What are the deeper societal implications of an AI surpassing human intelligence, and how might this shift our understanding of consciousness?

ANSWER: An AI surpassing human intelligence, a hypothetical event termed "the singularity," raises profound societal implications. It may revolutionize healthcare, economics, and education but could also challenge job markets and privacy. This shift could prompt reevaluation of human roles and identities, as machines undertake tasks once exclusive to humans. Additionally, if an AI demonstrates self-awareness, it might force us to redefine consciousness, blurring the lines between biological and artificial beings and questioning the uniqueness of human cognition.