A conversation with Stephen Grossberg, whose work on explaining how our brains make our conscious minds has led him to be called the Father of AI and the Newton and Einstein of the Mind.

Dr. Stephen Grossberg discusses his extensive journey into the study of consciousness, neural networks, and the evolution of artificial intelligence. He speaks about the development of adaptive resonance theory, and how these concepts relate to understanding mental disorders. He touches on collective intelligence and the implications of his theories for both human and non-human systems. Dr. Grossberg delves into the complexities of consciousness, creativity, and the interplay between the brain and mind. He speaks about the writing process behind the book 'Conscious Mind, Resonant Brain', and the significance of creativity in understanding consciousness. The conversation also touches on quantum models of consciousness, the concept of qualia, and the limitations of current models in neuroscience. The conversation explores potential breakthroughs in neuroscience and the future of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of funding and innovation in these fields. Dr. Grossberg discusses various themes including the challenges of funding technology and research, the influence of national security on technological advancements, the complexities of intellectual property use in some Large Language Models advanced by AI companies, which he notes are not “language” models at all, and “do not know what they are talking about”, his 2025 article that explains how humans learn large language models that do express meaning, and his soon to be published book called Your Creative Brain and AI: How we learn and consciously experience Art, Music, and Meaning. He reflects on his personal journey, and the current issues facing the scientific enterprise under current Federal leadership.

Wang Professor of Cognitive and Neural Systems

Professor Emeritus of Mathematics & Statistics, Psychological & Brain Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering

Founding Chairman, Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, (http://cns.bu.edu)

Founder and Director, Center for Adaptive Systems (http://cns.bu.edu/about/cas.html)

Founding Director, Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology (CELEST)

Founding President, International Neural Network Society (http://www.inns.org/)

Founding Editor-In-Chief, Neural Networks (http://www.journals.elsevier.com/neural-networks/)

Founder and General Chairman, International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems (ICCNS), 1997-2013 (http://cns.bu.edu/cns-meeting/conference.html)

PhD, Mathematics, Rockefeller University

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Conversation

17:42 The Evolution of Neural Networks and AI

30:41 Adaptive Resonance Theory: Understanding Consciousness

41:09 Collective Intelligence and Emergent Phenomena

48:28 CLEAR: Conscious Learning and Its Implications

56:07 Predicting Mental Disorders through Cognitive Models

01:01:29 Writing 'Conscious Mind, Resonant Brain'

01:09:03 Exploring Consciousness and Quantum Models

01:22:01 The Brain-Mind Connection

01:38:11 Future Breakthroughs in Neuroscience and AI

01:48:32 Funding Challenges in Technology and Research

01:54:45 Art and the Free Energy Principle

02:01:52 Current Issues in the Scientific Enterprise

02:19:15 Impact of Research on Disease Treatment

https://sites.bu.edu/steveg/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Grossberg

Purchase his book- https://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Mind-Resonant-Brain-Makes/dp/0190070552

Music for every episode 

Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic

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Keywords

consciousness, neural networks, AI, adaptive resonance theory, mental disorders, collective intelligence, learning, cognitive models, psychology, neuroscience, consciousness, creativity, neuroscience, qualia, writing process, quantum models, brain-mind connection, limitations of models, future of AI, technology funding, national security, intellectual property, deep learning, art, free energy principle, scientific enterprise, disease treatment, psychedelics, mental health, Psychedelics