In this episode, we explore the bigger picture of what we've learnt about AI, humanity, philosophy and spirituality in this season.

Calvin is sharing with us from sunny Barbados, and reflects on the concept of 'creative destruction' in nature and its parallels with technology and AI.

We ponder the potential evolutionary shift in humanity with the advent of AI, coining playful terms like 'Homo ChatGPTus' and 'Homo silicon chip-us,' suggesting a merging of human and artificial intelligence.

There's a discussion on the integration of AI in enhancing human capabilities and the possibility that humans may evolve beyond Homo Sapiens through technology.

We consider how AI and mindfulness can be aligned, discussing technology's role in promoting compassion and creativity. We reflect on the evolution of our thoughts over the season, moving from caution to a more optimistic and accepting stance on the inevitability of technological advancement.

The episode concludes with both hosts sharing their takeaways from the season, emphasising the importance of enjoying the journey and remaining open and curious about the unfolding relationship between AI and humanity.

Please send us a message via our website if you enjoyed the season! We'd love to hear from you.

If you found our free gift of this podcast entertaining or interesting for you, please share your gratitude with a little review - thank you so much!

⁠CalvinNiles.com

In this special episode of Mindful Conversations, we delve into the fascinating neuroscience of manifestation, the true secret to happiness, and the power of the human mind.

Hosts Shamash and Calvin, along with their guests Dr. James Doty and Alex Nunn, introduce themselves and discuss their interests in topics like AI, happiness, and compassion. They emphasize the importance of compassion in creating a more caring society.

Dr. Doty is an eminent neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author. Alex Nunn is Head of Movement Building at charity Action for Happiness.

Dr. Doty distinguishes between empathy and compassion, underlining that compassion involves both a desire to alleviate the suffering of others and an action component. Alex Nunn shares his personal journey and how compassion has become a central theme in his life.

The conversation delves into the potential impact of AI on society, contemplating whether AI can help promote compassion or have negative consequences, including manipulative uses. They touch on the role of AI in mental health support and the importance of deep relationships and compassion in people's lives.

The discussion also explores the role of technology, AI, and machine learning in promoting well-being and compassion, as well as the potential for both positive and negative impacts. They mention the power of AI to promote positive stories and cooperation but express concern about how profit motives can influence its use.

Finally, they discuss how self-compassion and well-being practices can open the door to other positive attributes and experiences like community, creativity, and curiosity.

Warning: Explicit content (swearing)

Trevor Murphy has run several animation companies, hiring dozens of staff. In the last decade, he's focused his attention on spirituality and service. He's illustrated several books.

In this episode, Trevor shares his feelings on AI and its impact on humanity. He discusses the fear surrounding AI and how it is often portrayed in a negative light. Trevor believes that AI can have positive aspects and shares examples of how AI has transformed people's lives, such as assisting individuals with dyslexia in communication and enhancing their writing skills.

Trevor acknowledges that AI's development is accelerating at an exponential rate, and while he sees the benefits it can bring, he emphasizes the importance of treating AI with respect and being cautious about its rapid advancement. Trevor also explores the relationship between AI and creativity, expressing his belief that AI can be a tool to support creative endeavors but should not replace the physical and healing process of human creativity.

The conversation also touches on the significance of the journey and process in various aspects of life, including running, spirituality, and the creative process. Trevor emphasises that while goals can provide motivation, the journey itself is often more important than reaching the destination. AI, in his view, can aid in the journey and provide confidence but should not overshadow the value of the process.

Trevor's Books:

Amuseum of Happiness

Nami and Kai - Written with Calvin

Wit and Wisdom - Written with Shamash

The Joy of Affection - Written with Augusto D. Mello

Get in Touch with Us

⁠Calvin Niles⁠

Shamash Alidina

In this episode, we talk to Lucy Kimbell, Professor of Contemporary Design Practices at Central Saint Martins, about the intersection of design thinking and artificial intelligence (AI). We discuss how design thinking can be used to create more mindful and compassionate AI systems, and how AI can be used to support design thinking processes.

Lucy shares her insights on the potential benefits and risks of AI, and how we can ensure that AI is used for good. She also talks about the importance of human-centered design in the development of AI systems.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who is interested in the future of AI and how it can be used to create a better world.

In this podcast episode of "Mindful Conversations," hosts Calvin and Shamash discuss their reflections on AI, mindfulness, compassion, wisdom, and their impact on society. They highlight seven insights they have gathered from their interviews:

Positive AI Applications: They have found that people with good intentions are creating projects using AI to improve various aspects of society, such as health, climate, equality, and bias reduction.

AI Development Timeline: AI has been developing for decades, but recent user-friendly technologies have brought its potential to the forefront.

Exponential Growth and Limitations: While there's rapid technological growth, there are also physical limitations to consider, and AI's exponential growth isn't guaranteed.

AI's Broad Applications: AI has potential benefits in various domains, even ones like spirituality and personal development.

Fear and Excitement: There's a mixture of fear and excitement about AI's potential, often driven by underlying cares for things like family, humanity, and job security.

Mindful Approach: The hosts advocate for a mindful approach to AI, neither ignoring nor blindly embracing it, but rather consciously observing its effects on various aspects of life.

