Final answer:
Advanced AI systems, if they create robots indistinguishable from humans without consciousness, may be considered embodiments of philosophical zombies, raising ethical, philosophical, and existential questions regarding consciousness, rights, and human identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
In contemplating a future with advanced AI systems capable of producing humanoid robots that are behaviorally and visually indistinguishable from humans but lack consciousness, it could be argued that these entities would indeed be equivalent to philosophical zombies. Philosophical zombies are hypothetical beings that are functionally identical to a human being but lack conscious experience. The conception of such AI systems foregrounds debates about whether consciousness is an exclusively non-physical phenomenon and the moral implications of creating entities that are seemingly alive.
Furthermore, the possibility of humanoid AIs raises ethical questions about rights and treatment—should a sentient android be afforded human rights, and would deactivating such an entity constitute murder? These discussions also challenge our understanding of the mind, as an AI that perfectly mimics human behavior suggests that mental states could be the product of complex physical processes.
The uncomfortable prospect of coexisting with conscious androids also taps into deeper fears about safety, control, and our place in the evolutionary hierarchy. Given these concerns and debates, the development of advanced AI systems that serve as philosophical zombies presents profound questions about the essence of consciousness and the future of human and AI coexistence.