I think about this too! Black Mirror visualized some basic methods of torture for virtual consciousness, and those were already bad enough, while still leaving

I think about this too! Black Mirror visualized some basic methods of torture for virtual consciousness, and those were already bad enough, while still leaving a lot of room for worse. The idea of accidentally subjecting anything similar to myself to this is horrifying. And given how little sentience animals have in your average persons mind, I have no doubt that it will take a long, long, long time until most people are convinced a conscious AI really does have sentience. I don't think we will know or notice the exact moment it happens (if there is even a single moment, instead of a gradual change). But we must already start talking about the possibility. Not because it's here with LLMs or because it's gonna be here in the next 2-3 years - but I see realistic chances of this happening in our lifetimes.