So, what exactly is the claim? Are the bits constantly conscious? Do they snap into consciousness when the computer does math with them? Or is it maybe the computer that's conscious while it's processing these bits? How about when it stops doing that and goes back to doing other stuff? Why are these particular bits special? Was the computer always conscious?

These are all fine questions, and they don't become any easier to answer if you replace "computers" with "brains" and "bits" with "neurons".

Of course it isn't conscious, how could it possibly be conscious? Its literally just bits.

"That's ridiculous. How can meat make a machine? You're asking me to believe in sentient meat."