Consciousness may reside in all things. This is a very ancient idea. although it operates differently on all levels. Mineral-Fungi-Plant-Insect-Animal-Human-Machine-Alien- and on and on it manifests....One led to the other and are inseparable. A plant is conscious of the sun and grows towards it.  Fling a rock into the air and it knows exactly where the ground is. A fungi knows where a dead tree is. These things don't have to know what the sun is or what a tree is to be conscious/aware of them, to be and function properly. Matter of fact our ability to "know" seems to be placing us onto a path where we are more unconscious, seeing as we are not in equilibrium with ourselves and or our environment. Consciousness doesn't mean the ability to choose, at least not on all levels. Consciousness is Awareness. Most humans are not even aware that they are aware. Most of us are just reacting to our biological chemistry which is the organism and the environment. . A Subject and object. Organism and environment. The two are really One. There reality is there is no distinction. You cannot describe one with out describing the other. One can get to an awareness/state of consciousness where you are viewing these functions without being them.