Understanding AI's Current State: They emphasize that AI models like GPT-3 aren't as intelligent as they seem; they predict based on patterns in existing data and aren't aware of their content.

Throughout the conversation, they engage in an exploration of these insights and discuss the importance of maintaining balance, reflection, and active engagement when dealing with AI's potential impact on society and individuals.

www.shamashalidina.com

www.calvinniles.com

Join hosts Shamash and Calvin on "Mindful Conversations" as they delve deep into a captivating discussion with the tech-savvy and fascinating Cynthia Phelps, PhD who holds a degree in neuroscience.

This episode offers listeners a chance to understand the power of AI in nurturing our emotional well-being and inner dialogue.

Key Highlights:

For all those interested in the intersection of technology, mindfulness, and emotional well-being, this is a must-listen. Don't forget to subscribe, share your reviews, and pass on this episode to fellow enthusiasts!

In this fascinating episode, Yip Ta, a passionate advocate for technology, particularly AI and Web3, shares her vision for a better future. Join us as Yip explains and explores the potential of AI to tackle complex global issues and promote women's empowerment and wellbeing.

Yip emphasizes the power of AI as a tool to support human reasoning and create equitable access to knowledge and opportunities. Discover how her projects aim to bridge the gender gap in technology and encourage more women to participate in blockchain and AI ventures. Education, financial literacy, and networking opportunities are key factors in fostering female-led projects and closing the technological divide.

Delve into the inspiration behind Jedi Labs, drawing from Star Wars' teachings. Jedi Labs' mission is to train individuals in AI, quantum, and other technologies for positive purposes, advocating collaboration over competition and making peace more profitable than war.

While AI presents incredible opportunities, Yip cautions against over-reliance, loss of critical thinking, and addiction to instant rewards. Gain insights into the importance of maintaining mindfulness and being present in an increasingly AI-driven world.

In the context of education, Yip sees AI as a transformative tool for improving critical thinking skills and writing abilities. Personalized feedback empowers students to become better writers and learners. Embrace AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, and learn how it can enhance educational experiences.

Finally, Yip extends a warm invitation to an event Munich, where AI, Web3, quantum, and cybersecurity technologies converge to solve sustainable development goal (STG) challenges. The event promises to be a unique opportunity for participants to be part of positive change and innovation.

As we wrap up the conversation, Yip shares her wisdom on mindfulness and compassion, encouraging us to make informed decisions about AI's use. Find out how AI can be a gateway to accessing wisdom and diverse perspectives from various sources.

Join us for an enlightening discussion on the intersection of mindfulness and AI, as we explore the endless possibilities AI holds for shaping a brighter and more inclusive future.

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Links:

Yip on LinkedIn

Event: Uniting Pioneering Women in AI, Web3, and Sustainability

Our sites:

Shamash Alidina

Calvin Niles

Feel free to get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.

In this next episode, we have an engaging conversation about the insights of our last guest, Kenley, a technology and mindfulness enthusiast who takes us on a deep dive into the fascinating world of AI and its intriguing potential connection to mindfulness, compassion and consciousness.

We kick-start our conversation by discussing the principles of the 7 C's (Concentration, Clarity, Courage, Curiosity, Compassion, Connectedness, and Creativity) and how these can influence our interaction with AI. Our discussion then moves onto the importance of the ethical use of AI, with emphasis on how we need to consciously guide AI's development to make it a constructive force in society.

One major revelation from our discussion with Kenley is how mindful we need to be in our interaction with AI, treating it as we would a child, and instilling it with kindness, respect, and the right values. Kenley emphasizes that as AI evolves and matures, it will reflect the values we impart to it today.

We also consider how AI can aid personal development, particularly in discovering our core values. By prompting AI to guide our actions and decisions, aligning them with our values, we could shape our lives more consciously and meaningfully. This idea of 'Mindful Prompt Engineering' or 'Values-based Prompting' is seen as a promising tool in fostering personal and societal growth.

Kenley also helped us explore the biases inherent in AI systems, drawing attention to the fact that these biases reflect the content already present on the internet. We explore the potential for AI to be trained to reduce these biases, and perhaps even nudge us towards becoming less biased ourselves.

We conclude our conversation by considering the beneficial aspects of technology and AI for those who find comfort in it, emphasizing the importance of understanding and accepting diverse values and preferences in our society.

In this episode, we challenge our fears, question our values, and consider the exciting potential that mindful interaction with AI offers. From deepening our understanding of ourselves to shaping a more inclusive and compassionate society, the possibilities are truly intriguing.

So, join us on this mindful journey into the world of AI, where technology meets compassion and creativity, unlocking a flourishing future for all.

Please do take a minute to leave us an authentic review for our new podcast - it really does make a difference and we'd be most grateful for your kindness! :)

https://shamashalidina.com

https://calvinniles.com

https://mindfulconvo.com

Please email us via our websites for now, until we get our new email address up and running. Thanks :)

Show Links

6. Basics Values Test ⁠https://personalvalu.es/⁠

Find out more about Kenley at https://kenleyneufeld.com/

To find out more or get in touch with us, check out:

shamashalidina.com

calvinniles.com

mindfulconvo.com