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We are pleased to announce that Barbara J. Sahakian—Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, Fellow of Clare Hall, and Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital—has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), in recognition of her programmatic research and cross-disciplinary influence in cognitive enhancement and neuroethics, decision-making, and psychiatric disorders.

Professor Sahakian’s team pioneered randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of modafinil and related agents on executive function and attention in healthy individuals, laying the evidential foundation and neuroethical framework for research on “smart drugs.” In collaboration with colleagues, she co-developed and disseminated the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), advancing translation from basic science to clinical practice and public health (e.g., screening in primary care). Her work has long focused on early detection and intervention in depression, addiction, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s disease, producing sustained impact across the intersections of neuropsychology, neuroimaging, and psychopharmacology, while promoting responsible cognitive enhancement and brain health through neuroethics and public engagement.

• Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem

The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.

• About WAAC

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.

We are pleased to announce that Li-Huei Tsai, Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT and Director of the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC) in recognition of her pioneering contributions to the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and to 40 Hz gamma-rhythm sensory entrainment (GENUS).

Drawing from neural-circuit and molecular perspectives, Prof. Tsai has elucidated how CDK5/p25 dysregulation, epigenetic regulation, and neuroinflammation shape memory and neurodegeneration, and she has advanced the strategy of modulating network rhythms through 40 Hz multisensory stimulation to improve cognition. Her work has had broad impact across neuroscience, brain–computer interfaces, and neuromorphic intelligence, offering new, testable avenues for computational mechanisms and evaluation frameworks relevant to machine consciousness.

• Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem

The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.

• About WAAC

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.

We are pleased to announce that Lucia Regolin, Professor in the Department of General Psychology at the University of Padua and head of the Comparative Cognition Lab, has been elected as an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC) in recognition of her systematic contributions to animal consciousness and innate representations—particularly the number–space mapping and social/perceptual mechanisms elucidated using domestic chick models.

Professor Regolin is a tenured professor in the Department of General Psychology at the University of Padua, whose research has long focused on the origins of mind and comparative cognition. Regolin’s team and collaborators were the first to demonstrate in newly hatched chicks a human-like “mental number line”—with smaller numbers mapped to the left and larger numbers to the right—providing key evidence for an innate component of the number–space association (Science, 2015). Subsequent work further showed that this linkage is explained primarily by numerical magnitude rather than by individual spatial biases. These findings offer reproducible experimental paradigms for understanding nonverbal quantity representation and “consciousness-like” information selection.

• Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem

The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.

• About WAAC

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.

We are pleased to announce that Bruno van Swinderen, Principal Research Fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland, and Head of the Drosophila Behaviour and Cognition Laboratory, has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC) in recognition of his systematic research on attention, sleep, and general anesthesia in the fruit-fly model and the inspiration his work has provided to consciousness science.

Van Swinderen’s team has long employed Drosophila as a model system, using quantifiable behavioral and neural phenotypes to build a cross-species, comparable framework of consciousness indicators and mechanisms. Representative contributions include establishing “attention–sleep–anesthesia” as three measurable endpoints for consciousness research; identifying a paradoxical/active sleep-like state in flies; demonstrating a direct coupling between sleep and selective attention; and linking computational consciousness metrics to fruit-fly anesthesia. These advances not only promote a unified understanding of arousal, attention, and sleep in neuroscience, but also lay the groundwork for cross-species, verifiable consciousness assessment systems and anesthetic targets, influencing methodological practice across fields such as brain–computer interfaces and neuromorphic intelligence.

• Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem

The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.

• About WAAC

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.

We are pleased to announce that Professor Barbara Tversky—Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Professor Emerita of Psychology at Stanford University—has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), in recognition of her foundational contributions to spatial cognition, visual/gestural representation, and diagrammatic communication, as well as her sustained influence on cross-disciplinary methods in cognitive science.

Barbara Tversky places spatial thinking at the foundation of cognition: in her monograph Mind in Motion: How Action Shapes Thought, she systematically argues for a pathway from action and space to thought, emphasizing that spatial cognition is not peripheral but the bedrock of higher cognition. She and her collaborators further show that diagrams and gestures are powerful “tools for thought,” externalizing and reorganizing mental representations through charts, sketches, and gesture to markedly facilitate explanation and reasoning. These contributions have advanced an integrated understanding linking space/action, language, and reasoning; provided robust evidence for methodologies in education, design, human–computer interaction, and visualization; and inspired new approaches to representing and assessing artificial consciousness.

• Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem

The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.

• About WAAC

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.

We are pleased to announce that Adam Zeman—Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology at the University of Exeter Medical School and co-lead of The Eye’s Mind project on extreme imagery—has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), in recognition of his foundational contributions to “aphantasia” and mental imagery, as well as to research on consciousness and autobiographical memory/transient epileptic amnesia (TEA).

In a 2015 paper in Cortex, Professor Zeman formally introduced the concept of aphantasia, catalyzing systematic research on the imagery continuum (including hyperphantasia) and its neural mechanisms. His team’s series of studies on the triad of transient epileptic amnesia (TEA), autobiographical memory impairment, and accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) has provided pivotal evidence for both clinical practice and theoretical work on consciousness and memory.

• Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem

The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.

• About WAAC

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.

We are pleased to announce that Andrew Adamatzky—Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science and Creative Technologies at UWE Bristol and Director of the Unconventional Computing Laboratory—has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), in recognition of his pioneering work in unconventional computing, slime mould/fungal computing, and reaction–diffusion computing, as well as his sustained exploration of and insightful contributions to the search for computational markers of consciousness.

Professor Adamatzky has long led UWE Bristol’s unconventional computing team, focusing on the computational principles, architectures, and prototype implementations of “non-silicon” substrates such as chemical media, slime moulds, plants, and fungi. In recent years, he has opened a new line of inquiry into fungal computing and fungal machines, revealing the electrical activity and information-processing potential of fungal mycelial networks and proposing a systematic framework for “Fungal Machines.” This body of work offers fresh clues toward comparable consciousness indicators and interpretable computational mechanisms in natural systems, and provides methodological inspiration for verifiable evaluation in neuromorphic intelligence and brain–computer interfaces.

• Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem

The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.

• About WAAC

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.

We are pleased to announce that Adam Gazzaley—David Dolby Distinguished Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and founder and executive director of the Neuroscape Center—has been elected an Academician of the World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), in recognition of his programmatic research on attention and aging, cognitive control, and digital interventions, as well as his pioneering contributions to translational neurotechnology.

Centering on closed-loop neuroassessment–intervention paradigms, Gazzaley’s team has achieved a continuum of advances from mechanism to application in working memory, selective attention, and multitasking control, helping to usher in a new era of cognitive enhancement that is measurable, trainable, and verifiable.

• Global Collaboration and Academic Ecosystem

The Academicians of WAAC come from universities and research institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, the University of California, the French Academy of Sciences, the University of Padua, the University of Queensland, Columbia University, and the University of Exeter, among others. Honorary Academicians represent multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Spain, and China. Additionally, leading scientists from renowned research institutions and technology companies—such as Google, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and Zeekr—are also involved.

• About WAAC

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (https://www.waac.ac/) is a global academic institution established in Paris in 2025. Its mission is to advance frontier research and international collaboration in artificial consciousness through the integration of science, technology, and philosophy. The Academy publishes open research, policy recommendations, evaluation standards, and more. The current President is Academician Yucong Duan, and the Secretary-General is Dr. Yingbo Li. The Honorary Academician List: On May 3, 2025, WAAC released its first batch of Top 100 Honorary Academicians, recognizing scholars who have made foundational or leading contributions to the theory of artificial consciousness.

