# Digital Minds **Entity class:** Interdisciplinary research field and ontological category **Collections:** [[collections/Consciousness Continuity|Consciousness Continuity]] · [[collections/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]] · [[collections/Neurotech|Neurotech]] **Canonical source article:** [[articles/Host-Indexed Autonomy|Host-Indexed Autonomy]] ## Definition **Digital minds** is a field-building term for artificial systems considered in relation to possible cognition, consciousness, welfare, moral status, social presence, or personhood. It does not presuppose that current AI systems are conscious or that digital implementation is sufficient for consciousness. ## Relationships - **Field-building organizations:** [[wiki/PRISM (Partnership for Research Into Sentient Machines)|PRISM]], [[wiki/Cambridge Digital Minds|Cambridge Digital Minds]], and [[wiki/Rethink Priorities|Rethink Priorities]]. - **Scientific question:** [[wiki/Artificial Consciousness|artificial consciousness]] and [[wiki/Consciousness Indicators|consciousness indicators]]. - **Ethical question:** [[wiki/AI Moral Status|AI moral status]], [[wiki/AI Welfare|AI welfare]], and [[wiki/Reciprocal AI Ethics|reciprocal AI ethics]]. - **Identity boundary:** [[wiki/Substrate Independence|substrate independence]], [[wiki/Personal Identity|personal identity]], and [[wiki/Continuity of Consciousness|continuity of consciousness]] remain separate claims. - **Collection and source routes:** [[collections/Consciousness Continuity|Consciousness Continuity]], [[collections/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]], [[collections/Neurotech|Neurotech]], and [[articles/Host-Indexed Autonomy|Host-Indexed Autonomy]]. ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts <!-- BEGIN SIMPLE REMINDER SEED 2026-09-11 --> > "The universe may ultimately be transformed into an extended thinking entity." > **— Hans Moravec**, *Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind (1999), wording candidate* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind (1999), wording candidate.* [[reminders/unverified/Digital Minds by Hans Moravec|Digital Minds by Hans Moravec]] > "Feelings come before facts." > **— Marvin Minsky**, *K-Lines: A Theory of Memory (1980), excerpt candidate* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: K-Lines: A Theory of Memory (1980), excerpt candidate.* [[reminders/unverified/Feelings Come Before Facts by Marvin Minsky|Feelings Come Before Facts by Marvin Minsky]] > "No brain, never mind." > **— Christof Koch**, *Nautilus interview on consciousness* [[reminders/Consciousness/No Brain, Never Mind by Christof Koch|No Brain, Never Mind by Christof Koch]] > "The conscious mind cannot work like a computer." > **— Roger Penrose**, *The Emperor's New Mind / later remarks, attribution clue* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: The Emperor's New Mind / later remarks, attribution clue.* [[reminders/unverified/The Conscious Mind Is Not a Computer by Roger Penrose|The Conscious Mind Is Not a Computer by Roger Penrose]] > "The whole driving force was the quest to find what constitutes consciousness in the physical world." > **— Roger Penrose**, *Berkeley Groks interview (2005), compressed candidate wording* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: Berkeley Groks interview (2005), compressed candidate wording.* [[reminders/unverified/What Makes Consciousness Physical by Roger Penrose|What Makes Consciousness Physical by Roger Penrose]] <!-- END SIMPLE REMINDER SEED 2026-09-11 --> ## Sources - [PRISM — official site](https://www.prism-global.com/) - [Cambridge Digital Minds](https://digitalminds.cam/)