[Computer programs] such as large language models (LLMs) can exhibit behaviour that seems strikingly intelligent. This has led many people, including some experts, to wonder whether these systems could have some form of consciousness — the capacity for subjective experience. However, we think that existing [computer programs] are not conscious, and that, along current trajectories of development, they are not likely to become conscious. Greater clarity about whether [computer programs] could become consciousness will be crucial as society grapples with the challenges posed by this increasingly powerful technology.