-Mac The ethics of sentient AI do need to be considered. And indeed every organisation that is involved in AI considers the ethics of both the application of the AI and increasingly the ethics around potential for sentience. Google, OpenAI and all the others agree that proper thought and debate on this is essential.
I’m not saying that you are conclusion is wrong - because I don’t know whether it is or not, It’s too complicated for me to have arrived at any conclusion. But you have came to your conclusion instinctively and without much research into this. I said earlier in this thread that their is unlikely ever to be agreement on whether any AI is sentient; I should have also included that there is even less likelihood of people agreeing whether this even matters.
On your last point - where would it stop - the discussion is on sentience and whether sentient AI should have “rights”. There is no path. I don’t believe that anyone is suggesting that if sentient AI was give rights, your pencil sharpener would get rights next.