Divya Chander, MD, PhD
Neuroscientist Applying AI to Cognitive Longevity
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Singularities, generative AI and artificial general intelligence
Can you read my mind? The promises and perils of AI decoding in the brain
Augmentation or Evolution 2.0 - Rewiring humans from the inside out
Synthetic Biology in an Artificially Intelligent World
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$30k to $65k plus travel
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United States/San Francisco Bay Area/Silicon Valley (travels internationally)
Divya Chander, MD, PhD is an anesthesiologist, neuroscientist, futurist, and entrepreneur trained at Harvard, Stanford, UCSF, UCSD, and the Salk Institute. Dr. Chander specializes in the convergence of brain health, technology, AI, and data security, and is Founder/CEO of a company that deploys AI-based algorithms within brain-computer interfaces (BCI) for early detection and treatment of brain failure, to prevent dementia and preserve cognitive longevity. Prior to this, her research at Stanford University pioneered the automated tracking of consciousness states and the exploration of theories of consciousness, presented on prominent stages like TED-NYC and the UN.
Her work includes the consideration of human augmentation and its effect on consciousness and human evolution, and the potential to recognize consciousness in non-human entities. She has also been modeling the effect of AI and embodied AI in the consciousness space, defining its risk landscape and strategies to mitigate risk. As Neuroscience Chair at the Singularity Group, Dr. Chander tracks neurotechnology and medical technology’s exponential growth and its implications for governance, startups, and the global economy. She is also part of the Health and Space Brain Trusts at XPRIZE.
She is a fierce advocate for data and biometric rights, and has contributed to policy awareness through her role on the Stimson Center Innovation Council and as a former Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. She has also advised and collaborated with organizations like the UN, XRSI, and the Australian Human Rights Commission to develop digital identity and biometric data protection standards, as well as define and advocate for neurorights. Dr. Chander’s experience also spans space life sciences. She was a finalist for astronaut selection and an alumnus of the International Space University, and has performed remote simulations of trauma rescues, anesthesia and surgery in Mars analogue settings. She is currently designing BCIs to diagnose and treat astronaut brain health, as well as medical systems to support human exploration of space.
More on Divya Chander
Divya Chander’s Talk Topics
Singularities, generative AI and artificial general intelligence:
Recent advances in large language models, or generative AI, have begun to make people question whether Kurzweil’s prediction of the Singularity may be coming to pass in the near future. To make sense of this, we need to first understand the difference between artificial intelligence and artificial generative intelligence and how these might be different or similar to neural intelligence expressed by organic brains. The journey will require that we think about fundamental universal concepts such as the definition of life, consciousness, embodiment, and complexity. And it will bring up significant ethical considerations. Can generative AI be used to read and write to the human brain, body and genome without informed consent? Can such intelligences be used to understand other intelligences on Earth, such as animal intelligence? Do machines or algorithms that express anything along the axis of intelligence to sentience deserve basic fundamental rights? Will generative AI be used to create new life forms? Will humans use AI to exploit other humans, or will an artificial general intelligence directly exploit humans without further human direction? And if the Singularity is achieved, what does this bode for our expansion into the universe?
Relevant audience: This is a visionary Singularity style talk, great for an opening keynote, that sets the tone for any type of SU event. It is relevant to all business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, technologists, robotics/AI/neurotech professionals, government, and students; related to the mission of Singularity, using exponential tech to solve for GGCs.
Synthetic Biology in an Artificially Intelligent World:
Synthetic biology empowers us to reprogram and engineer living organisms, creating new modes of on andoff-planet manufacturing, and novel solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today. It touches on almost every global grand challenge we face, including food security, sustainable habitats, personalized medicine, CRISPR-based therapeutics, novel materials, computing and data storage, and cleaner energy production. During this talk, we will explore fundamental concepts of synthetic biology, examining how scientists manipulate DNA, genes, and cells to design and construct new biological editing and manufacturing systems. The exponential increases in artificial intelligence and computing power coupled with decreases in cost have enabled this to move out of the lab and into practice, spurring new commercial innovation. We will also look at the ethical implications, responsible innovation, and how we might approach using these technologies for cyber and bio-defense threats. Startups and corporations alike are deploying biotechnology to innovate in allowing humans to flourish, protect our biosphere, and disrupt markets and industries and addressing the grand challenges of our time, from climate change to global health to energy production. Government and industry need a syn-bio strategy. By exploring the world of engineered life, we can discover how it will shape the future.
Relevant audience: all business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, technologists, cyber and bioterrorism professionals, government, students; related to SDGs and using exponential tech to solve for global grand challenges.
Can you read my mind? The promises and perils of AI decoding in the brain:
There has been a lot of recent hype around generative AI and the network models they are based on. Importantly, they are being seen and touted, whether correctly or not, as the point of inflection for the Singularity - where machine intelligence crosses the curve for organic intelligence, and artificial general intelligence becomes possible. But these models are actually just advances in the algorithms that have formed the foundation of brain reading technology and brain computer interfaces. In this talk, we explore this foundational neurotechnology, talk about the ways in which new AI models support unlocking more meaning from BCI mind reading, enable more sophisticated mechanisms for writing to the brain, connecting the brain to the machines and the web, and open up the door for human personhood to be hacked.
Relevant audience: This talk was very relevant to the types of crowds drawn to Exponential Medicine – healthcare executives, physicians, scientists, technologists, and investors. It is also particularly relevant to those interested in AI and robotics, and their impact. When presented at SciFoo, many of the AI, computing, quantum developers and investors were interested. It touches on the power of exponential technology to change and amplify human potential. Related to the mission of Singularity, using exponential tech to solve for GGCs.
Augmentation or Evolution 2.0 - Rewiring humans from the inside out:
The genetic code and the neural code, the two fundamental codes of life, are being rapidly digitized, through revolutions in gene sequencing and brain mapping. By dissecting the codes of life, we are newly empowered to repair and rebuild humans. But we might also be able to create humans to be something beyond our state of evolution? And how does the ability to read-write to humans make us uniquely vulnerable to being hacked? Human augmentation and other technologies are blurring the lines of what it means to be human.
Relevant audience: This talk weaves genetics/genomic editing, syn-bio, neurotechnology, AI, bionics and XR to demonstrate the power of exponential technology in changing human potential. It is relevant to all business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, technologists, robotics/AI/neurotech professionals, government, and students; related to the mission of Singularity, using exponential tech to solve for GGCs.
More talk topics are available on request. If you have any questions or would like to book Divya for your event, contact us directly.