Ai Salon: The Anime Series #1 [SF]

​What can anime teach us about this technological moment?

​Japanese animation has long been a visionary medium, exploring complex relationships between humans, technology, and artificial intelligence decades before our current AI revolution. From "Ghost in the Shell" to "Psycho-Pass," anime creators have crafted rich narratives that address consciousness, autonomy, and the blurring boundaries between human and machine intelligence.

​In this salon series, we'll examine how anime, as a medium, allows for imaginative storytelling that provides unique insights into our potential AI future. We'll explore how these works portray the philosophical, ethical, and societal implications of advanced AI systems - from digital consciousness and robot rights to surveillance states and technological symbiosis.

​Join us for this new series where we watch, discuss and digest anime that has something to say about AI, humanity and transhumanism!

​5:30 - 6:00 - filter in and get to know each other

​6:00 - 7:45 -🎥 Watching Metropolis (2001)

​8:00 - 9:00 - Then our salon discussion! 🍣It'll be a potluck dinner, so please bring a little something to share.

​This series will be facilitated by Saurya, Tammie and Ian. Saurya will give a brief on the anime itself, the sources it draws from and why it feels particularly relevant to the current moment.

​The photo is The Predictor by Chirico, 1916

​The Ai Salon is a global community founded in San Francisco focused on intimate, small-sized group discussions on the sociological, economic, cultural, and philosophical impacts and meaning of AI developments. We host small group discussions, all of which you can find on our calendar. You can find summaries of our previous conversations on our substack.

​​​​Please be advised: Unfortunately, space is very limited at these community events and we can not always accept everyone we would like to. We base acceptances based on levels of interest and passion demonstrated in registration question answers. If you are not accepted to this event, please try and come to another!