AI as Archetypal Urge: Discussion + Q&A with Bernardo Kastrup

Whether AI can be conscious or not is one of the defining questions of our time; its answer will likely shape the role machines play in the future of our civilisation. An early motivation for Bernardo Kastrup founding AI company EUCLYD was to establish the credibility to be heard on this vital question, offering a philosophical view grounded in first-hand experience with the technology.

EUCLYD has now raised one of the largest semiconductor funding rounds in European history, co-led by Samsung. Peter Wennink, former President of ASML, has joined as chairman of the board. Add Bernardo's two PhDs (one in computer engineering and artificial intelligence, the other in philosophy of mind), and for me at least, his perspective is one that deserves to be considered.

Last year Bernardo shared why he believes AI will be intelligent but not conscious , and why, despite its many dangers, AI's lack of coherence makes a robotic tyranny unlikely.

More recently he argued that developing AI is driven not by greed, but by an archetypal urge. "Nature will turn over every rock to investigate itself," and as expressions of nature, we are part of this wave.

This coming Sunday, Bernardo will discuss his latest thinking on the topic, informed by recent developments in AI and his role in the industry, followed by audience Q&A.

I look forward to seeing you there,

Amir

_ **Recording sent to everyone registered. ** _

This session is part of the weekly membership programme With Reality in Mind. Attendance is free to its members, or guests can join with a one-off ticket purchase on this page.

About Bernardo Kastrup

Photo by Pedro Henrique Casarin

Bernardo Kastrup is the executive director of Essentia Foundation and Founder/CEO at AI systems company Euclyd BV. His work has set off the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence).

As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). He has also been creatively active in the high-tech industry for almost 30 years now, having co-founded parallel processor company Silicon Hive (acquired by Intel in 2011) and worked as a technology strategist for the geopolitically significant company ASML.

Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, Bernardo's ideas have been featured on Scientific American, the Institute of Art and Ideas, the Blog of the American Philosophical Association, and Big Think, among others. Bernardo's 11th book, coming in 2024, is Analytic Idealism in a Nutshell: A straightforward summary of the 21st-century's only plausible metaphysics.

For more information, freely downloadable papers, videos, etc., please visit www.bernardokastrup.com.

Amir runs Adventures in Awareness to foster connections between meditators, scientists and philosophers to generate new insights that can benefit ordinary people. Through discussion, events and courses he hosts explorations in what it means to be a ‘modern mystic’ - balancing the challenges and gifts of modern life whilst alive to timeless mystery.

He worked for 20 years as a choreographer, performer and dancer on everything from MARVEL movies to Royal Opera House productions, specialising in contemporary dance, contact improvisation and Argentine tango.

He remains interested into how insight can transform how we move, relate and live.