This video features rare, in-depth conversations between Denise Holt, Karl Friston, and Gary Marcus, recorded at the International Workshop on Active Inference 2025 in Montreal, Canada, October 15-17, 2025. #ActiveInference #KarlFriston #GaryMarcus

Filmed on site during the conference, this episode brings together two of the most influential thinkers in AI, neuroscience, and cognitive science to discuss where artificial intelligence is today and where it must go next.

In an extended one-on-one interview, Karl Friston explores Active Inference, the Free Energy Principle, agency, uncertainty, and why current generative AI systems lack true understanding. Friston explains why intelligence must be grounded in generative models of the world, how uncertainty and curiosity drive real intelligence, and why Active Inference represents a first-principles approach to building adaptive,autonomous systems.

The episode also includes a candid interview with Gary Marcus, one of the most prominent critics of large language models. Marcus discusses the limitations of LLMs, the dangers of hallucination and overconfidence, the need for explicit world models, and why symbolic reasoning and probabilistic structure must return to the core of AI systems. He alsoaddresses governance, energy efficiency, and why scaling data and compute alone will not lead to reliable intelligence.

Finally, the video features a joint on-stagediscussion with Karl Friston and Gary Marcus, moderated by Tim Verbelen at the International Workshop on Active Inference, where they debate the future of AIbeyond deep learning, the role of uncertainty, world models, agency, and what it will take to move from pattern generation to genuine understanding.

This episode was recorded live at IWAI 2025, where researchers from around the world gathered to advance Active Inference as a foundational framework for intelligence in neuroscience, robotics, and artificial systems.

Topics covered in this video include:

· Karl Friston on Active Inference and the FreeEnergy Principle

· Karl Friston on Yann LeCun

· Gary Marcus on the limits of large languagemodels

· Why uncertainty is essential for intelligence

· Agency, curiosity, and information-seekingbehavior

· World models vs generative AI

· Energy efficiency and sustainability in AI

· Why scaling deep learning is not enough

· The future of adaptive, autonomous AI systems

This conversation is essential viewing for anyone interested in the future of AI, neuroscience, cognitive science, and the next generation of intelligent systems.

Recorded at the International Workshop on Active Inference 2025 in Montreal, Canada.

Learn more about Active Inference AI at https://aix.us.com/

#ActiveInference #KarlFriston #GaryMarcus #AIX #SeedIQ #IWAI

August 7, 2025 #ActiveInference - In this thought-provoking episode of the Spatial Web AI Podcast, host Denise Holt (Founder & CEO of AIXGlobal Media and Learning Lab Central) sits down with two renowned expertsshaping the future of intelligent systems:

🔹 Dr. Mahault Albarracin, Head of ResearchStrategy & Product Innovation at VERSES AI
🔹Dr. David Bray, DistinguishedFellow at the Stimson Center and CEO of Lead Do Adapt Ventures

Together, they explore the cutting edge of Active Inference AI and the SpatialWeb Protocol – HSTP & HSML, showcasing VERSES' latestbreakthroughs in distributed intelligence, federated agent systems, andreal-time learning.

🚀 Key Topics Covered:

· Breakthrough performance of VERSES’ AXIOM model and its edge-compatible,biomimetic design

· How federatedActive Inference enables multi-agent coordination in dynamicenvironments

· The role of shared protentions and collective intelligence in human-AI collaboration

· The SpatialWeb Protocol and HyperspaceModeling Language (HSML) as a foundation for context-aware,decentralized AI

· Societal implications for global governance, policy, trust, and explainability

· AI learning of social norms, Theoryof Mind, and adaptive behaviorin homes, cities, and critical systems

· Dramatic energyefficiency advantages through VariationalBayes Gaussian Splatting (VBGS) and scale-free modeling

🧠 Learn how this newclass of explainable, energy-efficient, and truly intelligent systems is set torevolutionize everything from roboticsand governance to disaster response and personalized living environments.

🎧 Whether you're an AIresearcher, policymaker, tech innovator, or future-focused leader—this is amust-watch conversation on the future of intelligence.

🔗 Learn more and startyour training & certification in Active Inference AI and the Spatial Web at:
👉https://learninglab.emmersionpublishing.com

🔴 In this public releaseof my May 2025 Learning Lab LIVE session, I walk through the foundations ofActive Inference AI and the newly ratified IEEE 2874 Spatial Web Protocol, andexplain how these two technologies converge to create adaptive, decentralized,real-time intelligent systems that far surpass the limitations of today’sgenerative AI. #ActiveInference #SpatialWeb #HSML

This 40-minute executive-level briefingis designed to orient business and technology leaders to what comes next—beyondLLMs and centralized models—and why Active Inference, paired with the SpatialWeb, represents the most scalable, efficient, and explainable path forward forenterprise AI and distributed computing.

➡️ What You’ll Learn:

◾ Why deep learning andgenerative AI are hitting limits in scale, safety, and cost

◾ How Active Inference worksas a unified framework for perception, learning, reasoning, and action

◾ What RenormalizingGenerative Models (RGMs) are, and how they outperform traditional models usingfar less data

◾ How the Spatial WebProtocol (HSTP + HSML) brings context, identity, and interoperability to theinternet

◾ What enterprises can dotoday to prepare for the transition and start experimenting with IntelligentAgents

🔸 🔸 This massive shift in AI will transform all industries.Education is a top priority.

