Annaka Harris, an American author and editor, delves into the profound questions surrounding consciousness, including its potential presence in artificial intelligence (AI). In her 2019 book, Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind, Harris explores various facets of consciousness, addressing topics such as free will, panpsychism, and the hard problem of consciousness—the challenge of explaining why and how subjective experiences arise. Regarding AI, Harris questions whether artificial systems can truly attain consciousness. She emphasizes the distinction between simulating consciousness and possessing genuine subjective experience. In a recent interview on Closer To Truth, Harris explored what is required for consciousness and whether AI can ever be conscious, highlighting the complexities involved in attributing consciousness to non-biological entities.