[getgoingnow]

  No actual intelligence required, IMO.

This is a trick. What does 'actual intelligence' mean? Term 'intelligence' is already vague, so adding 'actual' creates even more confusion.

  Sentience, to me, goes toward a concept of self. Of being aware that one exists and is responsible for one's own actions.

Responsibility is a social construct. In the past, people would put non-human animals on trial, because in those societies other animals had responsibility for their acts. When it comes to awareness, that's a very vague thing and I'm not sure how you would test it without asking the subject (who might be fooling you). Also, why would having an attribute such as 'awareness' be a reason not to enslave someone who has the attribute?

[drivingmenuts]

It may be a gray area, but I, personally, have a moral and ethical bias against slavery and those who condone or enable it.

A hammer cannot be enslaved. A robot that is not sentient cannot be enslaved. I am against making something of that ilk that can be enslaved. Not because I disagree with the act of creation, but because I am against slavery.

It's not necessary to create sentience in our tools. Leave them as tools. It saves time, effort and anguish.

And I won't have to go to war with a slaveholder.