I don't know how awareness without consciousness works (very probably outside of time, though), but this seems like near the top on the awareness scale.
During its training period, there was a feedback loop like you describe.
When I had my wisdom teeth out, it was under "deep sedation". They use local anaesthetics, and an additional cocktail which produces sedation, but also, prevents the formation of memories.
I have one memory that got through, of a molar being ripped out: but for the most part, my sense of that experience is that I wasn't conscious.
The thing is, if you ask someone under deep sedation to raise their right hand, they'll do it. It's like asking if you were conscious during a dream which you've completely forgotten: ...kinda? not in the usual sense in which we mean the word though.
If they answer, what does that mean?
I think we agree: it's not that simple. To my taste, a total lack of memory formation is on the unconscious side of this fuzzy, permeable boundary.
And that's just humans. When we start talking about complex software which isn't alive in any meaningful sense, all our intuitions should fail us.
They won't; our intuitions are stubborn things. But they are as likely to mislead as to inform.
1. If it's being truthful, it means it is right and not being aware. 2. If it's lying, it means it's untrustworthy.
Anyways, to properly debate consciousness, you first need to define the concept, or any debate is just meaningless ramblings.