Physical robots might help with the grounding problem. They could learn just like humans do.

Regarding conscious awareness, I don't necessarily think it's computable. We have no idea how to map computation to qualia. We've started assuming qualia is a type of computation, just because some types of intelligent behavior are, but really it might depend on a particular physical arrangement, or be something else entirely.

But that doesn't mean computers won't outcompete us. A chess program can destroy me at chess and I'm pretty sure it's not conscious. A more complex AI might do the same in the real world. And if we get wiped out by an AI that's just an unconscious automaton, that'd be even more horrifying.