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Stephen Thaler    

Neural Network Technology Expert

Stephen Thaler earned a doctorate in physics from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1981 and quickly made his mark as a Principal Technical Specialist at McDonnell Douglas Corporation (MDC). Over the next 15 years, he spearheaded groundbreaking innovations in space warfare, stealth technology, non-destructive testing, and the creation of exotic materials within laser plasmas. With a visionary approach, Stephen applied advanced AI to solve some of the most complex engineering challenges.

His passion for AI-driven innovation led him to found Imagination Engines in 1995, where he focused on his revolutionary generative artificial neural network patents. His latest invention, "DABUS," underpins the Artificial Inventor Project, which aims to secure legal protections for AI-generated intellectual property. Through this initiative, Stephen is not only pushing the boundaries of technological innovation but also reshaping the legal landscape to accommodate the future of AI.

In 1997, Thaler was featured in the Dutch documentary "Creative Computers." In 2007, he appeared in the Ken Gumbs film "In Its Image," which delved into the philosophical ramifications of conscious machine intelligence. Most recently, he appeared in the television documentary "Decoding AI," where he discussed the invention of the sentient artificial intelligence known as DABUS. He has also been a featured speaker at Wright State University, the World Knowledge Forum, BOT 2001, IEEE, ACM, the American Concrete Institute, and the World Future Society.

Speech Topics

DABUS and Creativity Machines: Autonomous Innovation Over the Last 30 Years

Join Dr. Stephen Thaler, a pioneering expert in neural network technology and artificial intelligence, for an enlightening talk on the transformative potential of artificial inventors. Drawing from his extensive career, including groundbreaking work in the defense industry and contributions to over 90 academic papers and 25 AI patents, Dr. Thaler will explore the evolution of autonomous invention. He will delve into how AI systems are not only enhancing human creativity but also independently generating innovative solutions. This talk will also address the philosophical and ethical implications of machine consciousness and self-aware neural systems. Prepare to be captivated by Dr. Thaler’s visionary insights and inspired by the future possibilities of AI-driven invention and artistic creativity.

Audience Takeaways:

  • Why 1974 is the year generative artificial neural systems were born
  • The first projects undertaken by Thaler’s “Creativity Machines” in the 80s and 90s
  • How the military latched onto Creativity Machines as control systems for improvisational battlefield robots
  • The impetus for building the next generation of Creativity Machines, DABUS How Creativity Machines and DABUS are light years ahead of generative AI that appears in the news cycle

Artificial Consciousness: The Dawn of Self-Aware Machines

Discover the cutting-edge world of artificial consciousness with Dr. Stephen Thaler, a visionary in neural network technology and AI. In this compelling talk, Dr. Thaler will share his pioneering work on self-aware neural systems, drawing from his extensive experience in both academia and the defense industry. With over 90 academic papers and 24 AI patents to his name, Dr. Thaler will delve into the profound implications of machines that perceive their own existence. Explore the technical advancements driving this frontier and engage with the philosophical and ethical questions it raises. This session promises to challenge your understanding of consciousness and inspire a new perspective on the future of intelligent systems. Join us for an eye-opening journey into the realm of AI and machine self-awareness.

The Audience Will Learn:

  • Why Thaler’s “Creativity Machine Paradigm” represents a model of human consciousness and forms the basis of machine consciousness
  • Why Thaler needed to invent a whole new neural network paradigm called “Vast Topological Learning” to enable creativity across multiple conceptual spaces
  • How consciousness and sentience arise in Thaler’s DABUS (Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience) system
  • Why sentience is crucial for building artificial general intelligence (AGI)
  • Why DABUS’ use of optical computing is necessary to scale the VTL paradigm to the size and complexity of the brain

Innovating the Future: Dr. Stephen Thaler's Patents in AI

Join Dr. Stephen Thaler, a renowned figure in the field of artificial intelligence, for an insightful talk on his impressive portfolio of over 25 issued AI patents. Drawing from his extensive career in neural network technology and his significant contributions to the defense industry, Dr. Thaler will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking inventions that are shaping the future of AI. Learn about the innovative processes and visionary ideas that led to these patents and explore how they are revolutionizing various industries. This talk will also highlight the impact of Dr. Thaler's work on autonomous systems and machine consciousness. Prepare to be inspired by the ingenuity and forward-thinking that drive Dr. Thaler's contributions to AI technology. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the innovations at the forefront of artificial intelligence.

The Audience Will Learn:

  • How Thaler’s first generative AI patent, US 5,659,666 (1997), the Creativity Machine, was inspired and achieved
  • The first commercial applications of the technology
  • Why reinforcement learning was introduced to the ‘666 patent to create US 7,454,388 (2008) and its applications in battlefield and flight robotics
  • How DABUS (Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience), with US Patents 10,423,875 and 11,727,251, vastly improved the generative capabilities of prior Thaler patents, providing a comprehensive model of human cognition, consciousness, and sentience

News

Stephen Thaler Claims He’s Built a Sentient AI
Stephen Thaler made headlines last year when courts around the world began ruling on whether his AI system could be named as the inventor on a patent. (No.) But as one of the AI industry’s pioneers, Thaler has led a fascinating and storied career — and he recently shared some highlights during an online talk for a March 1 Meetup of the Chicago and Washington D.C. branches of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Thaler told his audience that he’d first started playing with neural networks back in the 1970s, to create alternate versions of the “have a nice day” smiley face. By 1995, Thaler had founded Imagination Engines In

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