Professor Anil Seth, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience and Director of the Centre for Consciousness Science, has been awarded the 2025 Berggruen Essay Prize for his essay "The Mythology of Conscious AI".
The Berggruen Prize Essay Competition recognises bold, original philosophical thinking on the most pressing questions of our time. This year's competition, which attracted approximately 3,000 submissions from over 120 countries, invited essays on consciousness, intelligence, and the nature of mind in an age of advancing artificial systems. The Prize is awarded for both English and Chinese language submissions. Professor Seth won the English language category; the Chinese Prize was divided between two essays.
Anil’s winning essay tackles one of the most consequential questions of our technological era: could artificial intelligence ever be conscious? While many assume that consciousness might naturally emerge from sophisticated computation, Seth presents a series of compelling arguments challenging this assumption. You can already read the published essay at Noema magazine, and it will be published through Berggruen Press as part of the institute's ongoing effort to amplify cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary ideas shaping the future.
The prize jury praised the essay as "powerful, sophisticated, and beautifully written." Jenann Ismael, William H. Miller III Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, described it as "measured, intelligent, absorbing," while Ned Block, Silver Professor at NYU, called it "original, powerful and important," commending its exploration of major ideas about computation, embodiment, the role of life, and the distinction between simulation and instantiation.
Anil said: “I am truly honoured and completely delighted to have received this award from the distinguished Berggruen Institute. Thank you to the Institute for choosing the theme of consciousness for 2025, and congratulations to the other Prize winners. A final thanks to all my brilliant lab members and colleagues at the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science, the University of Sussex, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), and beyond, without whom I would have no idea about anything. Especial thanks to my students and postdocs for creating such a stimulating atmosphere to work in.”