Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seen rapid advancements in recent years, particularly in the areas of deep learning and the ability to generalize from concrete objects to abstract concepts. Meanwhile, in the study of machine consciousness, a universally agreed definition among scientists and philosophers is still lacking.

This book raises a number of issues surrounding the nature and implications of conscious artificial intelligence:

• How might concepts developed through research in machine consciousness enhance the functionality of AI systems, making them fully autonomous?
• If self-explanatory information is related to qualia, does this imply that machines using self-explanatory information are conscious?
• How is the interpretation of intelligence related to a system's ability to generate accurate predictions?
• Is machine consciousness ultimately possible? And how might it be examined from an ethical standpoint?

This edited volume consists of 10 chapters that highlight the prospects of machine consciousness and study the subject from several perspectives. The issues are wide-ranging and include topics such as the metaverse, a computational approach to pain and suffering, universal cognitive intelligence, intentional action, the categorization of conscious machines, and more. The volume is designed as a reference guide for researchers, practitioners, and students interested in the intersection of AI and consciousness.