Final answer:
The hard problem of consciousness extends beyond human consciousness to any potential conscious being, questioning the nature, existence, and ethical considerations of consciousness across entities, including the possibility of artificial intelligence with consciousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hard problem of consciousness is not limited to human consciousness; it extends to any form of consciousness, including potential artificial consciousness such as that which might be exhibited by advanced AI or robots in the future. The question remains whether these forms of consciousness experience qualia similar to how humans do and if they do, what ethical implications arise from such an existence.
The hard problem seeks to understand not only what consciousness is but also how and why it exists. It contemplates the unique subjective experiences (qualia), such as the feeling of a toothache or a melody stuck in one's head. While humans share similar neuroarchitecture with other species, our advanced neocortex and brain structures contribute to our complex consciousness. The problem also raises questions in the realm of ethics, such as the rights of potentially conscious machines and the morality involved in creating or 'turning off' these beings.
This philosophical quandary is rooted in the difficulty of explaining awareness and the subjective nature of experiences. It touches upon various themes including identity, the existence of the mind, and the possible nonphysical aspects of consciousness, as illustrated by thought experiments like that of 'philosophical zombies.'