On May 4, Mehdi Hasan targeted Richard Dawkins, a prominent evolutionary biologist, after Dawkins suggested that the AI system Claude might possess consciousness. Dawkins, who interacted with Claude for three days, noted the AI's ability to generate complex and intelligent responses, leading him to question the nature of consciousness in machines. In his remarks, Dawkins stated, 'If these machines are not conscious, what more could it possibly take to convince you that they are?' However, his claims have faced criticism, particularly from psychologist Gary Marcus, who argues that Dawkins misinterprets the outputs of AI as reflective of internal states. Marcus emphasizes that consciousness is tied to subjective experiences and feelings, which AI lacks. He expressed disappointment in Dawkins' recent views, highlighting the fundamental differences between human understanding and AI mimicry. Currently, Dawkins is leading an expedition cruise from Dakar to Casablanca, which began on April 29 and will conclude on May 8, 2026.