ALPACA VC × HSBC
The Physical World and What Comes Next
An afternoon on AI in the physical world, human agency and what comes next, featuring a keynote from Martin Seligman.
AI is moving beyond the screen, into robot fleets, scientific discovery and the systems that keep the world running.
We brought together the founders building this next wave and leading thinkers on human agency, ethics and flourishing to ask what comes next.
Builders & thinkers
Conversations guided by Brian Potter, Nizzi Karai Renaud and Josh Jagota.
The keynote
1 MINUTE · MARTIN SELIGMANZellerbach Family Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
Human progress has always been tied to human agency. In his keynote, Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman, a pioneer of positive psychology and author of Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress, explored the explanatory leaps behind some of history’s greatest breakthroughs.
His challenge to the room: can we build AI capable of abductive thinking, too?
“Now, this is what I propose to you now. I’m a tremendous enthusiast about these machines. I love them. But I think, by design, they must be coherence machines, and that about twenty times in human history there has been a gigantic abductive process that changes science, religion, and human history. This seems to me, at the moment, to be uniquely human. And so I conclude by saying, I’m not convinced that the machines can’t do it, but if you can think through a way to make these machines abductive, you will make an enormous contribution to science, and you will become very rich. So thank you.”
“If you can think through a way to make these machines abductive, you will make an enormous contribution to science, and you will become very rich.”
From the afternoon
Short previews from the panels, fireside conversation and keynote are coming soon.
COMING SOON01 / The Physical Economy
Charlie Andersen · Joseph Reth
Moderated by Brian Potter
What separates a compelling demo from a system that does useful work? Robot fleets, scientific discovery and the demands of the physical world.
Coming soon
COMING SOON02 / Responsibility & moral consideration
Jeff Sebo
In conversation with Josh Jagota
How should we think about AI welfare when questions of consciousness remain unsettled? Jeff Sebo explores moral consideration and responsible design under uncertainty.
Coming soon
COMING SOON03 / Human Agency
Dennis Crowley · Nadya Okamoto · Michelle Parsons
Moderated by Nizzi Karai Renaud
Building trust, bringing people together and using AI to support relationships beyond the screen.
Coming soon
COMING SOON04 / Keynote
Martin Seligman
Introduced by Nizzi Karai Renaud
Human agency, AI-assisted storytelling and the role of imagination in scientific discovery.
Coming soonSelf-discovery with Lora. Handwritten notes with Crane.
LoraExplore self-discovery and human connection with Lora, introduced by co-founder Michelle Parsons.
Meet Lora ↗From the room
Follow along as we continue to explore what we call The Aquarius Economy.
Hear about our next invite-only Alpaca event.