You left out the category of possible answers “Such-and-such type of computational process corresponds to suffering”, and then octopuses and ML algorithms might or might not qualify depending on how exactly the octopus brain works, and what the exact ML algorithm is, and what exactly is that “such-and-such” criterion I mentioned. I definitely put far more weight on this category of answers than the two you suggested.
You left out the category of possible answers “Such-and-such type of computational process corresponds to suffering”, and then octopuses and ML algorithms might or might not qualify depending on how exactly the octopus brain works, and what the exact ML algorithm is, and what exactly is that “such-and-such” criterion I mentioned. I definitely put far more weight on this category of answers than the two you suggested.
I like the idea. Basically, you suggest taking the functional approach and advance it. What do you think can be this type of process?