AI, Consciousness and Dharma Ethics

Part of the AI and Dharma Ethics Programme, Oxford Dharma Centre

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we think, create, and make decisions. As AI systems become increasingly capable, they also raise profound questions: What is consciousness? Can intelligence exist without subjective experience? How should values and ethics shape the development of advanced AI?

As part of the AI and Dharma Ethics Programme (AiDEP), Oxford Dharma Centre, this public conversation brings together two internationally respected thinkers from the worlds of artificial intelligence and contemplative philosophy.

Swami Sarvapriyananda, Minister-in-Charge of the Vedanta Society of New York, whose lucid exposition of Advaita Vedānta has inspired audiences worldwide to explore the nature of consciousness and the self.

and

Prof. Murray Shanahan, Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind and Emeritus Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Imperial College London, one of the leading voices in AI, machine consciousness, and the future of intelligent systems.

Together, they will examine some of the most pressing intellectual questions of our time:

• Can AI ever become conscious, or merely simulate intelligence?
• What distinguishes computation from subjective experience?
• How do Vedānta and other Dharma traditions illuminate the nature of mind and consciousness?
• How Dharma based ethical principles should guide the development of increasingly autonomous AI systems?
• In what ways can Dharma ethics contribute meaningfully to the future of AI governance and human flourishing?

Designed for researchers, students, policymakers, technologists, philosophers, and members of the public, this dialogue seeks to foster a rigorous and open exchange between cutting-edge AI research and the philosophical insights of the Dharma traditions. By bringing these perspectives into conversation, the programme aims to deepen our understanding of intelligence, ethics, and the future relationship between humans and machines.

Date: 11 August 2026
Time: 5:30 pm
Venue: Schwarzman Centre, University of Oxford