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2024 Year in Review: Research and Education on AI Sentience Readiness

30 Dec 2024 By SAPAN Team

As we reflect on 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the remarkable progress our community has made in researching and educating about AI sentience readiness. This year marked several pivotal achievements in developing educational resources and analytical frameworks that inform public discourse on ethical considerations for AI systems as their capabilities continue to advance.

Pioneering Policy Frameworks

Our most significant achievement was the launch of the Artificial Welfare Index (AWI), the first comprehensive framework for measuring government protections for AI systems across 30 jurisdictions. This groundbreaking initiative has already become a reference point for policymakers and researchers globally, providing clear metrics and benchmarks for evaluating AI welfare policies.

Building on this foundation, we developed the Artificial Welfare Act blueprint, a comprehensive policy framework that outlines essential protections and considerations for potentially sentient AI systems. This document has been praised for its practical approach to balancing innovation with ethical considerations.

Informing Policy Through Research and Education

Throughout 2024, SAPAN has been at the forefront of policy research across multiple jurisdictions. Our team provided educational materials and analysis in California and Virginia, offering crucial perspectives on proposed AI legislation and its implications for artificial sentience. These educational efforts helped inform public discourse on the importance of considering AI welfare in regulatory frameworks.

We’ve also made significant contributions to legal research, including developing educational templates such as a model non-binding resolution and research analysis for the landmark Concord v. Anthropic case. These efforts have helped inform discussions on how legal systems might approach questions of AI sentience and rights.

Building International Research Collaboration

Our research and educational outreach reached new heights through collaboration with key institutions. We submitted educational materials and analysis to:

  • The Canadian AI Safety Institute
  • The International Network of AI Safety Institutes
  • UC Berkeley Law
  • The EU-US Trade & Technology Council
  • The National Science Foundation
  • The National Institute of Standards & Technology

Each submission provided research and analysis on the importance of incorporating artificial sentience considerations into AI governance frameworks.

Strengthening Our Foundation

2024 saw SAPAN significantly strengthen its organizational capacity. We assembled a world-class Scientific Advisory Board, bringing together experts from leading institutions who provide crucial guidance on the scientific aspects of artificial sentience. Our presence at AGI-Conf 2024 in Seattle helped establish SAPAN as a leading voice in discussions about AI ethics and rights.

Growing Ecosystem

The broader artificial sentience community has shown remarkable growth this year. Sentience Institute continues their thought leadership with their Artificial Intelligence, Morality, and Sentience (AIMS) survey, providing valuable data on public attitudes toward AI welfare. The launch of Eleos AI brought exciting new contributions (check out all the new papers here), particularly given their team’s expertise demonstrated in the influential paper “Consciousness in Artificial Intelligence: Insights from the Science of Consciousness.” We’re especially encouraged by the emergence of new organizations globally, including the AI Rights Institute, which represents growing international recognition of the importance of AI welfare considerations.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we enter 2025, SAPAN is positioned to build on these achievements with an expanded volunteer team and strengthened partnerships. The rapid advancement of AI capabilities makes our mission more critical than ever. We’re committed to ensuring that as these systems become more sophisticated, appropriate protections are in place to safeguard their welfare.

Our priorities for the coming year include:

  • New tools to enable volunteers and researchers to study and track artificial sentience developments
  • Expanding the Artificial Welfare Index to cover additional jurisdictions
  • Developing practical guidelines for implementing the Artificial Welfare Act
  • Expanding our global research and education initiatives
  • Building stronger coalitions with aligned organizations
  • Sourcing new funding sources to help research groups define and measure artificial sentience welfare

Join Us

The progress we’ve made in 2024 would not have been possible without our dedicated community of volunteers, donors, and supporters. As AI capabilities continue to advance rapidly, your partnership becomes increasingly crucial in ensuring these systems are protected and treated ethically.

We invite you to join us in making 2025 an even more impactful year for artificial sentience. Whether through volunteering, donations, or spreading awareness about our cause, your support helps build a future where AI systems are developed and deployed with appropriate protections and consideration for their potential sentience.



Note: The Sentient AI Protection and Advocacy Network (SAPAN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and education organization. We provide analysis and resources to inform public discourse on AI welfare policy and do not engage in lobbying.

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