, the model achieves 99.98% success in reproducing movements from the training corpus, while also demonstrating behaviors that were not directly programmed, such as recovering from a fall or reacting to unexpected pushes.
If this approach is confirmed in wide applications, it could mark for robotics the same moment that large language models brought to natural language processing: the transition from models specialized for a single task to a single foundational model that can be adapted for dozens or hundreds of different uses, from humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles to video games, visual effects, and scientific simulations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces resignation
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, has announced his resignation as leader of the Labour Party, paving the way for a new race for the party's leadership and the selection of the next prime minister.
In a statement held on Monday, Starmer said he has accepted the decision of the Labour parliamentary group regarding his ability to lead the party in the upcoming general elections.
“The question my party is now asking is whether I am the right person to lead it towards the next general elections. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary group to this question and I accept it with dignity”, Starmer declared.
He emphasized that every decision he has made during his term has been guided by the interest of the country.
“Every decision I have made has had the aim of putting the country I love first. This is the reason why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party”, he said.
Starmer also made it known that he has informed King Charles III of his decision.
“I spoke with His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision. I will ask the Labour Party's National Executive Committee to set a calendar, with nominations opening on July 9 and the process concluding before the summer parliamentary recess”, he added.
He is expected to remain in office until the election of his successor, with the aim of ensuring a smooth transition of power.
Starmer's resignation constitutes a significant development in British politics and marks the beginning of a race that will determine the future direction of the Labour Party and the government of the United Kingdom.
Historic US-Iran Meeting, Vance Speaks of Progress in Negotiations
The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, stated that Washington is seeking to open a new chapter in relations with Iran, following a historic meeting held at the Lake Lucerne Summit.
In his speech, Vance said that the American administration, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, has already achieved a series of important diplomatic and strategic objectives, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and progress on the issue of the Iranian nuclear program.
"The question before us now is how much more we can achieve together. Can we open a new page? Can we change the relationships in the Middle East forever?", Vance declared.
He particularly appreciated the role of Pakistan in the diplomatic process, thanking Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Chief of the Pakistani Army, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for their contribution to bringing the parties closer.
According to Vance, the objective of the American administration is to transform the Middle East from a region characterized by rivalries, conflicts, and insecurity, into a region of cooperation, stability, and economic prosperity.
"Now we see a future where everyone can work together to promote peace and prosperity for all," said Vance.
The American Vice President argued that the initial benefits of this process are already being felt in the United States, citing the decrease in fuel prices and the return of the free flow of energy to international markets.
He described the summit as a historic moment in regional diplomacy, emphasizing that meetings of this level between American and Iranian leaders have been extremely rare.
In the end of his statement, Vance said that the United States is ready to fundamentally transform its relations with Iran if the Iranian leadership gives up the policies that, according to Washington, have contributed to the destabilization of the region and if it commits to a long-term abandonment of its nuclear ambitions.
"The President has asked us to extend the hand of cooperation and see if we can build a completely new relationship with the Iranian people. We have made significant progress in recent hours and expect to achieve even more in the future," he concluded.
Dua Lipa’s Wedding Photos Feel Like a Fashion Editorial
The official wedding photographs of singer Dua Lipa and British actor Callum Turner have drawn global attention, not only because of the celebrity status of the couple, but also because of the artistic vision behind the images.
Behind the lens was David Sims, one of the most influential photographers in contemporary fashion. Known for his minimalist aesthetic, masterful use of natural light, and ability to capture authentic emotion, Sims transformed what could have been a traditional wedding album into a compelling visual narrative.
The photographs, released following the couple’s celebrations in Sicily, showcase intimate and spontaneous moments rather than formal poses. Instead of focusing on grandeur and spectacle, Sims places the emphasis on emotion, atmosphere, and the connection between the newlyweds. The result is a collection of images that feels closer to a fashion editorial than a conventional wedding portfolio.
One of the most striking aspects of the series is its balance between elegance and authenticity. Despite documenting one of the most talked-about weddings of the year, the images never feel overly staged. Every frame captures a sense of intimacy, allowing viewers to experience the occasion through genuine expressions, subtle gestures, and fleeting moments.
For decades, David Sims has been recognized for shaping the visual language of modern fashion photography through collaborations with leading luxury brands and international publications. His work is distinguished by its simplicity, precision, and storytelling power—qualities that are clearly reflected in these wedding photographs.
Through Sims’ lens, the wedding becomes more than a celebration; it becomes a work of visual storytelling where fashion, art, and personal emotion intersect. The images highlight not only the beauty of the event itself but also the unique personalities of the couple, creating a timeless record of a significant moment in their lives.
In an era where celebrity photographs are often consumed and forgotten within hours, Sims’ work stands apart. Rather than merely documenting an event, he creates images with lasting artistic value—photographs that invite viewers to pause, observe, and connect with the story they tell.