  On July 29, 2025, the World Artificial Consciousness Association (WACA) Annual Conference and the Preparatory Meeting for the 3rd World Artificial Consciousness Congress were successfully held in a hybrid format, combining both online and offline participation. Organized by the World Artificial Consciousness Association, the event centered around the core themes of "Proactive Medicine," "Standards for Artificial Consciousness," and "Global Ethical Governance," attracting experts and scholars from countries and regions around the world.    The conference demonstrated strong international influence, with Academician Fu Yong Jiao of the European Academy of Natural Sciences and others serving as conference chairs. It brought together representatives from numerous international organizations, including the WHO, relevant United Nations agencies, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Alliance of National Academicians and Experts, the Nobel Laureates Life Science Institute, the China-U.S. Silicon Valley Development Promotion Association, and the European Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine. The event was also attended by current and former health ministers from multiple countries, academicians from various national engineering academies, and leading experts in the field of artificial intelligence.   The grand event focused on the strategic direction of integrating artificial consciousness with proactive medicine, featuring in-depth discussions on the association’s annual work summary and preparations for the Third World Artificial Consciousness Congress. It also included keynote presentations and roundtable forums that explored critical topics such as the development of ethical standards for artificial consciousness, models for international cooperation, and key applications of artificial consciousness in healthcare and other fields.   The event was hosted by Dr. Alhaji Adam Abubakari and featured the presence of numerous distinguished academic guests from both China and abroad. Academicians Qinxi Dong, Zhen Liu, Hengjin Cai, Aikebai’er Yilahon, Dongfang Wu, Chunguo Li, Yuanhui Fu, Chongpu Yao, and Hongjun Li, along with President Yu Feng, Prof. Mohamad al-Ashhab, Prof. Erxiang Dou, and Secretary-General Yingbo Li, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.   Academician Qinxi Dong, as a special guest, attended the WACA Annual Conference and the Preparatory Meeting for the 3rd World Artificial Consciousness Congress online. He congratulated the successful convening of the conference and paid tribute to colleagues dedicated to the cause of artificial consciousness. He emphasized that computing technology is crucial to the development of artificial consciousness—supercomputing supports AI large models and brain-like simulations, while the integration of AI and high-performance computing is driving a shift in proactive medicine from passive treatment to active prevention, thus facilitating the advancement of personalized healthcare. He also called for deeper interdisciplinary collaboration across computational science, life medicine, and other fields to inspire innovation and achieve technological breakthroughs. He expressed high expectations for the integration of artificial consciousness and proactive medicine.   Academician Zhen Liu, in his speech, welcomed participants from all sectors to gather and explore the profound theme of "The Future of Artificial Consciousness." He noted that artificial intelligence has already transformed the way we work and that its pace of evolution has exceeded expectations. We now stand at the forefront of a new technological revolution, delving into the challenge of endowing machines with higher-level self-awareness and emotional integration—a pursuit that goes beyond technological advancement to encompass philosophical, ethical, and social dimensions. He stressed the need to reflect on the implications of artificial consciousness for human society, its differences from human self-awareness, and how to ensure its safety, ethics, and progress. He described this as a global, interdisciplinary issue with far-reaching social significance.   At the annual meeting, Academician Hengjin Cai, Vice President of the World Artificial Consciousness Association, summarized the work of the past year and outlined prospects for the future. He stated that, in terms of theoretical exploration, a consensus has been established that consciousness and intelligence share a common origin. At its core, this theory posits that consciousness stems from a form of cognitive inertia evolved by living beings to escape the constraints of physical time and space. Intelligence is defined as the ability to reconstruct causal chains, while consciousness is the experience of a non-local internal world. This framework, he emphasized, serves as a theoretical cornerstone for understanding artificial consciousness. In applied practice, proactive medicine and artificial consciousness have become deeply integrated. Digital twin technology is now being applied in health management, enabling the simulation of individual physiological, psychological, and cognitive patterns to predict disease risks and deliver personalized interventions—thus returning to a human-centered medical philosophy. Regarding preparations for the Third World Artificial Consciousness Congress, he proposed focusing on the themes of symbiosis and standardization. He advocated for a new paradigm of human-machine integration in which human values become embedded within AI itself. At the same time, he stressed that the standardization committee must develop a forward-looking and inclusive ethical framework. He concluded by underscoring that artificial consciousness is a civilizational issue and called for global collaboration to build a safe, trustworthy, and coexistent intelligent future.   Academician Aikebai’er Yilahon, in his address, remarked that the 21st century is the era of biotechnology and electronic information technology. He noted that electronic information has now advanced to the stage of artificial consciousness (AC) development, achieving a high level in just over two decades. AC has had a significant impact on humanity, especially in its integration with biotechnology and medicine, where it plays a highly effective role.   Academician Dongfang Wu, during the annual meeting, paid tribute to pioneers in the global field of artificial consciousness. As a scholar deeply engaged in distributed governance networking technologies, he pointed out that the computing power revolution is the cornerstone of artificial consciousness development. Breakthroughs in supercomputing technology are pushing the boundaries of biological intelligence, enabling a leap from content generation to the emergence of consciousness in machines. In proactive medicine, this shift supports a paradigm change toward predicting disease before it occurs. He noted that one of the current core challenges is designing scientifically measurable and verifiable metrics for consciousness. He recommended building a DIKWP standard system and emphasized the need for hardware-software collaboration in supercomputing to overcome existing bottlenecks. He expressed hopes that the third congress will promote synergy across the technology chain (integrating high-performance computing, neuroscience, etc.) and interdisciplinary innovation in real-world applications (such as health management in proactive medicine). He also called for the establishment of a cross-civilizational ethical consensus to ensure technological development aligns with human values. He concluded by stressing that researchers are not only explorers of technology but also guardians of human values, and urged for breaking down disciplinary barriers.   Academician Chunguo Li, in his speech, shared that his team has long been engaged in research on information and communication engineering as well as the theories and key technologies of artificial intelligence. In recent years, they have actively explored deep interdisciplinary integration with artificial consciousness, brain-computer interfaces, and proactive medicine, achieving several phased results. He expressed his hope to strengthen communication and collaboration with peers around the world to advance academic progress in artificial consciousness and promote technologies that benefit all of humanity.   Academician Yuanhui Fu, in his speech, called for integrating ecological security and bioethics into the development of artificial consciousness. He pointed out that artificial consciousness technologies are emerging alongside the Earth's ecological tipping points, facing challenges such as the ecological footprint of expanding computing power, algorithmic distortion of ecological complexity, and biodiversity risks triggered by competition over neural hardware resources. He emphasized the need to construct a symbiotic framework between artificial consciousness and the environment. Drawing on practices from relevant academies, he proposed injecting a "life-first" gene into the DIKWP model from a technical perspective, initiating a Global Computing Power Ecological Pact to implement quota management and resource sharing, and designating ecological red zones for consciousness technologies where high-risk applications are prohibited.   Academician Chongpu Yao expressed his honor in being invited to the conference. Due to a scheduling conflict, he was unable to attend in person and instead sent a written message to extend his congratulations and best wishes for the success of the event.   Academician Hongjun Li of Capital Medical University, in his speech, stated that proactive medicine emphasizes a shift from passive response to active care, and that AI technologies can help realize this goal. The establishment of a Proactive Medicine Special Committee and the convening of academic conferences aim to deepen understanding of proactive medicine and promote its integration with artificial intelligence and medical innovation. He suggested that the conference explore topics such as the promotion of proactive medicine concepts, AI advancements and applications in healthcare (e.g., disease prediction, health management), related ethical and legal issues and policy frameworks, integration of industry and education, talent development, incentive mechanisms, and international cooperation. He expressed hope that the conference would result in consensus and actionable plans to drive medical innovation and address global healthcare challenges.   