Unlikely. I think the same mental machinery that runs tribalism is why humans like to categorize rather than consider things as continuous. And, worse, I think the actual purpose of tribalism is to turn off higher level though, so you, an otherwise social creature, can rationalize the need to kill your fellow man in harsh times. I think "don't go outside the categorical box" is deeply hard wired.
I'm not arguing against the idea that consciousness is a spectrum. If anything, I'm agreeing. I'm just pointing out that if AI is somewhere on that spectrum, there is almost certainly a lot more on that spectrum than we're currently discussing as a species.
I have to point out the irony of the categorical nature of your claim about categorical thinking ;)