➡️ For more FREE educationalresources—and to join our monthly Learning Lab LIVE sessions—visit:

🔗 https://learninglab.emmersionpublishing.com/

💡 Learn moreabout the only available Executive Certification for this technology stack: CertifiedSpecialist: Active Inference AI & Spatial Web Technologies

🔗 https://emmersionpublishing.com/course-executive-program

🔴 Executive leaders who achieve thiscertification gain a distinct advantage, positioning themselves as confirmedleaders in shaping the next evolution of intelligent, decentralized systems. Ina rapidly changing technological landscape, this certification signifies yourmastery and readiness to lead in the era of Active Inference AI and Spatial Webtechnologies.

🔔 Subscribe to ourYouTube Channel stay up to date on future episodes from the Spatial Web AIPodcast.

#ActiveInferenceAI #SpatialWebTraining#HSML #HSTP #EnterpriseAI

In this exclusive podcast interview, Denise Holt sits down with Brett Kagan, Chief Scientist at Cortical Labs, for an in-depth exploration into their groundbreaking synthetic biological intelligence (SBI) technology. Brett reveals the science behind their revolutionary CL1 system—the first commercial biological computer fusing live human neurons with silicon computing. We discuss how their DishBrain experiment validated Dr. Karl Friston's Free Energy Principle, the extraordinary energy efficiency of biological intelligence, and the significant implications for industries like drug discovery, personalized medicine, and robotics. Don't miss this insightful conversation, rich with first-hand stories and detailed explanations from the forefront of neuroscience and AI innovation. #CorticalLabs #CL1 #ActiveInferenceAI

Key Topics:

· The CL1 System: How Cortical Labs successfully merged live human neurons with silicon chips to create the first synthetic biological intelligence computing system.

· DishBrain Experiment: Insights into the groundbreaking experiment validating Dr. Karl Friston's Free Energy Principle through neuron-based Pong gameplay.

· Energy Efficiency of Biological Intelligence: Understanding how biological neurons provide vastly superior energy efficiency compared to traditional AI systems.

· Ethical Implications: Brett Kagan's candid discussion on the responsible use of human neurons in research and their potential to reduce animal testing.

· Real-world Applications: The transformative impact of synthetic biological intelligence on drug discovery, personalized medicine, and robotics.

Guest:Brett Kagan, Chief Scientific Officer at Cortical Labs
Host: Denise Holt, CEO and Founder, AIX Global Media

Huge thank you to Brettfor being on our show!

Discover more about Cortical Labs: https://corticallabs.com

Looking for education resources and courses on Active Inference, the Free Energy Principle, and Spatial Web Technologies? Visit Learning Lab Central to find others around the world who are just as excited for this new shift in AI and computing:

https://learninglab.emmersionpublishing.com

#CorticalLabs #CL1 #FreeEnergyPrinciple#ActiveInferenceAi

In this special episode of the Spatial Web AI Podcast,Denise Holt reconnects with Katryna Dow, CEO and Founder of Meeco, exactly 10years after their first conversation on Denise's earlier podcast, CollaborativeIQ. That original episode, "Let's Talk: Retaining Ownership of YourPersonal Data | Interview: Katryna Dow of Meeco," aired on March 31, 2015,and addressed early concerns about data privacy and individual data ownership.#dataprivacy #SpatialWeb

A decade later, Katryna, one of the earliest pioneerstackling data privacy and personal digital identity, reflects on how herinitial warnings about data misuse have unfolded and intensified. Having foreshadowedevents like the Cambridge Analytica scandal years ahead of time, she now highlightstechnological advances and shifts toward decentralized systems, the criticalrole of cryptography, decentralized identity, zero-trust architectures, and howthese elements are reshaping our digital lives. Katryna also shares recentmilestones at Meeco, including impactful collaborations across Europe,Australia, and Japan, and explores the emerging implications of AI, digitaltwinning, and the Spatial Web Protocol for privacy, trust, and secure digitalinteractions.

Join this timely discussion to gain valuable insights intohow far we've come, the evolving challenges of data privacy, and the essentialsteps toward building a secure, transparent, and user-controlled digitalfuture.

As a bonus to those who are curious about what we werediscussing ten years ago, the audio of the original interview is attached tothe end of our current conversation.

Topics Covered:

Evolution of Data Privacy (2015-2025)

Transitioning from Centralized toDecentralized Architectures

AI, Digital Identity, and PredictiveAnalytics

Regulatory Impacts: GDPR, EU DigitalIdentity, and Global Developments

The Role of Emerging Technologies andthe Spatial Web Protocol

Trust, Transparency, and DigitalEthics in the Next Decade

Guest: Katryna Dow, CEO and Founder of Meeco
Host: Denise Holt, CEO and Founder, AIX Global Media

Huge thank you to Katrynafor being on our show!

