Born from organic discussions within the Vancouver Artificial Intelligence (AI) community we created the Mind, AI, and Consciousness (MAC) group to examine how emerging understanding of AI sheds new light upon the age-old exploration of biological consciousness.
Community GuidelinesExplore methods of rigorous inquiry on ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) can further our understanding of Consciousness and theories of mind.
What distinguishes human consciousness from artificial intelligence? How do we define and understand consciousness itself?
Can AI help us better understand our own consciousness? How do quantum computing and neural correlates illuminate awareness?
What philosophical frameworks help us make sense of mind, awareness, and cognition in the age of artificial intelligence?
Exploring ethical implications, safety protocols, and responsible development of conscious AI systems.
Anyone can join the MAC study group as long as they intend to make a serious contribution to its efforts.
We meet in person for focused 2-hour “deep dive” discussions, combining structure with organic exploration. Attendees are expected to do some heavy lifting – advance readings and reviews, preparations of various sorts, and active participation during the event.
All discussions, activities, and goals should be focused on exploring human consciousness through the lens of AI.
Our approach balances intellectual rigor with a playful openness to the unexpected—or as one member put it, “Structure in time and space, fluidity in everything else.”
A maximum of 20 attendees at each event, with previous attendees taking priority over newcomers when maximum limit achieved.
The MAC group strikes a balance between academic exploration and accessible discussion, welcoming both expertise and curiosity. It’s where technology meets philosophy, and where Vancouver’s AI community goes deeper than code and neural wetware.
Send an email to [email protected]