Artificial Consciousness: Consciousness Studies

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence forces us to reconsider our felt cognitive supremacy. What does this emergence of novel cognitive faculties mean in the context of consciousness? 

What would artificial consciousness manifest as? Crossing the line from organic sentience to digital sentience raises many ethical questions.

WHY ATTEND:

In this workshop, you will:

• Discover the intelligence inherent in nature
• Be introduced to artificial intelligence
• Rediscover the enigma of consciousness in a novel context
• Be invited to form your own opinion on the matter

The seats are limited to 24, so reserve early! We would request a recommended space donation of CHF 20-25. This event is part of the "Consciousness Studies" course, held (almost) every Tuesday in Fall '24 at MQ Academy, that delves into diverse perspectives from science, philosophy, psychology, and shamanism.

PRESENTERS:

Dr. James B. Glattfelder is an author, academic, quantitative researcher, and entrepreneur. He holds an M.Sc. in theoretical physics next to a Ph.D. in the study of complex systems, both from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. His research focuses on decoding complexity, the metaphysics of existence, and the limits to knowledge while being concerned about societal and environmental challenges. For over a decade, James worked as a quantitative researcher, both in traditional finance and in the distributed ledger ecosystem, where he was involved in various startups. In 2025, his latest book will appear, called "The Sapient Cosmos: What a Modern-Day Synthesis of Science and Philosophy Teaches Us about the Emergence of Information, Consciousness, and Meaning."

SCHEDULE:

18.45 - 19.00 - Mindful Arrivals

19:00 – 20:30 – Workshop

20:45 – 21:00+ – Networking & Departure