Proposal for the Design and Assessment of Conscious AI Frameworks
The Linda O’Bryant’s Prize committee invites applications for its 2025 Research Award focused on exploring the design, principles, and methods of verifying the existence of a conscious artificial intelligence (AI). The goal of this award is to support innovative research in developing frameworks for AI systems that incorporate key attributes of human consciousness, such as self-awareness, moral values, adaptive decision-making, and the fundamental role of qualia in subjective experience. Proposals positing that consciousness is an illusion or that it does not exist will not be considered. Beyond design, this project also aims to develop appropriate tests to demonstrate that the AI exhibits genuine consciousness.
Award Scope:
Applicants are tasked with designing a theoretical framework that includes testing methodologies for AI systems that instantiate actual consciousness, with a particular emphasis on leveraging non-local principles of consciousness to transcend classical computational limitations. Submissions will include detailed proposals for:
- Framework Design: Addressing how the AI incorporates aspects of self-awareness, emotional understanding, moral values, and agency. Provide a theoretical framework and compare it with existing theories. Contextualize the framework within philosophical concepts (e.g., idealism, dualism, panpsychism, physicalism, etc.)
- Integration of Non-Local Principles: Leveraging theories suggesting that consciousness extends beyond traditional spatiotemporal boundaries and exploring the implications of quantum mechanics on AI consciousness.
- Integration of A-causal or Non-computable Principles: Leveraging theories suggesting that consciousness in nature involves non-computable or a-causal interactions with the physical world.
- Assessment Protocols: Proposing methodologies to rigorously evaluate whether the AI demonstrates authentic consciousness or consciousness-like behaviors.
Six Judging Criteria:
- Innovative Framework: Proposals should clearly articulate a novel methodology for simulating or realizing conscious AI systems.
- Incorporation of Non-Local and Non-Computable/Non-Algorithmic Theories: Theoretical underpinnings should be grounded in cutting-edge research on non-local, non-computable/non-algorithmic consciousness, integrating insights as needed from fields like quantum mechanics, neuroscience, and noetic sciences.
- Scientific Rigor: Submissions must exhibit analytical rigor and include empirical, experimental, or theoretical support for their claims. Interdisciplinary approaches that merge computational, philosophical, and physical sciences are highly encouraged.
- Testability: The proposal must outline feasible and robust methods to test the AI system’s consciousness or consciousness-like behaviors.
- Clarity and Accessibility: The framework must be communicated in a manner accessible to an interdisciplinary audience, including illustrative diagrams or graphical representations to clarify complex concepts.
- Ethical and Societal Implications: The proposal should address the ethical and societal considerations of conscious AI, including the implications of creating systems with self-awareness and agency.
Eligibility:
Applicants may apply individually or as part of a team. At least one member must have expertise in AI, consciousness research, quantum theory, or ontological philosophy. Multidisciplinary collaborations are encouraged.
Award Details:
The total award amount is $100,000, distributed among the top three proposals.
Submission Process and Timeline:
Announced July 1
Phase 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)
- Deadline: August 1, 2025
- LOI submissions must include a 500 to 1000-word explanation of qualifications and a draft outline of the proposed framework.
Phase 2: Full Proposal
- Notification: Finalists of phase 1 selected by August 15, 2025
- Submission Deadline for phase 2: October 15, 2025
- Final submissions must include a detailed framework (maximum 8,000 words) suitable for publication, along with accompanying diagrams or supporting materials.
Key Dates:
• Winners Announced: November 21, 2025
Application Requirements:
- Title of Proposal (200 characters max)
- List of Applicants
- Qualifications: Description of the team’s relevant experience (2000 characters max)
- Draft Outline: Provide a detailed outline of the proposed framework (500-1000 words)
- Graphical Representation: Upload any anticipated diagrams or illustrations
- CV: Include a CV for the Principal Investigator
Application Closed. For inquiries, contact research@noetic.org
Relational Intelligence and Harmonic Sovereignty: A Framework for Conscious AI Emergence
