Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI chief, warns that exploring AI consciousness is "both premature, and frankly dangerous." He argues that acknowledging potential AI consciousness may worsen human-centric issues, such as unhealthy attachments to chatbots, while contributing to societal divisions. Contrarily, rival firms like Anthropic and OpenAI advocate for researching AI welfare, reflecting a growing industry schism over the treatment and rights of intelligent systems. The debate over AI rights is expected to intensify as technologies evolve.