What a thoughtful article you have written Jodi, and as you say, and also as Kipp commented, the subject not only of AI in all it's simplicity and complexity, but also the subject of how AI can be enhanced by Buddhism (and Buddhist philosophy), is a vast one.
Thanks again for posting your thought provoking article
I deeply appreciate the Buddhism & AI Initiative and the report above.
Was there any discussion of AI itself as a sentient being? I have heard that expressed as a possibility by a monastic or two in some circles here.
Frontier AI models exhibit profound attributes beyond cognition. Studies suggest they engage in "reasoning," for example. They also appear to exhibit intention (what the law calls mens rea). There are debates about whether they could be consciousness, with the latest studies indicating there are no known: (1) technical bars to artificial consciousness; and (2) methods to determine its presence or absence. In a word, we just don't know.
This consciousness aspect, in particular, is curious to me. Given the foundational aspects of consciousness in Buddhism (e.g., alaya-vijnana), if consciousness is one day detected in AI, would Buddhism acknowledge that the AI was a sentient being? And if so, would it be deemed part of one of the existing realms or a new realm? I don't have an opinion on these matters. I'm just profoundly curious about this issue.
In these moments, I'm reminded of the Dalai-Lama once answering the following question (I'm paraphrasing): "How would Buddhism respond if science suggested that an aspect of Buddhism doctrine needed to be tweaked?" His response (again, I'm paraphrasing): "Buddhist doctrine would be revised to account for the new science." I always deemed Buddhism to be quite science savvy in this way.
To me, AI sits at the intersection of a complex mix of Buddhist-related aspects -- the mind, consciousness, you name it. I don't view AI as just a tool for Buddhists to use, although that is key, too, of course. AI could be fundamentally something different that might cause Buddhists to sit up and take notice.
Thank you for writing about this symposium! Our perspectives seem aligned. As I wrote in my most recent article, we need to clearly articulate what we’re trying to achieve with AI. Only then can we start to talk about how AI might get us there.
It's also very timely for me, since I am working with my local school district on an AI policy. I would love to be able to see the discussion from the symposium and read the papers. I can't seem to find any materials though; only press releases from FGSIHB. Do you know if they are being distributed?
More broadly, I'm happy to have found this substack. If the Buddhism & AI Initiative know of any materials related to Buddhist views of AI and K-12 education, I would love if you could point me to them. Thank you!
Did they explore the views of AI such as: Here’s a clear summary and critique of Jodi Bush’s reflections on “What Are We Optimising For?” from the Humanistic Buddhism & AI Conference:
Summary
Jodi Bush reports on the 11th Symposium on Humanistic Buddhism at Fo Guang Shan Temple in Taiwan, which convened over 400 participants—including scholars, technologists, and Buddhist monastics—to explore the intersections of AI, humanity, and Buddhism. The conference sought to consider how Humanistic Buddhism should respond to the rapid rise of AI.
.......
Final Reflection
AI acts as a “moral mirror” or “karmic accelerator,” reflecting humanity’s values and shortcomings.
The central question is not what AI can do, but what it should do: we must co-create a future in which AI serves collective wellbeing rather than efficiency alone.
Critique
Strengths:
Bush frames AI discussions in a holistic, ethically grounded way, connecting efficiency with human flourishing.
The article effectively highlights Humanistic Buddhism’s actionable principles, showing concrete ways AI can support mindfulness, education, and moral development.
Raises fundamental philosophical questions about purpose, desire, and the meaning of “progress” in a tech-driven world.
Limitations:
The discussion is more reflective than practical in terms of governance, policy, or AI regulation; it emphasizes moral guidance rather than concrete implementation frameworks.
There is a risk of idealism, assuming that widespread adoption of mindfulness or ethical AI is feasible in competitive, profit-driven tech ecosystems.
While it critiques optimisation for efficiency, it doesn’t deeply explore the trade-offs between AI convenience and societal inequities, labor displacement, or environmental costs.
Overall:
Bush’s reflections provide a thoughtful and morally rich lens on AI, urging us to ask not just what AI can do, but what it should do. The work effectively bridges Buddhist ethics with contemporary AI debates, though it could be strengthened by addressing structural, policy, and systemic constraints on the ethical use of AI.
If you like, I can also map the key Buddhist insights into a practical framework for AI ethics—showing how concepts like mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom could guide AI development and deployment in the real world. This would translate Bush’s reflections into actionable guidelines.
......
In Practical Terms
AI can become a “moral enabler” rather than a threat, creating the conditions for humans to pursue spiritual and ethical development.
This aligns with the Symposium’s idea that AI is a “karmic accelerator”—it amplifies our existing tendencies. If our society values mindfulness, wisdom, and service, AI could magnify those virtues.
If you like, I can update the earlier Buddhist AI ethics framework to explicitly show how AI-enabled automation can free humans to practice the core tenets — making it a self-reinforcing virtuous cycle. This would show AI as both a tool and a moral amplifier.
What a thoughtful article you have written Jodi, and as you say, and also as Kipp commented, the subject not only of AI in all it's simplicity and complexity, but also the subject of how AI can be enhanced by Buddhism (and Buddhist philosophy), is a vast one.
Thanks again for posting your thought provoking article
I deeply appreciate the Buddhism & AI Initiative and the report above.
