In "Use of Weapons," author Iain M. Banks explores the nature of consciousness by contrasting electronic computers with the biological brain. He suggests that both are composed of matter, yet they are organized differently. This raises intriguing questions about the essence of consciousness and why animals claim a unique conscious experience, while dismissing the possibility of consciousness in advanced machines that, despite their slower functioning, possess equivalent capabilities.

Banks challenges the reader to reconsider preconceived notions of awareness and intelligence, querying what sets the human brain apart from artificial constructs. He argues that the distinction often made between biological and electronic systems is arbitrary, suggesting that the complexity of consciousness might not be exclusively tied to the organic make-up of the brain, but rather the organization and functioning of any sufficiently advanced system.