AI, Consciousness and Dharma Ethics

Description

## AI, Consciousness and Dharma Ethics **A talk under the Oxford Dharma Centre's AI and Dharma Ethics Programme (AiDEP)** Join us for a thought-provoking evening exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and Dharma ethics. As AI systems become increasingly capable, they raise profound questions: What is consciousness? Can intelligence exist without subjective experience? How should values and ethics shape the development of advanced AI? This public conversation brings together two internationally respected thinkers from the worlds of AI and contemplative philosophy: - **Swami Sarvapriyananda** – Minister-in-Charge of the Vedanta Society of New York, whose lucid exposition of Advaita Vedānta has inspired audiences worldwide to explore the nature of consciousness and the self. - **Prof. Murray Shanahan** – Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind and Emeritus Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Imperial College London, a leading voice in AI, machine consciousness, and the future of intelligent systems. Together, they will examine pressing intellectual questions: - Can AI ever become conscious, or merely simulate intelligence? - What distinguishes computation from subjective experience? - How do Vedānta and other Dharma traditions illuminate the nature of mind and consciousness? - How should Dharma-based ethical principles guide the development of increasingly autonomous AI systems? - In what ways can Dharma ethics contribute meaningfully to the future of AI governance and human flourishing? Designed for researchers, students, policymakers, technologists, philosophers, and members of the public, this dialogue fosters a rigorous and open exchange between cutting-edge AI research and the philosophical insights of the Dharma traditions. **Date:** 11 August 2026 **Time:** 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM **Venue:** The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG **Organiser:** [Oxford Dharma Centre for Research and Policy](https://www.eventbrite.com/o/121599766395) Refund Policy: Refunds up to 5 days before the event. [Register for your free ticket on Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-consciousness-and-dharma-ethics-tickets-1996126785951)