AI and the Self
The workshop aims to bring together researchers from AI, psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, including perspectives from Eastern traditions such as Buddhism, Vedanta, and Daoism, to examine how increasingly capable AI systems may influence the way people understand and experience the “self.” As interactions with AI systems (including chatbots) become frequent and personal, AI-generated responses may shape self-image, decisions, and identity. At the same time, the line between humans and artificial agents is becoming less clear – for example, when avatars can represent us in meetings in ways that are hard to distinguish from a real person. These developments raise practical and conceptual questions about agency, authenticity, and what “real self” could mean in everyday life.
The workshop will combine talks from experts in the various fields as well as discussion sessions, aiming at synthesizing shared ideas and open questions.
Dates and Registration
The workshop will be held on June 2-3 in the seminar room of the Center for Science and Thought, Konrad-Zuse-Platz 1-3, 53227 Bonn.
If you would like to participate the workshop, please register until May 29 at: desirableai@gmail.com
As part of the workshop, Monojit Choudhury will give the Mercator lecture "Turing Test 2.0: Reimagining the Goals of Artificial Intelligence in the Post-GenAI World" on June 2, 4:00 pm.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00-09:30 | Arrival and morning coffee |
| 09:30–10:15 | Monojit Choudhury (MBZUAI): Opening Remarks |
| 10:15-11:00 | Markus Gabriel (University of Bonn): The Emotional Turn in AI |
| 11:00-11:30 | Coffee Break |
| 11:30-12:15 | Robin Wang (Loyola Marymount University): The Bright Machine and the Wandering Self: 明道若昧 in the Age of AI |
| 12:15-13:00 | Prashant Kumar (CST, University of Bonn): Anātman Semantics |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00-15:30 | Discussions |
| 15:30-16:00 | Coffee break |
| 16:00-17:00 | Mercator Lecture by Monojit Choudhury (MBZUAI): Turing Test 2.0: Reimagining the Goals of Artificial Intelligence in the Post-GenAI World |
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00–09:30 | Arrival and morning coffee |
| 09:30–10:15 | Haneesha Pinnamaraju (CDC Shine): Neurodevelopment in the Age of AI |
| 10:15–11:00 | Sandrine Rose Schiller Hansen (University of Copenhagen): Self-Operationalized |
| 11:00-11:30 | Akhil Arora (University of Aarhus): Cultural Fragility, Diversity Collapse, and the Self in an AI-Mediated World |
| 12:15-13:00 | Chelsea Haramia (CST, University of Bonn): Globalized AI and Agential Dilemmas |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00-15:30 | Discussions |
| 15:30-16:00 | Coffee Break |
| 16:00-17:00 | Discussions |
| 17:00-17:30 | Monojit CHoudhury (MBZUAI): Closing Remarks |