Fr. Philip Larrey, PhD, Assistant Professor of the Practice
Fr. Philip Larrey, Ph.D., is a Catholic priest and professor of philosophy at Boston College. He previously held the Chair of Logic and Epistemology at the Pontifical Lateran University in the Vatican, where he also served as Dean of the Philosophy Department. His scholarly work focuses on the philosophy of knowledge, critical thinking, and the impact of the digital era on society. Fr. Larrey has authored several influential books, including Futuro ignoto (IF Press) and Connected World (Penguin), which explore the profound effects of digital advancements on modern life. The latter was translated into Italian as Dove inizia il futuro by Mondadori in 2018. His most recent book, Artificial Humanity, published in 2019, offers a deep philosophical analysis of AI's significance for humanity. It has recently been translated into Chinese, and was featured at the Hong Kong Book Fair.
A notable aspect of his work is his engagement with the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. Fr. Larrey actively engages with industry leaders and scholars at the Vatican, fostering discussions on how technology influences societal structures.
Fr. Larrey is a sought-after speaker who travels globally to share his expertise at universities, forums, and conferences. His engaging presentations highlight his thought leadership and deep understanding of the intersection of digital advancements and ethics. Notable organizations he has collaborated with include the United Nations, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the World Congress of Philosophy. Fr. Larrey's insights make him a compelling choice for organizations aiming to deepen their understanding of the ethical implications of AI.
Based in Boston, Fr. Larrey is an avid bridge player and a passionate fan of the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Learn more about Fr. Larrey at his website and of his insights on The Challenges and Promises of AI and on Theories of Consciousness (Part II).
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Dr. Jose ‘Pepe’ L Contreras-Vidal, PhD, Fellow IEEE, Fellow AIMBE Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor, Director, NSF IUCRC BRAIN
Dr. Jose ‘Pepe’ L Contreras-Vidal is Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor, director of the U.S. National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Building Reliable Advances and Innovations in Neurotechnology (IUCRC BRAIN) at the University of Houston, and an elected Fellow of the IEEE and AIMBE for his pioneering contributions to development of brain-machine interfaces for controlling wearable exoskeletons for rehabilitation, and for mapping art-evoked brain activity.
He led the first comprehensive knowledge integration assessment of the global state of clinical trials of implantable brain-computer interfaces (iBCI) published in Nature Reviews Bioengineering. His work at the nexus of art and science is opening new windows to study the neural basis of human creativity while advancing the understanding of the arts as an active neuromodulator of brain function with applications to the development of personalized arts prescriptions.
His art-science team received the Chamber Music America’s 2025 Interdisciplinary Collaboration of the Year for “Meeting of Minds”, which was performed at the United Nations’ “2024 AI for Good” Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Contreras-Vidal is a member of the National Advisory Board for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the U.S. National Institute of Health. His career development in biomedical engineering was highlighted by the journal Science.
Learn more about Dr. Jose ‘Pepe’ L Contreras-Vidal at his University of Houston website and his The Building Reliable Advances and Innovations in Neurotechnology (BRAIN) Center and his Google Scholar and his AI For Good Global Summit.
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