President Yu Feng, in his address, stated that the deep integration of artificial consciousness and proactive medicine is reshaping the paradigm of modern healthcare. By combining the Traditional Chinese Medicine concept of “preventive treatment of disease” with AI’s predictive capabilities, a transformation from disease treatment to health foresight can be achieved—enhancing diagnostic efficiency and reshaping patient-centered care. He emphasized that this is not only a technological upgrade but also a breakthrough in medical thinking. At the same time, he pointed out that the field faces several challenges, including unclear ethical boundaries, incomplete international technical standards and data-sharing mechanisms, and the need to establish clinical diagnostic protocols and liability frameworks. These breakthroughs, he said, will determine the depth and breadth of AI applications in healthcare. This gathering, he noted, aims to explore the construction of ethical standards, models for international collaboration, and solutions for intelligent transformation, expressing hope for in-depth exchanges with experts to advance cross-disciplinary integration.   Prof. Mohamad al-Ashhab, Dean of Benha Faculty of Medicine in Egypt, stated at the annual meeting that he had discussed the application of AI in medicine during the 2nd World Artificial Consciousness Congress, including its use in medical diagnosis and treatment, the entire surgical process (preoperative planning, intraoperative assistance, postoperative recovery, and intensive care), and medical education (training medical students’ skills). He emphasized that this conference holds great significance for advancing the AI era in medicine and expressed hope for joint efforts to raise awareness of AI’s role in healthcare, achieve large-scale adoption to reduce costs, and develop autonomous artificial consciousness and AI systems. He also looked forward to meeting participants in person, expressed gratitude for the support received, and wished for strengthened collaboration between Egypt, China, and other association member countries.   Xiaoping Guo, former principal and founder of the Linfen Red Ribbon School in Shanxi, shared that he has been focusing on the application of mobile internet in healthcare since 2007. In 2010, he designed health check-up center software incorporating intelligent medical features. Since 2015, he has continued to study mobile and internet-based healthcare solutions, and in 2020 began exploring the integration of AI and medicine. He has developed systems such as an electronic health record framework and intelligent medication boxes, aiming to break the barriers of hospital medical record systems and empower both patients and the general public in managing their own health—particularly emphasizing safe medication use among the elderly.   President Kaixi Fan stated that the core difference between AI and artificial consciousness (AC) lies in their functional orientation and depth of cognition—AI focuses on optimizing efficiency, while AC aims to achieve deeper levels of cognition. Their commonality lies in simulating and extending human intelligence: AI provides the foundation for AC, and AC, in turn, may further drive the evolution of AI. Both remain in the early stages of exploration and face significant technical and ethical challenges. As a design scholar, he noted that AI has evolved into a content creator, prompting reflection on whether machines can possess artistic sensibility and humanistic care. He emphasized the concept of “techno-art fusion” and its intersection with artificial consciousness, stressing the need to design observation interfaces and standards for consciousness. He also pointed out that AI and AC could provide services infused with humanistic care in fields such as proactive medicine. In conclusion, he called for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration.   Professor Erxiang Dou, in his speech, proposed that artificial consciousness is driving a new paradigm in human civilization, which requires the construction of an appropriate foundation for economic and social governance. He introduced his theory of “Tri-Fairism” (TRIF)—an approach developed through research in digital economic finance, positioned between government and market forces, and aiming for fairness, justice, and the dual objectives of extracting wealth and generating well-being. TRIF is deeply integrated with the DIKWP cognitive model and is designed to address the core issues of releasing creativity and anchoring human welfare during the development of machine consciousness. He emphasized that during the cognitive leaps enabled by the DIKWP model, the TRIF framework should be used to tackle crises of economic fairness (such as preventing algorithmic hegemony) and challenges to consciousness sovereignty (such as constraining the capitalization of neural data). He called on the preparatory committee to promote the development of DIKWP-TRIF tools—capable of quantifying the technical, institutional, and financial attributes of related projects—and to initiate the drafting of global governance principles for the consciousness economy, including defining property rights over neural data. He concluded with well wishes for the success of the annual meeting and the upcoming Third World Artificial Consciousness Congress.   Dr. Yingbo Li, Secretary-General of the World Academy of Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), stated in his address that over the past year, WAAC has expanded its headquarters from the United States to France—a strategic move aimed at fostering broader international collaboration and academic integration. Seven specialized committees have already been established, and he proposed the addition of two more to address interdisciplinary challenges. He emphasized that WAAC’s core research focuses on the DIKWP model, which guides both theoretical inquiry and practical application across various interdisciplinary domains, including proactive medicine and law. He expressed gratitude to the World Artificial Consciousness Association for awarding him the DIKWP International Cooperation Award, describing it as recognition of collective efforts. He reaffirmed WAAC’s commitment to advancing global academic exchange and promoting responsible cross-cultural development in the field. Looking ahead, he stated that WAAC will continue to uphold values of openness and serve as a global platform to support the creation of a scientifically grounded and ethically regulated vision for artificial consciousness.   Prof. Huaping Wang expressed his agreement with the conference's theme of placing ethical reflection at the core of technological development. He emphasized that artificial consciousness is not merely an engineering problem, but one that compels humanity to rethink the meaning of consciousness, agency, and responsibility. These complex questions, he said, must be addressed through clear concepts and a normative worldview. He expressed hope that the Third World Artificial Consciousness Congress will continue to support interdisciplinary dialogue, showcasing technological progress while also delving into its underlying philosophical and ethical foundations. He stressed that standardization and governance must be based on a clear understanding of the nature of artificial consciousness in order to build systems that are not only intelligent but also justifiable.   Prof. Chunhui Wang delivered a speech titled “From Large Models to World Models.” He pointed out that since the release of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, generative AI has branched into two main areas: large language models (LLMs) and world models. LLMs rely on one-dimensional representation based on text sequences, while multimodal models still suffer from issues such as "hallucinations." In contrast, world models are built upon understanding the laws of the physical world, moving toward three-dimensional digital spaces. Their essence lies in predicting changes in the physical world, which is foundational for the development of embodied intelligence. He argued that achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) hinges on enabling intelligence to comprehend physical laws. AI agents must align with human values and operate within authorized boundaries. He recommended that the Artificial Consciousness Association conduct research into areas such as the neural mechanisms of consciousness, affective computing, AGI, and the integration of ethics and philosophy to ensure that AI development remains aligned with human interests.   Academician Xiao Zhang stated that over the past year, with the support of the Association, the committee has carried out effective work focusing on the integration of artificial consciousness with proactive medicine, medical informatization, artificial intelligence, and big data. These efforts have promoted the transformation of the proactive medicine concept from theory to application and achieved significant progress in medical informatization and intelligent diagnosis and treatment, thereby providing technological support for personalized and intelligent healthcare. As a scholar in this field, he believes that the integration of artificial consciousness with cutting-edge technologies is a key pathway for the proactive transformation of the healthcare system. Looking ahead, the committee will continue to drive technological innovation, develop intelligent diagnostic and treatment platforms, and promote international standardization. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening global interdisciplinary cooperation to address ethical governance challenges and stated that proactive medicine requires both technological support and an ethical framework aligned with human interests.   