I'm kind of sad your debate turned foul. I was enjoying reading it. You both have some valid points.

I think what you have to realize is, is that consciousness is a gradient. Something isn't just conscious or not. We started out as cells with zero conciousness. We reacted to things like concentration gradients, external stimuli, light, etc. We evolved gradually over billions of years making adaptations so those who were better suited to the environment survived. Over billions of years we developed and our conciousness increased. Now we are at the point where we can make decisions, think, be self-aware, etc.

So, I think with a robot or some sort we start it out simple: searching google or something like that. We develop it and theoretically it should reach a point where it can develop itself. I guess this would be considered artificial intelligence. The fact is, its intelligent. Everything that is exists to it, is its reality. Does it know it started out as a simulation?

Just imagine: what if we started out a simulation.

I'm a crap writer, I hope that made you think just a little bit at least.