Ian,
I think you are falling into the trap of assuming that something can have real AI without being conscious. That means that consciousness is not really necessary for our behaviour. That idea features in some science fiction novels, but there is not a shred of evidence for it. My impression is not so much that AI has a long way to go - rather that it doesn't know where the hell it is going!
If someone demonstrated an android such as you describe, I would test it as best I could, and ultimately join Paul and Chris as a physicalist.
David |