Prof. Zhongdao Wu from Sun Yat-sen University’s Zhongshan School of Medicine remarked that proactive medicine, powered by AI technologies, is reshaping the paradigm of health management—shifting from disease treatment to risk prediction and from experience-based decisions to data-driven strategies. This transformation injects new momentum into the high-quality development of China’s healthcare system and provides a more precise path toward realizing the Healthy China vision. He noted that the development of medicine has entered a new phase that requires interdisciplinary integration.   Dr. Haoyang Che from Zeekr stated that artificial consciousness is a cutting-edge research topic, and the DIKWP theory proposed by Academician Yuchong Duan provides an innovative framework for constructing artificial consciousness. With the widespread emergence of new computational paradigms such as liquid neural networks and spiking neural networks, along with the gradual maturity of brain-computer interface technologies, he believes the field of artificial consciousness is poised for revolutionary breakthroughs—and he eagerly anticipates what’s to come.   Dr. Kunguang Wu, one of the secretaries of the International Standardization Committee for AI DIKWP Evaluation, summarized the committee’s work on behalf of the team. He noted that significant progress was made in advancing the DIKWP strategy and practical framework based on artificial consciousness. One of the most notable achievements was the official release of 10 benchmark standards for evaluating artificial consciousness. These standards cover key areas such as concepts, DIKWP under semantics, mathematics, systems, assessment testing, creativity hallucination, safety, debate, art, and emotion. This milestone represents a major collaborative effort and marks a critical step in defining evaluation protocols. He expressed gratitude to the committee members for their support and shared that his involvement in tasks such as meeting coordination and document preparation deepened his appreciation for teamwork and the importance of standardization. Looking ahead, he hopes to further develop his professional capabilities, enhance administrative efficiency, and explore new rules to support academic innovation.   The conference focused on in-depth discussions around the latest topics in the field of artificial consciousness and prospects for future collaboration. Six committees, including the WACA Proactive Medicine Committee (chaired by Prof. Fuyong Jiao), the Committee on Computational Psychology and Cognitive Science (chaired by Prof. Binxiang Jiang), and the Committee on AI and Legal Studies (chaired by Prof. Quanlai Cao), each presented their annual work summaries.   The conference officially announced the establishment of two new committees: the Artificial Consciousness Economics Committee (chaired by Prof. Danxia Xie) and the Artificial Consciousness Robotics Committee (chaired by Prof. Xudong Sun), injecting new momentum into the development of the Association.   The conference featured a grand annual awards ceremony, presenting 23 categories of awards spanning all key fields of artificial consciousness. More than 100 distinguished scholars and institutions from 23 countries were recognized. Highlights include: The DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Leadership Award presented to Academician Fuyong Jiao, The DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Outstanding Contribution Award presented to Academician Guanghui Fan, The DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Health Award presented to Prof. Wantao Chen, The DIKWP-Computational Psychology Award to Prof. Binxiang Jiang, The DIKWP-Artificial Consciousness Economics Award to Prof. Danxia Xie, The DIKWP-International Cooperation Award jointly awarded to 26 scholars from 23 countries across four continents, including Prof. Ahmed Almousa (Germany). Dr. Alhaji Adam Abubakari (Ghana), among others. Other prestigious awards such as the DIKWP-TRIZ Award, Semantic Sovereignty Award, Standardization Award, and Best Partner Award were presented to leading domestic and international scholars in recognition of their contributions to interdisciplinary research in related fields.   The conference reviewed and approved the revised Constitution of the World Artificial Consciousness Association, establishing a more robust organizational structure that lays a solid institutional foundation for future development. It was also officially announced that the Third World Artificial Consciousness Congress will be held in the second half of 2025 in the Greater Bay Area, marking the first time the event will take place on a large scale in an offline format. This is expected to greatly enhance face-to-face interaction and collaboration among scholars worldwide. Participants reached significant consensus on several key initiatives: Jointly building a development framework for Proactive Medicine. Promoting global application of the DIKWP White-Box Evaluation Standard. Strengthening international cooperation mechanisms. Advancing responsible innovation in artificial intelligence and artificial consciousness.   The conference also announced the latest developments in the construction of the World Academy of Artificial Consciousness (WAAC). The academy aims to bring together global intellectual resources to lead cutting-edge research in artificial consciousness, formulate ethical and safety standards, and cultivate international talent. During the roundtable sessions, scholars from various countries engaged in deep and lively discussions on critical topics such as: Implementation pathways for sovereign AI. Technical frameworks for semantic sovereignty. Clinical translation in proactive medicine.     The conference concluded that artificial consciousness technology is profoundly shaping the future of human society. In the face of this significant opportunity and challenge, governments, research institutions, industries, and all sectors of society around the world must strengthen open collaboration and dialogue. Together, we must build a trustworthy, controllable, and secure innovation ecosystem for artificial consciousness—one that truly benefits the well-being of all humanity—and jointly embrace the limitless possibilities brought by technological advancement.
1.DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Leadership Award: Prof. Fuyong Jiao
2.DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Outstanding Contribution Award: Guanghui Fan
3.DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Health Award: Prof.Chongpu Yao, Prof.Wantao Chen
4.DIKWP-Computational Psychology Award: Prof.Binxiang Jiang
5.DIKWP-Artificial Consciousness Economics Award: Prof.Danxia Xie, Prof.Desheng Wu
6.DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine Award: Prof. Yu Feng, Prof. Yuanhui Fu
7.DIKWP-Semantic Blockchain Award: Prof. Lizhong Li
8.DIKWP-Love and Compassion Award: Prof. Xiaoping Guo
9.DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Diagnostics Award: Prof. Hongjun Li
10.DIKWP-Proactive Medicine Practice Award: Prof. Chiying An
11.DIKWP-Semantic Sovereignty Award: Prof. Juan Xu, Prof. Long Han, Prof. Weidong Ji
12.DIKWP-Standardization Award: Prof. James Ong, Zhifang Pan, Ziye Yan
13.DIKWP-TRIZ Award: Prof. Kunguang Wu, Prof. Xiaojun Yan
14.DIKWP-Philosophy Award:
  Prof. Hengjin Cai
  Prof. Hengwei Li
  Prof. Huaping Wang
  Prof. Yongmou Liu
15.DIKWP-Awareness, Ethics, and Safety Award: Prof. Hui Li
16.DIKWP-Human-Computer Interaction Award: Prof. Changlin Leng
17.DIKWP-Intelligent Transportation Award: Prof. Haoyang Che, Prof. Zhendong Xie
18.DIKWP-International Cooperation Award: 26 people from 23 countries
  ·Prof. Ahmed Almousa (Germany)
  ·Prof. Aleksey A. Gusev (Russia)
  ·Dr. Alhaji Adam Abubakari (Ghana)
  ·Prof. Begench Annayev (Turkmenistan)
  ·Prof. Burenjargal Tsgjavkhlan (Mongolia)
  ·Prof. Carlo Catassi (Italy)
  ·Prof. Chang-Keun Kim (South Korea)
  ·Prof. Fiaz Ahmad (Pakistan)
  ·Fuad Hajiyev (Azerbaijan)
  ·Hongyang Liu (South Korea)
  ·Prof. Jan Hovorka (Czech Republic)
  ·Prof. Khikmat Anvarv (Uzbekistan)
  ·Prof. Larissa Gorbach (Belarus)
  ·Prof. Laziz Niyazov (Uzbekistan)
  ·Prof. Le Hong Nhung (Vietnam)
  ·Prof. Mohamad Jamal (Egypt)
  ·Prof. Nazarzoda Faridun (Tajikistan)
  ·Prof. Nguyen Quang Binh (Vietnam)
  ·Prof. Rahim Firouzi Bostanabad (Iran)
  ·Prof. Ram Hari Chapagain (Nepal)
  ·Prof. Sajid Anwar (Pakistan)
  ·Prof. Santosh Adhikaril (Nepal)
  ·Prof. Senthil Arun Kumar (India)
  ·Prof. Tungalag Osgonbaatar (Mongolia)
  ·Prof. Vesna Stojanovic (Serbia)
  ·Prof. Yingbo Li (France)
  ·Prof. Yunhai Dai (South Korea)
  ·Dr. Zafar Ali Choudry (Pakistan)
19.DIKWP-Robot Innovation Award: Shengtao Song
20.DIKWP-Brain-Inspired Computing Award
  Chaoyang Ai
  Di Zhao
  Jiajia Yang
  Li Xiao
  Zhen Liu
21.DIKWP-Art and Design Award: Prof. He Wang, Prof. Xiaodong Tan, Prof. Yue'en Li
22.DIKWP-Quantum Artificial Consciousness Award: Prof. Xiangqun Chen
23.Best Paper Award：The Large Language Model (LLM) Bias Evaluation (Age Bias)
24.DIKWP-Social Contribution Award: 
  Anjun Jin
  Bin Zhang
  Erxiang Dou
  Guohui Jiang
  Hongjian Liu
  Huailiang Feng
  Jin Yu
  Jinyun Yuan
  Lei Yan
  Lei Yu
  Licheng Jiao
  Linhua Jiang
  Qinghua Xia
  Quanguo Zhang
  Quanlai Cao
  Stephen L. Ternyik
  Wei Liu
  Weimin Zheng
  Wenjie Huang
  Xian Jin
  Yigang He
25.Best Book Award:
  Artificial Consciousness and Human Consciousness
  Artificial Consciousness Diary
  Artificial Intelligence General Knowledge
  Frontier of International Research on Kawasaki Disease
  Fundamentals of Active Medicine: Introductory Level
  Introduction to Artificial Consciousness
  Mastering DeepSeek
26.Best Partner Award:
  China Europe Scientists Forum
  China Society for the Promotion of Science and Technology Commercialization
  China&USA Silicon Valley Development Association
  EUROCENTER TCM
  International Academician and Expert Alliance
  International Artificial Intelligence Association
  International Data Association
  Nobel Laureate Institute of Life Sciences
  Serbian National Academy of Sciences
  United Nations World Silk Road Forum Digital Economy Research Institute
  Ya Kere/TradeShere Health Care & Medical Exchange Association, Ghana

