Johannes Kleiner "Towards Artificial Phenomenology"

Date : Friday, 31st May, 12:00 PM

Location : Amphi Jaurès, Département d’études cognitives, ENS, 29 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris

Local Committee : Aïda Elamrani (organiser), Quentin Coudray (facilitator)

Lunch Provided, please register in advance https://forms.gle/hxX86xWYr4i5Qcy37 

About the Talk :

This talk is concerned with the possibility of artificial phenomenology—the application of phenomenology to artificial systems, most notably artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Can we, as human beings, develop an understanding of the phenomenology of artificial systems, if some such phenomenology exists ? The goal of this talk is to explain how recent developments in mathematical phenomenology (Prentner) and objective phenomenology (Lee) might afford a positive answer to this question. In providing a sketch of the resulting research program, I will also highlight why and where artificial phenomenology is needed in understanding and doing justice to the postbiotic conscious systems of the future.

About the Speaker :

Johannes Kleiner is a distinguished physicist and mathematician, specializing in mathematical consciousness science. He earned his PhD in mathematics from the University of Regensburg in 2017, with the highest honors, and has since held postdoctoral positions at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Leibniz University of Hanover, and the Institute for Psychology at the University of Bamberg. Kleiner is currently pursuing a second PhD at the LMU Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy and the LMU Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences. His academic journey includes visiting scholarships at New York University’s Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, and the Mathematical Institute of Oxford University, among others. He serves on the board of the Association for Mathematical Consciousness Science.

About the Organisation :

This talk is part of the EIC-funded ASTOUND project, which investigates the impact of artificial consciousness. ASTOUND aims to enhance the social capabilities of conversational agents by applying Michael Graziano’s theory of consciousness. More details : http://astound-project.eu/