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David Chalmers

Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University, known for his work in the philosophy of mind. Explores the possibility of artificial consciousness and related ethical considerations.

Top 10 podcasts with David Chalmers

Ranked by the Snipd community
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215 snips
May 23, 2025 • 3h 35min

Beyond human minds: The bewildering frontier of consciousness in insects, AI, and more

Megan Barrett, an insect neurobiologist, discusses the evolutionary case for insect sentience. Jeff Sebo, specializing in ethics, explores moral considerations for AI systems. David Chalmers contemplates the feasibility of artificial consciousness, while Bob Fischer examines the moral weight of animals like chickens. Cameron Meyer Shorb highlights the suffering of wild animals, and Jonathan Birch warns about the nuances of newborn pain. The conversation challenges our understanding of consciousness across species and prompts deep questions about our moral responsibilities.
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58 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 27min

Can Brain Alone Explain Consciousness?

David Chalmers, philosopher known for framing the 'hard problem' of consciousness, and John Searle, philosopher advocating biological naturalism, spar over whether brain facts can explain subjective experience. They debate explanatory gaps, materialist strategies, panpsychism, integrated information, causation, and whether consciousness could be built or remains fundamentally beyond neuroscience.
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55 snips
Nov 1, 2024 • 47min

The Hard Problem of Consciousness with David Chalmers

David Chalmers, a renowned philosopher and cognitive scientist at NYU, dives into the perplexing nature of consciousness. He discusses why consciousness is deemed a 'hard problem' and explores its implications in understanding reality. The conversation touches on theories of animal consciousness, the relationship between subjective experiences and AI, and philosophical ideas like 'philosophical zombies.' They also examine how consciousness ties into color perception and even the evolution of our understanding of physics, raising questions about the nature of existence itself.
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53 snips
Jan 29, 2020 • 1h 39min

David Chalmers: The Hard Problem of Consciousness

David Chalmers, a leading philosopher and cognitive scientist, dives into the enigma of consciousness and its philosophical implications. He discusses the fascinating concept of simulation theory, questioning whether our reality is a mere illusion. Chalmers explores consciousness in virtual environments and the profound implications of synesthesia. The conversation also touches on free will, the relationship between consciousness and AI, and moral dilemmas posed by cloning. This thought-provoking dialogue challenges listeners to contemplate the essence of existence.
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51 snips
Dec 3, 2018 • 1h 22min

25 | David Chalmers on Consciousness, the Hard Problem, and Living in a Simulation

What makes the color red feel like anything at all? David Chalmers and Sean Carroll wrestle with consciousness, philosophical zombies, panpsychism, and whether brain science can crack the hard problem. They also explore quantum minds, AI, and the possibility that we live in a simulation, asking whether virtual lives would count as real and what responsibilities come with creating them.
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30 snips
Apr 17, 2023 • 50min

63 - The Question of Consciousness (Ft. David Chalmers)

Philosopher David Chalmers tackles the mystery of why physical processes come with a first-person inner life, and whether consciousness needs new principles beyond physics. The conversation ranges from virtual worlds and simulated realities to the ethics of creating digital minds, AI consciousness, and the unsettling prospect of machines that act conscious without feeling anything.
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25 snips
Jun 3, 2026 • 1h 15min

David Chalmers on Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy

David Chalmers, NYU philosopher of mind and author of Reality+, explores whether virtual worlds and simulations can be genuinely real. He discusses simulation theory, how virtual objects and minds might have reality and value, the feasibility of indistinguishable sims, and how digital realities challenge consciousness, identity, and autonomy. Conversations range from bits-as-constituents to risks of manipulation in virtual lives.
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24 snips
Jul 13, 2023 • 1h 19min

Artificial Intelligence Meets Virtual Worlds: The Future of Sentience

Generative AI is racing toward humanlike abilities, while spatial computing promises to blend digital worlds with everyday life. Steven Johnson, David Chalmers, and John Borthwick explore machine consciousness, emotional bonds with AI, and the risks of increasingly powerful systems. They also consider a future where virtual worlds are created by AI and populated by lifelike digital beings.
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22 snips
Jun 19, 2023 • 42min

Is This Reality? VR, AI, and the Mystery of Consciousness - Part 1

David Chalmers, a leading philosopher and neural science expert, delves into the complex interplay between virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and consciousness. He raises thought-provoking questions about our deepening reliance on technology and the risks it poses. Chalmers discusses the philosophical implications of AI potentially gaining consciousness, and explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI rights. He also examines how digital experiences may redefine our understanding of reality, blurring the line between the virtual and the actual.
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19 snips
Jun 2, 2026 • 52min

The AI End Game: Is Your Chatbot Conscious? with David Chalmers

David Chalmers, philosopher and cognitive scientist at NYU known for work on the 'hard problem' of consciousness, joins to debate whether machines could possess subjective experience. He defines consciousness as 'what it is like' to be something. Short takes cover neural correlates, AI mimicry versus inner life, people bonding with chatbots, and the ethical stakes if machines truly feel.

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