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[Bernardo de La Paz]

36. Okay, a bit of a start to definition

But be clearer on "start on its own". Not even humans are created out of nothing. Not even humans are powered off and re-energized later.

Machines can already self-program. This has been demonstrated decades ago.

If a machine is always on and given a broad mandate, it is self-starting in the same sense as a human waking from deep sleep.

There is no "spark" of self-consciousness. No amount of handwaving by Penrose about microtubules is sufficient. The analysis and discussion I see is most convincing that consciousness is an emergent property. Amoeba are not conscious but they are reactive. As you go up the evolutionary tree, towards higher mammals, you get greater signs of self-awareness and self-starting.

A dog on a short chain is not very self-starting. Take off the chain and it will show self-starting.