Dua Lipa’s wedding may be a love story, but through the vision of David Sims, it also becomes a reminder of photography’s ability to elevate a personal moment into something universally meaningful and enduring.
Operation Endgame Frees 15,000 Compromised WordPress Websites
International law enforcement agencies have carried out a major operation against the infrastructure of the SocGholish malware, as part of the initiative known as “Operation Endgame,” targeting one of the key components of global cybercrime.
According to Dutch authorities, 14,971 compromised websites were cleaned during the operation, while 106 servers and domains used by the criminal network were taken offline. The action was conducted by authorities from the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Germany, with support from Europol and Eurojust.
SocGholish, also known as “FakeUpdates,” is a malware strain distributed through fake browser update notifications. Attackers compromise legitimate websites, primarily those built on WordPress, and present visitors with deceptive messages encouraging them to download a fraudulent software update. Once installed, the malware provides criminals with an initial foothold on the victim’s system, allowing them to deploy additional malware, including ransomware.
Investigators have revealed that credentials linked to approximately 1.4 million websites have been exposed, making them potentially vulnerable to future compromise. As a result, WordPress site owners have been urged to change passwords, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and keep their systems regularly updated.
SocGholish is widely used as an initial access mechanism for more sophisticated cyberattacks. The malware has been linked to the notorious Russian cybercrime group Evil Corp and has served for years as an entry point for ransomware campaigns and other forms of cybercrime.
Authorities emphasized that the operation represents only the first phase of actions against the SocGholish network and warned that investigations will continue in an effort to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Who secured seats in the Kosovo Assembly?
After the completion of the vote count, the list of candidates who have secured a parliamentary seat and are expected to represent citizens in the Kosovo Assembly from the four largest political entities has been made known:
The Vetëvendosje Movement, as the winning party of the elections, will be represented by Albin Kurti, Glauk Konjufca, Albulena Haxhiu, Hekuran Murati, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Xhelal Sveçla, Ejup Maqedonci, Avni Dehari, Hajrulla Çeku, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Shqipe Mehmeti Selimi, Andin Hoti, Arben Vitia, Ilir Kërçeli, Saranda Bogujevci, Osman Musliu, Nezir Kraki, Alban Bajrami, Arton Konushevci, Edona Llalloshi, Mefail Bajqinovci, Ardian Gola, Armend Baloku, Armend Muja, Arbëreshë Kryeziu-Hyseni, Arbër Rexhaj, Rufki Suma, Fitore Pacolli-Dalipi, Blerim Gashi, Artane Rizvanolli-Berisha, Adriana Matoshi, Agim Bahtiri, Arjeta Fejza, Taulant Kelmendi, Arbërie Nagavci, Krenare Çerkini, Dimal Basha, Liza Gashi, Labinotë Demi-Murtezi, Artan Abrashi, Adnan Rrustemi, Adelina Grainca, Valon Ramadani, Salih Zyba, Enver Haliti, Fatmire Kollçaku, Valon Hoti, Valon Peci, Drita Pajaziti, Jeton Raka, Sylejman Meholli, Vigan Qorrolli, and Fjolla Ujkani.
From the Democratic Party of Kosovo, the following have been confirmed: Bedri Hamza, Përparim Gruda, Arian Tahiri, Uran Ismaili, Vlora Çitaku, Sala Jashari, Ganimete Musliu, Enver Hoxhaj, Arben Mustafa, Rrahman Rama, Mërgim Lushtaku, Elmi Reçica, Besa Kabashi-Ramaj, Jakup Nura, Eman Rrahmani, Altin Krasniqi, Artan Behrami, Fadil Demaku, Blerta Deliu-Kodra, Rrustem Mustafa, Eliza Hoxha, and Ariana Musliu-Shoshi.
The Democratic League of Kosovo will be represented in the new legislature by Vjosa Osmani, Lumir Abdixhiku, Doarsa Kica-Xhelili, Hykmete Bajrami, Avdullah Hoti, Ukë Rugova, Kujtim Shala, Anton Quni, Lutfi Haziri, Armend Zemaj, Besian Mustafa, Janina Ymeri, Ermal Sadiku, Jehona Lushaku-Sadriu, Arben Gashi, Albena Reshitaj, Fadil Hadergjonaj, and Paris Guri.
Meanwhile, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo has secured seats for Ardian Gjini, Ramush Haradinaj, Daut Haradinaj, Besnik Tahiri, Time Kadrijaj, Albana Bytyqi, and Teuta Haxhiu.
The names presented are based on the current results of the vote count. However, the final composition of the new legislature will be confirmed after the certification of the results by the Central Election Commission and the completion of any possible appeal procedures.