Workshop:
AI and the Self
Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cultural Perspectives

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.