Why Richard Dawkins thinks AI is conscious

Richard Dawkins is in conversation with Kim Hill. Half a century after The Selfish Gene the controversial evolutionary biologist reflects on his theories and argues AI could already be conscious. Richard Dawkins is appearing in Auckland on November 20, 2026, at the Aotea Centre and in Wellington on November 23, 2026, at the Michael Fowler Centre. Watch the video version of this episode on the RNZ website on YouTube or TVNZ+. Season 2 Episode 5 In this episode: (03:00) Understanding genes and altruism (11:08) The rise of AI, its impact on society (15:08) Is AI a new form of life? (28:27) The Frightening Possibilities of Genetic Advances (30:39) The role of religion and our need for belief systems: the impact of 'The God Delusion' (35:35) The beauty of science and nature (37:29) Gender, biology, and language (45:59) Conservation success stories (46:49) The future of extinct species revival Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details