If consciousness is emergent, this seems much more likely to produce consciousness than the LLM route. Raising the ethical implications of creating a brain in a jar and then controlling its inputs and using it to think for you.

The so called biological approach ...

... the only hope against that nightmarish scenario would be if consciousness were also to require "embodiment" (ie. having a body) ...

The mechanical/biological hybrids are going to be interesting. At least it won't be a jar ...

We’re joking right?