I saw the thread title and came in to post exactly this

Damn you Kowen.....

Sure, you know you have consciousness. But how do you know other humans and animals have consciousness? What proof do you have of this that cannot also be applied to a robot?

Because every human, when presented with the question of "do you exist" responds in the same affirmative manner. An extension to animals would be their ability to avoid predators realizing "they" are and need to avoid threats. 

It is a byproduct of a brain. Trees are not conscious at the macro level.

If I can have sex with them I don't see why not.

They will be treated as personal property, nothing more.

I mean its taking us 2000+ years to get rid of racial and gender prejudice.......I think after that point were just gonna call it a day and forget the rights of robots and aliens :P

The key concept with artificial intelligence is self-awareness. Even before self-awareness is attained, a computer must have exhibited the ability to transcend its programing. Once the A.I. begins to grow and develop its own processes, to think its own thoughts, then it's on the path. When we can look at a computer system and say, "OK, none of this was programmed in," that's the point at which we really need to think about this.

Makes me want to read Neuromancer or watch Serial Experiments Lain again, or at least Ergo Proxy.

So responding "yes" to the question "do you exist?" is proof of consciousness?

Computers can do that today.

You answered if robots would ever deserve rights. But that's not the question I asked you when I quoted you.

Many people believe that conscious beings cannot become owned.

Thread asked, "Will robots ever deserve rights?"

Then I asked you, "Will robots ever get these rights under law?"

Two different questions.