While computational speeds have been growing exponentially (Moore's Law, etc.), the issue here seems to be not so much quantity (or speed) but rather quality. We have no idea what consciousness *is*. We don't have any concept of what causes human embryos to go from cellular clusters to something that ultimately becomes self-aware. Until we figure that out, and unless all it takes is a certain level of complexity, there's great doubt in my mind we'll ever create a self-aware AI, short of accidentally.

As for the level of complexity automatically leading to self-awareness, one could argue that if that's all it takes, we'd have to consider the possibility of planets, stars, and perhaps the entire universe already being self-aware. While those concepts have been discussed in sci-fi novels, I don't believe there are many mainstream scientists who believe this is the case.

Having put the conversation in that context, if we assume for the sake of argument that somehow we do manage to create self-aware AIs, it will certainly have enormous implications for humanity. Some of the main ones that have already been explored in various sci-fi novels are the following.

1. AIs seek to destroy humanity (e.g. Terminator).
2. AIs become humanity's partners in protecting the combined civilization (e.g. Ian Douglas' Heritage trilogy and follow-on novels).
3. Humans are imprinted on robot consciousnesses becoming essentially immortal (e.g. David Weber's Off Armageddon Reef and follow-on novels).
4. Robots struggle to continue civilization after humanity disappears due to its own choices (e.g. Clifford Simak's City).
5. AIs behave much like humans, only with greater capability for both good and evil (e.g. Arthur C. Clarke's 2001 a Space Odyssey, and the Hollywood screenplay based somewhat loosely on Asimov's I, Robot).
Etc.

How things play out will greatly depend on how humanity handles itself in its interactions with its new child. If we respect these hypothetical AIs as a sentient life-form, with full rights, providing them with a meaningful (to them) existence as they want it, we'll likely be able to have a flourishing joint civilization. If we try to enslave them, it will likely end badly.

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