Great little story by Terry Bisson. So accurately mimics the conversations we have about machines being sentient. Really makes you think about the conceit that it takes ‘meat’ or brain tissue to harbor consciousness!
I’m honored that this often shows up on the internet. Here’s the correct version, as published in Omni, 1990.
“They’re made out of meat.”
“Meat?”
“Meat. They’re made out of meat.”
Full Post at www.terrybisson.com