No offense, but I get the sense that you don't actually know how ML works and you're just familiar with pop science descriptions of it. Am I wrong?

It's an incredibly bold claim to say that a human brain is doing something an AI could never do. That is a very antiquated notion, to the point that I would say it's 100% devoid of any critical thinking.

Now if you're arguing that there is a supernatural plane of some kind that cannot be measured in any way, and is fully responsible for our consciousness, then that's a different story, there's nothing I can say to change your mind.

There is so so so so so much more to human experience, life experience, and just being alive than simply absorbing "content."

That's the thing though, it's all the same "content" to a living brain. Your brain doesn't distinguish between your lived experiences and watching cat videos, the experience of watching those videos is also a lived experience.

I know it's tempting to say humans (or living creatures) are special and unique in their ability to experience emotions and consciousness etc, but the reality is, you're a biological machine. You take inputs via various senses, chemical reactions happen throughout your body, and the illusion of memory and experience is created. Now either prove to me that this phenomenon is not replicable in a lab or virtual setting, or get off your high horse and join the actual discussion that needs to happen.