Renowned artist and designer Es Devlin has brought together an eclectic group of spiritual leaders, artificial intelligence researchers, and academics. Their shared purpose: to explore the tactile craft of ceramics while engaging in crucial debates about the trajectory of technology and its profound impact on humanity.
During the gathering at Oxford Kilns, Devlin employs a unique method to command attention: a singing bowl. This resonant instrument, traditionally used in Buddhist chanting but now common in mindfulness practices, emits a frequency that creates a pleasant, vibrating sensation. As Devlin gently strikes it, a palpable silence falls over the diverse assembly, signaling a moment of collective focus.
This distinct convocation, dubbed the “AI and Earth” conference and orchestrated by Devlin, sees artists, leading AI experts, spiritual figures, scholars, and specialists from global tech companies converging at the kilns. Here, they collaboratively create pottery while delving into deep discussions on the complex ethical and societal dimensions of artificial intelligence.