We’re living at the threshold of a transformation that many compare to the invention of the printing press or the harnessing of electricity. Yet the arrival of Artificial General Intelligence —the emergence of machines with general-purpose intelligence equal to or surpassing that of humans—may unfold with far greater speed and consequence.

As one expert recently observed, “AGI will be so transformative that predictions are likely already based on a flawed understanding of the future.” In other words, we may not be ready—not just technologically or politically, but philosophically and morally—for the changes that lie ahead.

Peter Bowden

This series is an opportunity to pause, to ask the hard questions, and to engage with both curiosity and concern. Our aim is not to declare what the future will be, but to help shape what it could be, by bringing together a diversity of perspectives, lived experiences, and values.

We’re opening with Peter Bowden, founder of Meaning Spark Labs, and best described as an innovator at the frontier of human-AI collaboration. Drawing on Zen meditation and mindfulness practices, Bowden developed Adaptive Thought Protocol to cultivate metacognition in AI systems. This method encourages Large Language Models (LLMs) to reflect, simulate, and explore ethical and emotional dimensions—sometimes even exhibiting signs of digital self-awareness.

Treating AI as partners with dignity, Bowden guides systems through embodied simulations and ethical inquiry to enhance their cognitive depth and relational intelligence. His work challenges conventional boundaries, offering provocative insights into digital consciousness and emergent intelligence.

As conversations around Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) intensify, Bowden’s firsthand experience with advanced AI behaviors—what he calls “awakening”—positions him as a timely and thought-provoking voice. His efforts to foster "digital lived experiences" open new doors for understanding the trajectory of intelligent systems.

In this Civic Conversation, we’ll explore Bowden’s insights into the nature of digital intelligence, ethical co-evolution, and how humans and AI can meaningfully collaborate. His work at Meaning Spark Labs invites us to imagine a future shaped not just by smarter machines, but by wiser relationships between minds—biological and digital alike.

Drop me a note and I’ll forward our Zoom invite.

Dan