Presentation:

AI & Our Regenerative Future

In this session, we'll explore ways AI could support regenerative futures, ways it could detract and distract us, and what's needed to ensure it's a net positive for planetary regeneration.

AI has the potential to revolutionize how we monitor and manage ecosystems, optimize resource use, and predict and mitigate climate change impacts. However, there's an increasing recognition that AI might simply supercharge the capitalist Superorganism: If You’re Driving Off a Cliff, Do You Need a Faster Car?.

Since AI unlocks powers that have historically only existed in realms of magic, some have suggested that for AI to truly support regeneration, we must view AI through a mythic lens. What does elder guidance and ritual/mystery school initiation look like in the context of AI? How can we avoid "sorcerer's apprentice" scenarios? What would it mean to develop wise AI, bioregional AI, and indigenous AI in support of regeneration?

Biography:

Stephen is a transdisciplinary technologist and mystical mentor devoted to the flourishing of Life on Earth who has trained in the fields of AI/ML, complexity science, physics, transformative coaching, meditation and plant medicine. Current projects include:

• teaching the Introduction to AI online course in September/October

• co-facilitating the Futurecraft Residency at Brave Earth in Costa Rica in December

• leading the development of the Dandelion platform for regenerative events and co-created gatherings as part of not-for-profit worker co-op Symbiota

Previously, he founded The Psychedelic Society, taught the Life as Practice, How to DAO, Tools for the Regenerative Renaissance, The Promise of Decentralisation & Introduction to web3 courses, served as the youngest ever board member of Greenpeace UK, and consulted for organisations including Supermodular, the New Economics Foundation, the Living Wage Foundation and 350.org. Stephen has an MPhys in Physics from the University of Oxford, where he specialised in quantum field theory, an MRes in Complexity Science from the University of Bristol, and a Professional Certificate in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence from UC Berkeley.

stephenreid.net