> added: wouldn't the best test of an AI be to give the AI freedom and see if it recognizes itself as AI?
Not really, as "recognizes itself as AI" presupposes a difference between AI and human. Gimmicks aside (i.e. let's see what's inside me), any AI which recognizes itself as AI would essentially fail the Turing test.
To me, those bits just came off as Lost/Shyamalan-esque hand waiving without saying something definite. Anyone can write a profound question they don't intend to answer.
The spinning top in Inception, or the dream in Blade Runner, are far more intentional.