In a world of rapid technological progress the question of artificial consciousness looms large. Whether machines could ever be considered conscious depends, firstly, on our understanding of consciousness. This paper seeks to characterise consciousness in Husserlian terms, before making the case that a Kuhnian paradigm shift in the worlds of philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence research is caused by such a framing. This view is supported by reference to Husserl’s thesis of the Natural Standpoint as a guiding tool in recognising philosophically valid modes of inquiries, wherein foundational assumptions are precisely assessed and held in close focus at all times. In establishing this Husserlian paradigm shift we become better placed to truly understand consciousness, its modalities, and its potentiality for machines.