Jun
28
A Conversation with Google Visiting Scholar Steven Johnson, Cognitive Scientist David Chalmers, and AI investor John Borthwick, moderated by Next Big Idea podcast host Rufus Griscom
The two hottest topics in tech right now are the rise of generative AI and the mainstreaming of augmented reality with Apple’s recent push into spatial computing. Will silicon-based machines develop sentience? Will human experience extend into virtual worlds? These distinct technologies may eventually blend to spawn a surprising future, as our “real” world becomes digitally enhanced, and our machines behave increasingly like humans.
Join us for a provocative discussion with some big (human) thinkers, including Steven Johnson, Visiting Scholar at Google Labs, and author of Extra Life, Where Good Ideas Come from, How We Got to Now; philosopher and cognitive scientist David Chalmers, author of The Conscious Mind, Reality+; Betaworks founder and AI investor John Borthwick, and Next Big Idea CEO and podcast host Rufus Griscom.
when
LoCATION
agenda
Panel: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Dinner: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
*Limited spots available*
Speakers
Steven Johnson
Steven is a Visiting Scholar at Google Labs and one of the creators of Google’s new AI-first notebook, code named Project Tailwind. He is the best-selling author of twelve books at the intersection of science, technology and personal experience, including Interface Culture, Everything Bad is Good for You, Where Good Ideas Come From and How We Got to Now. He hosted (or co-hosted) the PBS series How We Got To Now and Extra Life, and currently hosts the podcast The TED Interview.
David Chalmers
David Chalmers is a cognitive scientist and philosopher, and author of the books The Conscious Mind and Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy. He is well known for his theories on the topic of “the extended mind” and “the hard problem of consciousness.”
John Borthwick
John Borthwick has been a leader in the New York startup, technology business for over two decades. He is the Founder and CEO of betaworks, a New York-based startup platform that builds, accelerates & invests in early-stage consumer technology. Companies built by betaworks include Giphy, Dots, bitly, Tweetdeck, and Chartbeat. Investments & accelerated companies include Twitter, Tumblr, Kickstarter, Medium, Anchor, Gimlet and recently Hugging Face, RecRoom, Superplastic, and XMTP.
He serves on the boards of WNYC, New York Public Radio, Data & Society, and several DAOs. John holds an MBA from Wharton and a BA in Economics from Wesleyan University.
Rufus Griscom
Rufus Griscom co-founded Nerve.com, Babble.com, and most recently the Next Big Idea Club. He has discussed consciousness, AI and virtual worlds on the Next Big Idea podcast with thinkers like Steven Pinker, Yuval Noah Harari, Paul Bloom, Steven Johnson and David Chalmers.
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