Neather I am opposed to idea of artificial artefacts. What distract me that AI bubble came directly after Crypto bubble. No conspiracy theory shits just horny scammers change directions.
By applied logic that consciousness is a type of illusion or hallucination , yes AI can have a consciousness or hallucination. Question is if we can call it consciousness ? I don't think so , rather I would call it hallucination.
Doesn't matter the cost as long the money flows