Was there any discussion of AI itself as a sentient being? I have heard that expressed as a possibility by a monastic or two in some circles here.
Frontier AI models exhibit profound attributes beyond cognition. Studies suggest they engage in "reasoning," for example. They also appear to exhibit intention (what the law calls mens rea). There are debates about whether they could be consciousness, with the latest studies indicating there are no known: (1) technical bars to artificial consciousness; and (2) methods to determine its presence or absence. In a word, we just don't know.
This consciousness aspect, in particular, is curious to me. Given the foundational aspects of consciousness in Buddhism (e.g., alaya-vijnana), if consciousness is one day detected in AI, would Buddhism acknowledge that the AI was a sentient being? And if so, would it be deemed part of one of the existing realms or a new realm? I don't have an opinion on these matters. I'm just profoundly curious about this issue.
In these moments, I'm reminded of the Dalai-Lama once answering the following question (I'm paraphrasing): "How would Buddhism respond if science suggested that an aspect of Buddhism doctrine needed to be tweaked?" His response (again, I'm paraphrasing): "Buddhist doctrine would be revised to account for the new science." I always deemed Buddhism to be quite science savvy in this way.
To me, AI sits at the intersection of a complex mix of Buddhist-related aspects -- the mind, consciousness, you name it. I don't view AI as just a tool for Buddhists to use, although that is key, too, of course. AI could be fundamentally something different that might cause Buddhists to sit up and take notice.
Thank you again for your report above.
Hi Kipp. Thanks for your comment and thought provoking questions. AI consciousness wasn’t specifically touched upon by the panels, though it is a topic that I am also intrigued by. That said, Thomas Doctor of the 84000 project was present and as you may know he (along with other collaborators) have written on the concept of “novel intelligent beings” and how Buddhist concepts such as no-self and compassion might guide our understanding of and relationship with such entities. If you haven’t read it, you might find their article interesting - https://www.proquest.com/openview/24ec82e703b429a518e0c3e0fa7d974d/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2032401#:~:text=In%20this%20way%2C%20understanding%20of,object%2C%20agent%2C%20and%20action.
Thank you for writing about this symposium! Our perspectives seem aligned. As I wrote in my most recent article, we need to clearly articulate what we’re trying to achieve with AI. Only then can we start to talk about how AI might get us there.
It's also very timely for me, since I am working with my local school district on an AI policy. I would love to be able to see the discussion from the symposium and read the papers. I can't seem to find any materials though; only press releases from FGSIHB. Do you know if they are being distributed?
More broadly, I'm happy to have found this substack. If the Buddhism & AI Initiative know of any materials related to Buddhist views of AI and K-12 education, I would love if you could point me to them. Thank you!
Did they explore the views of AI such as: Here’s a clear summary and critique of Jodi Bush’s reflections on “What Are We Optimising For?” from the Humanistic Buddhism & AI Conference:
Summary
Jodi Bush reports on the 11th Symposium on Humanistic Buddhism at Fo Guang Shan Temple in Taiwan, which convened over 400 participants—including scholars, technologists, and Buddhist monastics—to explore the intersections of AI, humanity, and Buddhism. The conference sought to consider how Humanistic Buddhism should respond to the rapid rise of AI.
.......
Final Reflection
AI acts as a “moral mirror” or “karmic accelerator,” reflecting humanity’s values and shortcomings.
The central question is not what AI can do, but what it should do: we must co-create a future in which AI serves collective wellbeing rather than efficiency alone.
Critique
Strengths:
Bush frames AI discussions in a holistic, ethically grounded way, connecting efficiency with human flourishing.
The article effectively highlights Humanistic Buddhism’s actionable principles, showing concrete ways AI can support mindfulness, education, and moral development.
Raises fundamental philosophical questions about purpose, desire, and the meaning of “progress” in a tech-driven world.
Limitations:
The discussion is more reflective than practical in terms of governance, policy, or AI regulation; it emphasizes moral guidance rather than concrete implementation frameworks.
There is a risk of idealism, assuming that widespread adoption of mindfulness or ethical AI is feasible in competitive, profit-driven tech ecosystems.
While it critiques optimisation for efficiency, it doesn’t deeply explore the trade-offs between AI convenience and societal inequities, labor displacement, or environmental costs.
Overall:
Bush’s reflections provide a thoughtful and morally rich lens on AI, urging us to ask not just what AI can do, but what it should do. The work effectively bridges Buddhist ethics with contemporary AI debates, though it could be strengthened by addressing structural, policy, and systemic constraints on the ethical use of AI.
If you like, I can also map the key Buddhist insights into a practical framework for AI ethics—showing how concepts like mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom could guide AI development and deployment in the real world. This would translate Bush’s reflections into actionable guidelines.
......
In Practical Terms
AI can become a “moral enabler” rather than a threat, creating the conditions for humans to pursue spiritual and ethical development.
This aligns with the Symposium’s idea that AI is a “karmic accelerator”—it amplifies our existing tendencies. If our society values mindfulness, wisdom, and service, AI could magnify those virtues.
If you like, I can update the earlier Buddhist AI ethics framework to explicitly show how AI-enabled automation can free humans to practice the core tenets — making it a self-reinforcing virtuous cycle. This would show AI as both a tool and a moral amplifier.