What changed
An international forum on psychological analysis and Chinese culture will take place in Qufu, Shandong, from 23 to 29 November. The 11th edition will bring together psychology, psychiatry, philosophy and related scholars from more than 20 countries and regions to examine human meaning and inner life in the AI era.
The programme will cover AI and psychological analysis, traditional Chinese thought and modern cognition, and the difference between knowledge and wisdom. A public-benefit session will also support orphaned children and people affected by disasters.
Why it matters
The forum’s central question is practical: what remains distinctly human when machines become better at calculation, information processing and prediction?
Its organisers argue that AI cannot replace emotional connection, moral judgment or personal experience. That puts the discussion somewhere more interesting than a standard technology conference. The issue is not simply whether machines can produce answers, but whether people can still turn information into judgment, meaning and self-knowledge.
Qufu gives the gathering a specific intellectual setting. The event connects its theme to the 1920s dialogue between Carl Jung and Richard Wilhelm, whose work linked analytical psychology with Chinese thought. It also draws on ideas from the I Ching, Laozi, Zhuangzi and Mencius about self-knowledge, clarity and understanding one’s nature.
The forum began in 1998, and this year’s meeting continues that long-running exchange while placing it against a new technological problem. Its organisers expect the gathering to offer Chinese and broader Eastern perspectives on how people might settle their minds in a period of rapid change. What follows from the discussions will depend on the participants and their conclusions, which are not yet known.
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