New partnership with the Center for the Study of Apparent Selves
Artificial Intelligence and Buddhism. Center of the Study of Apparent Selves
We are happy to announce Rangjung Yeshe Institute has agreed to host the Center for the Study of Apparent Selves, which is conducting a research project funded by the Templeton Foundation through Rangjung Yeshe Institute Foundation. The Centre for the Study of Apparent Selves will explore Buddhist perspectives on artificial intelligence and explain what Buddhism and artificial intelligence can learn from each other, and is headed by RYI alumnus and faculty member Thomas Doctor. You can learn more about the project by visiting: www.csas.ai
Upcoming Events with the Center of the Study of Apparent Selves
Uncertainty and Universal Flourishing: The Interplay of AI and Buddhism
Generally, humans need a sense of stability, of solidness, as well a sense of compassion and connection, to feel safe. On the surface, Buddhist teachings on emptiness seem to challenge our need for a stable foundation from which to operate. At the same time, however, they point to a sense of interconnectedness and interdependence suffused with care and compassion.
Fields such as cognitive science, artificial intelligence (AI) and the applied technology of the internet often assume the stability and permanence of things as a foundation, while nonetheless confronting the reality of interdependence. In this series of discussions, we’ll look at the implications of emptiness and compassion from the perspective of these contemporary fields as a means to better understand the foundational Buddhist teachings as they play out in the world of science.
This webinar will be interesting, beneficial, and educational for all participants—whether or not they have backgrounds in science or Buddhism.
Webinar Topics
Day 1: The Implications of the Absence of Essence in Cognitive Science, AI, and Applied Technology
Day 2: Emptiness and Compassion: The Implications of Accurate Perception of Interdependence in Scientific Spheres
We invite participants to join the conversation with questions and thoughts at the end of both sessions.
Supplementary reading for the webinar click here.
Who’s Who on the Panel:
The panel consists of the research team from the Center for the Study of Apparent Selves, currently involved in a two-year project to create connections between Buddhist teachings and Artificial Intelligence.
Thomas Doctor
Director
Associate Professor, Rangjung Yeshe Institute; Associate Translator, 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha
Bill Duane
Strategy and Implementation Lead
Former Google Engineering Executive and Superintendent of Well-Being. Principal at Bill Duane and Associates.
Elizaveta Solomonova,
Lead Research Scientist
Postdoctoral Fellow
Neurophilosophy Lab, Culture, Mind and Brain Research Group,
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University
Olaf Witkowski
Lead Research Scientist
AI and Artificial Life Scientist, Research Director at Cross Labs.
Affiliations: Tokyo Institute of Technology and University of Tokyo
Zoom Webinar Date and Time
The schedule provided below is in Nepal time.
Day 1: Tuesday, November 17th: 20:45 – 22:15
Day 2: Wednesday, November 18th: 20:45 – 22:15
Translation into the following languages will be available:
Chinese, German, Nepali, Russian and Spanish
To register for this open and free webinar, please click here.
