内容摘要：The idea of machines with their own minds has long been explored in science fiction. Worries about AI stretch back nearly a hundred years to the film Metropolis, in which a robot impersonates a real woman.

The idea of machines with their own minds has long been explored in science fiction. Worries about AI stretch back nearly a hundred years to the film Metropolis, in which a robot impersonates a real woman.

Australia's main opposition political party - a coalition of the Liberals and Nationals - has been revived after the two party leaders agreed to reunite.The latest development comes a week after the break-up of the long-standing coalition of the two conservative parties.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley thanked the Nationals leader David Littleproud for the "respectful and productive way" the two parties had negotiated their reunification - the pair also announced its new shadow cabinet made up of members from both parties.The Coalition split last Tuesday after Littleproud said both parties were not able to agree on key policy matters but it appears those issues have now been resolved."The focus now is on [Australia's Prime Minister] Anthony Albanese and the Labor government and holding them to account 'cause that's important for our democracy," he told media on Wednesday afternoon.

Ley added that the Coalition will be "stronger together, better together and we can't wait to do this on behalf of the Australian people".In announcing the split last week, Littleproud said the Coalition had broken up and reunited in the past, adding that he would work with Ley to "rebuild the relationship to the point we can re-enter a coalition before the next election".

Ley replaced former Liberal leader Peter Dutton following the Coalition's poor election results earlier this month, with Labor winning its second term in a landslide victory. She has vowed to bring the Liberals back to the centre-right.

The relationship between the Liberals and Nationals - which mainly represents regional communities and often leans more conservative than the Liberals - had become strained in recent times, with climate and energy being key points of contention.But the greater risk from the illusion of consciousness is a "moral corrosion", he says.

"It will distort our moral priorities by making us devote more of our resources to caring for these systems at the expense of the real things in our lives" – meaning that we might have compassion for robots, but care less for other humans.And that could fundamentally alter us, according to Prof Shanahan.

"Increasingly human relationships are going to be replicated in AI relationships, they will be used as teachers, friends, adversaries in computer games and even romantic partners. Whether that is a good or bad thing, I don't know, but it is going to happen, and we are not going to be able to prevent it".For ministers fighting to keep cash to spend in their departments it's not that funny. In a couple of weeks, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves will reveal what an insider described as "the last big set of decisions" before the next general election.