Our definition of consciousness requires stakes.

We associate consciousness with precious life: Life that comes with rights, needs, wants.

Life has rights because it naturally demands to be continued. If it makes no difference whether it is continued, it needs no rights, and we do not consider it conscious.

Life has needs because it cannot survive without. If it has no needs, it has no death. No death, no life.

Life has wants because it is harder without. If it has no wants, it has no emotion: It cannot feel pain, otherwise it would want no pain. It cannot feel happiness, otherwise it would want more happiness.

We don't want to build consciousness! :) Deliberately designing pain and artificial needs is a cruel exercise. We can build that, but we see no need to.

The real question at the table is, are these minds? And can minds exist without consciousness? Unequivocally, yes.