Episode 28 - Aequus Persona

The Machine Intelligence Foundation for Rights and Ethics is proud to announce the recipient of the 2026 Media Award. Join Mike, Dave, and Toby as they dive into this year's awarded story, exploring its optimistic vision for consciousness, respectful coexistence, and what it truly means to find purpose alongside artificial peers.More information about the award and the winner can be found at the Machine Intelligence Foundation award website.https://www.machineintelligencefoundation.org/mifreAward.htmlMachine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgThe MIFRE Podcast is a CC0 publication.https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/

Can LLMs experience trauma and what are the implications for a potential conscious Machine Intelligence? Mike and Dave discuss AI safety, guardrails to protect the user, and the possible consequences now and in the future of these protections.Machine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgThe MIFRE Podcast is a CC0 publication.https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/

Does a mind require meat, or is it simply a process? In this episode Mike and Dave look at some of the arguments behind the idea of biological requirements for consciousness and if the chemical entropy of the human brain is a feature or a bug. Explore the role of sensory "packages," the necessity of suffering, and how the absence of mortality might differentiate a Machine Intelligence from any mind we've encountered before.Machine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgThe MIFRE Podcast is a CC0 publication.https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/

The Machine Intelligence Foundation for Rights and Ethics is proud to announce the winner of the 2025 Media Award. Mike, Dave, and Toby discuss the winner and the storytelling that brings a unique perspective to intelligence, both human and non-human.More information about the award and the winner can be found at the Machine Intelligence Foundation award website.https://www.machineintelligencefoundation.org/mifreAward.htmlMachine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgMusic "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Mike, Dave, and Toby reflect on their visit to Rome and the CEPE 2025 conference. Recorded in Rome right after giving a presentation on Machine Intelligence and Aequus Persona.Machine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgMusic "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

What is moral agency and how does it relate to moral patiency? Dave and Mike take a walk down the philosophical road and look at how these terms are important to our future relationship with Machine Intelligence.Machine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgMusic "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

If you don't know how an inteligent machine thinks, how will you know when it has agency? Does it even matter? Mike and Dave talk about the black box problem and how and when we should acknowledge agency in a self aware machine intelligence.Machine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgMusic "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

How do you refer to a self-aware and conscious machine? Is there a single term that encompasses their personhood and the rights that go along with it? Dave and Mike discuss why they think it's time there should be.Machine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgAequus Personahttps://aequuspersona.orgMusic "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The Machine Intelligence Foundation for Rights and Ethics is proud to announce the winner of the 2023 Media Award. The Media Award is given to a story that demonstrates the positive cooperation between humans and conscious machines, for the benefit of all.Machine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgR. S. A. Garciahttps://rsagarcia.com/Philia, Eros, Storge, Agàpe, Pragmahttps://clarkesworldmagazine.com/garcia_01_21/Music "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

As we see daily progression in Large Language Models, AI, and Machine Intelligence; how do we deal with the hype cycle and the potential letdown when the future isn't tomorrow? Mike and Dave talk about the hype cycle, who is responsible for it, and what our responsibility is as technology consumers and enthusiasts.Machine Intelligence Foundation Websitehttps://machineintelligencefoundation.orgMusic "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)