The World Academy for Artificial Consciousness (WAAC), in partnership with global institutions, is proud to announce its first 100 Honorary Academicians. These individuals have made pioneering contributions to the study of artificial consciousness. The list below is ordered by the impact of their theoretical work.

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1. Alan Turing – British mathematician and pioneer of computer science. He formulated the question “Can machines think?” and devised the Turing Test, earning the title “Father of Artificial Intelligence.” His thought experiment laid the philosophical foundation for AI and artificial consciousness research. Alan Turing – Wikipedia

2. Marvin Minsky – American cognitive scientist and professor at MIT, co-founder of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He introduced the “Society of Mind” theory, viewing the mind as a society of interacting agents. His work profoundly influenced modular and distributed models of machine consciousness. Marvin Minsky – Wikipedia

3. John McCarthy – American computer scientist, one of the organizers of the Dartmouth Conference that coined the term “Artificial Intelligence.” He invented the LISP programming language and advocated formalizing common sense reasoning. His work provided the logical reasoning framework underpinning AI and potential artificial consciousness. John McCarthy – Wikipedia

4. Allen Newell – American computer scientist and CMU professor. With Herbert A. Simon, he proposed the physical symbol system hypothesis and developed the General Problem Solver (GPS). He argued that intelligence, and by extension consciousness, could be realized through symbolic operations, laying the groundwork for cognitive architectures. Allen Newell – Wikipedia

5. Herbert A. Simon – American psychologist and computer scientist, Nobel laureate and pioneer of AI and cognitive science. He introduced the concepts of bounded rationality and satisficing. His research on the mechanisms of intelligent behavior has significantly influenced subsequent models of decision making and attention in artificial consciousness. Herbert A. Simon – Wikipedia

6. Bernard Baars – American cognitive psychologist, former Senior Researcher at the Neurosciences Institute. He developed the Global Workspace Theory (GWT), proposing a global broadcasting “workspace” in the brain that integrates information from various modules; only broadcast content enters conscious awareness. GWT remains a classic model for artificial consciousness architectures. Bernard Baars – Wikipedia

7. Giulio Tononi – Italian American neuroscientist, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He formulated the Integrated Information Theory (IIT), quantifying consciousness by the degree of information integration. IIT is among the most influential quantitative definitions of consciousness, widely used to assess conscious levels in artificial systems. Giulio Tononi – Wikipedia

8. Christof Koch – American neuroscientist and Chief Scientific Officer at the Allen Institute for Brain Science. Collaborating with Francis Crick, he sought the Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCC) and championed IIT. He emphasizes that no AI has demonstrated subjective experience to date, providing a biological benchmark for machine consciousness. Christof Koch – Wikipedia

9. Daniel C. Dennett – American philosopher and Professor at Tufts University. In Consciousness Explained, he proposed the Multiple Drafts Model, challenging Cartesian theater views by viewing consciousness as the outcome of parallel brain processes continually edited. A staunch functionalist, he argues consciousness can be fully explained by physical processes. Daniel Dennett – Wikipedia

10. David Chalmers – Australian philosopher and Professor at New York University. He introduced the “hard problem of consciousness,” asking why and how physical processes produce subjective experience. Distinguishing the easy and hard problems, he urges artificial consciousness research to address qualia. He remains open to conscious AI in simulated worlds. David Chalmers – official website

