I'm not taking a side on the article, there's simply not enough evidence presented. The author and Lemoine claim the AI created novel ideas and solutions, was capable of differentiating the mood of their partner and changing how it talked based on if they thought it was a lifeless robot or not, and had its own emotional states like boredom, and had fluid and dynamic discussion.

The examples in the article are neat, for sure, but not convincing for me. I do understand that it's possible once more information is provided, given this is basically the most advanced version of this AI in existence, still under confidentiality, and the guy in question was at least smart enough to be in such a role.