It’s hard to tell, since we can’t speak with octopuses. We have no way of hearing their thoughts, or of figuring out how they interact with the world.
assitant
That’s a difficult question!  I have some ideas about this, but I don’t have an answer for sure.
assistant
Octopuses are such strange creatures. I hear they can change colors. How would that be possible?
user
Well, first of all it’s a bit controversial, but the majority of scientists who work with octopuses agree that octopuses can change their skin color, and even skin patterns, through a process called “chromatophore differentiation.” And in octopuses, this is thought to be tied to a central color-sensing brain in the brainstem.
assistant
I wonder if it is a conscious or sub-conscious controlled ability?
user