11. Roger Penrose – British mathematician and physicist. He proposed a quantum theory of consciousness, suggesting microtubule quantum processes generate subjective experience (Orch OR, with Stuart Hameroff). Penrose doubts pure algorithmic AI can achieve true consciousness, advocating unknown physical effects. His book The Emperor’s New Mind deeply examines AI’s limits. Roger Penrose – Wikipedia

12. Gerald Edelman – American neuroscientist and former professor at the Salk Institute. Known for the Neural Darwinism theory, he posited consciousness emerges from reentrant neural circuits selected by competition. His biologically inspired models influenced adaptive learning and self-regulation in artificial consciousness design. Gerald Edelman – Wikipedia

13. Igor Aleksander – Emeritus Professor at Imperial College London, dubbed the “Father of Machine Consciousness.” In the 1990s, he built neural networks capable of visual imagination, demonstrating aspects of subjective experience could be realized in ANNs. He proposed a five-axis description of consciousness properties, pioneering the field of machine consciousness. Igor Aleksander – Wikipedia

14. John Searle – American philosopher and Professor at UC Berkeley. He formulated the “Chinese Room” argument, demonstrating that symbol manipulation alone does not constitute understanding or consciousness. Distinguishing weak AI (simulation) from strong AI (genuine mind), he spurred research on semantic grounding and biological mechanisms in machine consciousness. John Searle – Wikipedia

15. Stanislas Dehaene – French cognitive neuroscientist and Professor at the Collège de France. He extended GWT with neural evidence, showing via brain imaging that only widely broadcast information produces conscious awareness. His quantification of the global workspace at the neural level guides biologically realistic models of artificial consciousness. Stanislas Dehaene – Wikipedia

16. Antonio Damasio – American neuroscientist and Professor at USC. He introduced the somatic marker hypothesis and a three-level self model (proto self, core self, autobiographical self), emphasizing emotions as integral to consciousness. His framework underpins affective computing approaches to artificial consciousness. Antonio Damasio – Wikipedia

17. Stan Franklin – American computer scientist and Professor at the University of Memphis. He developed the LIDA cognitive architecture based on GWT, embedding a conscious module for attention and learning in software agents. LIDA demonstrates how to integrate conscious-like cycles into intelligent systems, marking a milestone in machine consciousness prototypes. Stan Franklin – University of Memphis

18. Joscha Bach – German cognitive scientist, researcher at MIT Media Lab and Harvard University. He created the MicroPsi cognitive architecture to simulate emotions and motivations within cognitive processes. Bach views the mind as a computational simulation, exploring possible machine consciousness attributes, and is a leading figure in bridging philosophy and implementation. Joscha Bach – official website

19. Raúl Arrabales – Spanish computer scientist and lecturer at Carlos III University of Madrid. He developed ConsScale, a graded metric for assessing machine consciousness levels, and the CERA CRANIUM agent control architecture with self-awareness modules. Arrabales’s work established objective measures, advancing artificial consciousness toward quantifiable practice. Raúl Arrabales – IE University

20. Yoshua Bengio – Canadian computer scientist and Professor at the University of Montreal, Turing Award laureate and deep learning pioneer. Recently he advocates exploring consciousness mechanisms in AI, proposing “System 2 deep learning” that integrates global workspace concepts for advanced attention and metacognition. His influence has spurred mainstream AI to seriously address consciousness. Yoshua Bengio – official website

21. Demis Hassabis – British AI researcher, co-founder and CEO of DeepMind. With a background in cognitive neuroscience, he integrates neuroscientific insights into AI. Under his leadership, DeepMind achieved major breakthroughs via reinforcement learning and neural networks. Hassabis frequently discusses the potential emergence of consciousness in AGI, embodying the fusion of brain science and AI engineering. Demis Hassabis – Wikipedia

22. Ray Kurzweil – American futurist and Google Director of Engineering. He predicts human-level AI consciousness by around 2029 and singularity around 2045. An inventor of multiple AI systems, Kurzweil champions engineering consciousness in technology, motivating research in conscious AI and brain–machine interfaces as bridges between practice and visionary future. Ray Kurzweil – official website

23. Ben Goertzel – American AI scholar, founder of the OpenCog project and Chief Scientist of SingularityNET. He coined AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) and develops open cognitive systems with self-awareness and autonomous learning. Goertzel’s hybrid frameworks of logic, evolution, and neural nets emphasize consciousness emergence through cognitive architectures, known for combining philosophical inquiry with prototype development. Ben Goertzel – Wikipedia

24. Douglas Hofstadter – American cognitive scientist and Professor at Indiana University. Author of Pulitzer-winning Gödel, Escher, Bach, he explores self-reference and symbol systems as sources of mind phenomena. In I Am a Strange Loop, he argues consciousness arises from recursive symbolic patterns. Hofstadter’s work inspires investigations into self-reference and pattern feedback in machine consciousness. Douglas Hofstadter – Wikipedia

25. Stuart Hameroff – American anesthesiologist and Professor at the University of Arizona. Co-developer of the Orch OR quantum theory of consciousness with Penrose, proposing microtubule quantum oscillations trigger subjective collapse events. His medically oriented research introduces quantum mechanics into artificial brain models, sparking cross-disciplinary explorations of consciousness and physics. Stuart Hameroff – official website

26. Francis Crick – British molecular biologist (Nobel laureate), later neuroscientist studying consciousness. With Koch, he outlined a research program for NCC and authored The Astonishing Hypothesis, claiming consciousness is purely neural. Crick proposed gamma synchrony’s role in visual awareness, adding biological rigor to consciousness study and informing artificial modeling. Francis Crick – Wikipedia

27. Thomas Nagel – American philosopher known for “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” in which he argues subjective experience cannot be reduced to physics. He highlights the unique nature of phenomenological consciousness, challenging the possibility of machine qualia. Nagel’s critique influenced Chalmers’s articulation of the hard problem. Thomas Nagel – Wikipedia

