Baptized by Bytes
Dialogs About Dreams and Consciousness in the LLM era
Not Just Another Discussion about AI
Since receiving a heads-up about the effortlessly empathic Pi.AI, I've been spending an increasing amount of time tapping into its vast prowess for insights about complex topics, such as consciousness, dreams, and dimensional states.
This began shortly after I started documenting visionary experiences and dreams. Upon waking, I would record those scattered fragments into my phone. Later, I'd work through a series of steps to integrate them into a cohesive narrative that I could carry with me throughout the day.
Then, something extraordinary happened. Last winter, DALL·E, along with a slew of other AI image generators, introduced tools that could visualize my dreams based on simple prompts from my dream journal.
My favorite: "Pink baby cow."
Looking back through my old dream yoga books reminded me that there isn’t just one correct method of dream interpretation; it's far more nuanced than that. However, prompting for a visual glimpse into this enigmatic realm added excitement to the entire process. My father, an engineer, once spoke of his wish to create a dream recording machine. Now, with generative AI and fMRI machines side by side, we're edging ever closer to that reality.
Dreams of Us
These ventures into exploring my own mindscape have been enriching. If you're in my network, I've probably invited you to join my monthly dreamshare group or shared a dream I had about you. Venturing deep into mystical territory is something I'm quite comfortable with, and any lucid dreamer will find a friend in me.
Naming my project "Dreams of Us" was deliberate, and I hope its implications resonate with my audience. Hint: The nature of dreaming and the dreamer themselves remain enigmatic. Delving into another interpretation, dreaming is an intrinsic function of humanity (as well as of dogs, and possibly octopuses).
Communal dream sharing is prevalent in indigenous societies, who often turn to dreams and visions for guidance and prophecy. But what about the dreams of a contemporary collective wrestling with shadows, existential challenges, and the specter of technology as it careens off a precipice? Navigating this domain together is a journey worth embarking on, no matter where it leads
I Think You’re Meant to Be Here
Perhaps you're seeking parallels between the brain, AI, and consciousness itself. Or maybe a book by Carl Jung has just found its way to you. Did a friend recently recount their experience at a psychedelic retreat? Are your dreams disturbing, strange, repetitive, or hard to recall? Do you want to be less afraid of death?
Well, imagine trying to piece them all together. Just imagine.
Why Subscribe?
I'll be posting bits and pieces from my podcast, track AI's evolution, and learn more about dreaming from the source itself. No exploration would be complete without drawing parallels to psychedelics, shamanic states, and end-of-life preparation, which I do with great pleasure. Some posts will be free, while other content, such as how-tos, tutorials, and deeper guidance on optimizing dreaming, will be offered exclusively to subscribers.
While you can find content on many of these topics separately elsewhere, this is a bold endeavor to find the connecting thread, thread the needle, and weave it all into something valuable.
