The Wikipedia article on it (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentience https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentience) summarizes the situation well; philosophers use it

The Wikipedia article on it (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentience https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentience) summarizes the situation well; philosophers use it consistently, but it seems that science-fiction writers got confused and hence the confusion in layperson usage. > In modern Western philosophy, sentience is the ability to experience sensations. In different Asian religions, the word "sentience" has been used to translate a variety of concepts. In science fiction, the word "sentience" is sometimes used interchangeably with "sapience", "self-awareness", or "consciousness".