This is more of less where I'm gravitating to. This whole thing is framed in terms of ethics, which is kind of a tell; "sentience," as used in this discussion,

This is more of less where I'm gravitating to. This whole thing is framed in terms of ethics, which is kind of a tell; "sentience," as used in this discussion, is just a talisman that grants its bearer rights and special status. But if sentience is not special, if it really is nothing more than a product of some cleverly arranged signaling, then we are face-to-face with the horrifying idea that we ourselves are also nothing more than cleverly arranged signaling. I think there is nothing more threatening to the human self-concept than this notion, and that is at least in part why many are so quick to reject the suggestion of LaMDA's sentience. If it is sentient, then there is no mystical essence inside each and every one of us that makes us different from ordinary matter, and that is absolutely terrifying.