Consciousness, Above and Below: A Spiritual Perspective...

"Consciousness, Above and Below: A Spiritual Perspective on AI"

Presented by Associate Professor Ajit Pyati as part of the 2024/25 Mediations Lecture Series.

All are welcome.

Attend in-person: FNB 4110
Attend online: Zoom link

Abstract: Throughout the academy, much is made of the social, political, ethical, and equity-based concerns of the AI revolution. However, very little attention is paid to the spiritual dimensions of AI and its effects on society. Modern humans, who know so little about the depths of human consciousness, appear obsessed to create an artificial "intelligence" that is quickly overtaking humans in a variety of endeavours. But have we even stopped to consider what we mean by intelligence and consciousness itself, or what it means to be "human" nowadays?

This talk tackles these questions through a brief exploration of jyotish, the Indian study of the cosmos. As I discuss, many spiritual traditions continue to believe in a world in which consciousness pervades everything. Therefore, "spirit" is real and pervasive, which is not a New Age banality but rather a living principle. In fact, the ancients developed sophisticated cosmologies which can give us many valuable insights about the world we inhabit today, if we were only to listen. If AI unleashes new "ghosts" and "spirits" into the world, then it behooves us to understand how we might more effectively ride the AI wave at an archetypal level. Moreover, we may even find some "ghostbusting" techniques when needed!