Upcoming conference to explore “Buddhism, consciousness and AI”

The Woodenfish Foundation will host the 5th Woodenfish Forum on Buddhism, Science and the Future at the Grand Hotel in Taipei from June 21 to 23. The conference, titled Buddhism, Consciousness and AI, will bring together academics, practitioners and technology experts to discuss the intersection of Buddhist philosophy and modern scientific advances. A live stream of the event in English will be available for those who register.

The three-day forum will include a series of panels addressing various aspects of mindfulness practices, artificial intelligence and their ethical implications. The agenda will highlight a blend of historical Buddhist context and contemporary issues, with the aim of fostering a comprehensive understanding of these topics.

Day 1: June 21

Morning session: Buddhist consciousness and modern science

The first panel, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., will examine the mechanisms and impacts of mindfulness practices, as well as critiques. Paul Swanson, professor emeritus at the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, will discuss “Meditation as Clarity, in Light of Zhiyi Tiantai Buddhism.” Eric Loucks, director of the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, will present “The Planet and the People: The Power of Mindful Behavior Change.”

Bernard Faure, professor emeritus at Columbia University, will explore the relationship between mindfulness, neuroscience and naturalism in his lecture “Towards a one-dimensional Buddhism? Evan Thompson, professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia, will present on “Mindfulness as Social Cognition: A Cognitive Science Perspective.” The panel will conclude with a presentation by Yit Kin-Tung from National Sun Yat-Sen University.

These panels will be followed by presentations by young Taiwanese. Venerable Yifa, founder of the Woodenfish Foundation, told BDG: “It is important to involve young people. They will have a new perspective and it is their future that we are discussing.

Day 2: June 22

Morning session: AI and Buddhist metaphysics

The morning panel, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., will examine the possibilities and limitations of AI from a Buddhist metaphysical perspective. Christian Coseru, professor of philosophy at the College of Charleston, will discuss “Engineering Enlightenment? Artificial minds and the problems and perils of synthetic phenomenology. UC Berkeley's Robert Sharf will ask "Can AI meditate?" (And why it matters).

Georg Northoff, professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa, will discuss "Meditation and the self: why AI cannot (yet) show non-dual consciousness." BDG contributor Gereon Kopf of Luther College will present "AI, Sentience, and Buddha Mind: A Fourth-Person Approach," followed by Cheng Kaiyuan of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University on the integration of body and brain in mindfulness practices. Finally, Jundo Cohen, author of Building the future Buddhawill talk about the “Zen of AI, the gene, saving the Earth and the journey to Mars”.

Afternoon session: Application of AI and Buddhism

The afternoon session will run from 13:30 p.m. to 17:00 p.m. and will focus on practical applications of AI in Buddhist contexts and vice versa. Bill Duane, principal of Bill Duane and Associates, will speak on “Buddha and Business in an AI World.” James Robson of Harvard University will discuss “Space Temple – Buddhist Application of AI in Japan”.

Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, co-abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, will present “Roshibot: A Case Study of AI in American Zen Buddhism.” The session will conclude with Seiji Kumagai and Toshikazu Furuya discussing the development of BuddhaBot and the Tera-verse.

Day 3: June 23

Morning session: AI and the future of Buddhism

The final panel, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., will explore the future relationship between AI and Buddhism. Li Si-chen, former president of National Taiwan University, will present "Discovery of the Internet Universe through Digital Reading Experiments and Its Implications for Consciousness." Olaf Witkowski, founding director of Cross Labs, will discuss “Intertissé Futures: Harmonizing Biological and Technological Minds.”

Jeanne Lim, co-founder and CEO of beingAI, will present “Being AI: Co-Pilot in the Quest for Wisdom and Enlightenment,” followed by Pat Pataranutaporn of MIT, who will discuss “AI Can help humans achieve enlightenment?

The Woodenfish Foundation forum promises to provide a diverse and insightful examination of how Buddhism and AI intersect, providing a platform for dialogue and exploration of these important topics.

The Woodenfish Foundation is dedicated to bridging the gap between Buddhist teachings and contemporary issues through educational programs and conferences. Founded by Ven. Yifa to promote the understanding and practice of humanistic Buddhism, the foundation offers immersive experiences, such as the Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program (HBMLP), which introduces participants to monastic lifestyles and Buddhist philosophy. The foundation also organizes events such as the Buddhism, Science and Future forum, which explores the intersections between Buddhism, science and technology, fostering dialogue and collaboration between scholars, practitioners and the public.

More information and registration can be found here.

See more

2024 Buddhism, consciousness and AI — 5th Woodenfish Forum on Buddhism, science and the future (Accupass)
Woodenfish Foundation

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