Katryna Dow onLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrynadow/

Tolearn more about data privacy infrastructure, visit Meeco at https://www.meeco.me/

To find out moreabout Learning Lab Central and education and courses offered on ActiveInference AI and Spatial Web Technologies, visit:

https://emmersionpublishing.com/

To find others aroundthe world who are just as excited for this new shift in AI and computing, visitLearning Lab Central community platform:

https://learninglab.emmersionpublishing.com

#dataprivacy #SpatialWeb #Decentralization

January 28, 2025 - In this episode of the Spatial Web AI Podcast, titled "Active Inference AI - The AI Paradigm Shift Dr. David Bray, PhD Wants You to Know About," host Denise Holt engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. David Bray, a distinguished figure renowned for his deep understanding of technology and geopolitics.

Dr. Bray, heralded as one of the 24 Americans changing the world by Business Insider and a former CIO of the FCC, shares his insights on the transformative potential of Active Inference AI. He contrasts this emerging technology with the limitations of current generative AI models, emphasizing Active Inference’s ability to reduce uncertainty and enhance system trustworthiness.

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Bray articulates the necessity for a shift in our technological frameworks to accommodate the energy-efficient and adaptable capabilities of Active Inference AI. He emphasizes how this evolution in AI can enhance human agency and ensure the sustainability of societal advancements. Watch this episode to understand why Active Inference AI is not just a technological upgrade but a critical evolution for the integration of AI into our lives and societal structures.

Huge thank you to Dr. Bray for being on our show!

Dr. David Bray, PhD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbray/

To find out more about Learning Lab Central and education and courses offered on Active Inference AI and Spatial Web Technologies, visit:

https://emmersionpublishing.com/

To find others around the world who are just as excited for this new shift in AI and computing, visit Learning Lab Central community platform:

https://learninglab.emmersionpublishing.com

#ActiveInferenceAI #SpatialWeb #KarlFriston #VERSESAI

The Spatial Web: A New Dimension of the Internet and a Technological Awakening for AI | Exclusive Interview with Denise Holt on August 22, 2024 #SpatialWeb #ActiveInferenceAI #HSML

In this exclusive interview and presentation, Denise Holt, founder of AIX Global Media, and leading educator in Active Inference AI and Spatial Web Technologies, discusses the groundbreaking evolution of the Internet into the Spatial Web and the transformative power of Active Inference AI. Hosted by the Gigabit Libraries Network, in association with the International Federation of Libraries Associations and Institutions (IFLA), headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, this conversation explores how new technologies like HSML (Hyperspace Modeling Language) and HSTP (Hyperspace Transaction Protocol) will enable decentralized AI, ushering in and enabling an entirely new kind of intelligent agent, while bridging all emerging technologies across the internet with a unified common language.

Denise explains how VERSES AI and the Spatial Web Foundation is leading the charge in this paradigm shift by developing and donating the protocol and IP for the Spatial Web to the IEEE, setting the stage for global adoption. This new AI, based on world-renowned neuroscientist, Dr. Karl Friston's Free Energy Principle, mimics biological intelligence, offering sustainable, explainable, and human-governed AI systems. Learn about the potential of the Spatial Web to power Smart Cities, decentralized AI, and autonomous intelligent agents, transforming everything from data privacy to real-time AI decision-making.

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Find Denise Holt’s articles on her blog, and join our monthly Learning Lab LIVE: https://deniseholt.us/

Join the waitlist for our all new E-Learning courses for Active Inference AI and Spatial Web Technologies: https://emmersionpublishing.com/course-pre-launch-waitlist/

https://aixglobalmedia.com/

#SpatialWeb #ActiveInferenceAI #HSML #DecentralizedAI #SpatialComputing

AI-ify's AI in Media & Entertainment Summit on June 2, 2024 wrapped up with a final panel that was so engaging to the audience, it continued far past its allotted time and well into the evening's networking cocktail hour. They brought the beer into us! #decentralizedai #ActiveInferenceAI

The panel was hosted by Robert Scoble, and included panelists: Denise Holt, X. Eyeé, Eliza Tan, and Talbert Herndon

The discussion focused on the future of AI, AI safeguards, decentralized AI, the Spatial Web, Active Inference AI, and so much more.

HUGE thank you to Steven Echtman for facilitating this event and allowing it to unfold into the longest panel of the summit - giving voice to all the audience members who wanted to ask questions, and providing the space and time for such an important discussion on AI.

LinkedIn Links:

Steven Echtman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevene/

Robert Scoble: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scobleizer/

Denise Holt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniseholt1/

X. Eyeé: https://www.linkedin.com/in/techwithx/

Eliza Tan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizatan1/

Talbert Herndon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talbert-andre/

AI-ify event information and links here: https://aiify.io/events/20240601-02sf/

Learn more about Active Inference AI and the Spatial Web on my blog here: https://deniseholt.us/

Join the Spatial Web AI Substack and find out how to tune into our exclusive invite-only monthly Learning Lab LIVE sessions here: https://deniseholt.substack.com/subscribe

AIX Global Media: https://aixglobalmedia.com

#ActiveInferenceAI #SpatialWeb #VERSESAI #DecentralizedAI