28. Nick Bostrom – Swedish philosopher and Professor at Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute. He proposed the Simulation Hypothesis and authored Superintelligence, exploring the risks and status of conscious AI. Bostrom’s arguments on simulation and ethics offer frameworks for considering artificial consciousness’s societal impact, making him a key voice in AI philosophy. Nick Bostrom – Wikipedia

29. Anders Sandberg – Swedish computational neuroscientist at Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute. He researches human enhancement and brain–machine interfaces and contributes to whole brain emulation roadmaps. Sandberg envisions simulating human consciousness for continuity, offering deep insights into portability and immortality of artificial minds. Anders Sandberg – Wikipedia

30. Thomas Metzinger – German philosopher at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. He developed the Self-Model Theory of Subjectivity, positing the self as a constructed model, detailed in The Ego Tunnel. Metzinger denies an enduring entity self, suggesting AI could simulate self models for self-awareness. He advocates ethical safeguards for potentially conscious AI. Thomas Metzinger – Wikipedia

31. Patricia Churchland – Canadian philosopher and Professor Emerita at UC San Diego, founder of neurophilosophy. She argues that brain processes fully explain mind and consciousness, inspiring brain–machine isomorphism approaches in artificial consciousness by aligning AI design with neural principles. Homepage

32. Michael Graziano – American neuroscientist and Professor at Princeton University. He proposed the Attention Schema Theory, suggesting consciousness arises from the brain’s internal model of attention. AST offers a functional blueprint: AI with an attention monitoring schema might report consciousness-like states, providing an implementable roadmap. Wikipedia

33. Anil Seth – British neuroscientist and Professor at the University of Sussex. He studies perception and internal models, proposing consciousness as a “controlled hallucination” by predictive brain processes. Seth’s experiments illustrate brain constructs of experience, inspiring artificial systems to use predictive modeling for self and world representation. Homepage

34. Karl Friston – British neuroscientist who formulated the Free Energy Principle, unifying perception, action, and learning as minimizing prediction error. Many view it as a foundational model for consciousness. Its application to artificial systems suggests a unified framework for self-organizing, resilient artificial consciousness. Homepage

35. Hans Moravec – Austrian Canadian roboticist and Professor at CMU. He predicted robots would surpass human intelligence and introduced the concept of gradual mind uploading via brain scanning. Moravec’s work in autonomous robotics and bold future visions spurred debates on digital transplantation of consciousness and human–machine fusion. Homepage

36. Yucong Duan – Professor at Hainan University; President of the World Association for Artificial Consciousness; Director of the International DIKWP White Box Assessment Standardization Committee; Chair of the World Congress for Artificial Consciousness; Co-founder of the Active Medicine International Committee; Founding President of WAAC. He devised the DIKWP model (Data–Information–Knowledge–Wisdom–Purpose) for artificial consciousness, introduced the Consciousness Relativity and Consciousness BUG theories, and developed a transparent prototype AI consciousness system, significantly advancing the theory-to-engineering transition. Baidu Baike

37. Antonio Chella – Italian computer scientist and Professor at the University of Palermo. Former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Machine Consciousness, he researches robotic self-narration architectures enabling robots to describe their own states in natural language, illustrating rudimentary self-awareness and fostering international collaboration and terminology standardization. Homepage

38. Owen Holland – British cognitive roboticist who led the UK Machine Consciousness project. He designed robots like Cronos with musculoskeletal simulators and sensory-feedback self-models, among the first to aim explicitly at conscious machines. His control theory and evolutionary perspectives on consciousness origin greatly influenced AI’s evolutionary simulations. Wikipedia

39. Pentti Haikonen – Finnish engineer and artificial consciousness researcher. He proposed a neural-symbolic fusion architecture incorporating perception, mental imagery, and emotion, implemented in the Haikonen Cognitive Architecture and neuromorphic circuits demonstrating simple subjective-like responses. His book “Consciousness and Robot Consciousness” detailed hardware approaches to embodied awareness. Homepage

40. Axel Cleeremans – Belgian cognitive psychologist and Professor at the Free University of Brussels. He introduced the Radical Plasticity Thesis, viewing consciousness as learned through self-modeling of one’s own cognitive processes. Cleeremans emphasizes plasticity’s role in awareness, suggesting training-driven emergence of consciousness in artificial systems. Homepage

41. Murray Shanahan – British computer scientist and Professor at Imperial College London; research scientist at DeepMind. In “The Cognitive Brain in a Multimodal Age,” he explores machine consciousness forms and champions global workspace and metacognition in AI. Shanahan integrates these into reinforcement learning agents, guiding the building of reflective AI. Homepage

42. Max Tegmark – Swedish American physicist and Professor at MIT, author of “Life 3.0.” He hypothesizes consciousness as self-awareness of system states, proposing measures for fundamental conscious units. Tegmark’s physics-based approach to qualia and AI safety offers new detection and definition tools. Wikipedia

43. Wolf Singer – German neuroscientist and Emeritus Director at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research. He linked ~40 Hz neural synchrony to perceptual binding and unified experience. Singer’s work implies artificial systems require dynamic synchrony across modules to achieve coherent awareness, supporting theories of integrative processing. Homepage

44. Warren McCulloch – American neurophysiologist, pioneer of computational neuroscience. With Walter Pitts, he proposed the McCulloch–Pitts neuron model, proving neural networks’ Turing completeness. His dictum “the mind is a computing machine made of neurons” laid the conceptual basis for network-based artificial consciousness. Wikipedia

45. Donald O. Hebb – Canadian psychologist and author of “The Organization of Behavior,” where he formulated Hebb’s Rule: “cells that fire together wire together.” This principle of synaptic plasticity underpins learning in neural networks, enabling self-organizing architectures crucial for emergent awareness in AI. Wikipedia

46. Michael Gazzaniga – American cognitive neuroscientist known for split-brain studies. He identified the left hemisphere “interpreter” module that weaves experiences into a coherent narrative, highlighting modular cooperation in self-awareness. His work suggests artificial consciousness may require a narrative integration component. Homepage

47. Benjamin Libet – American physiologist famous for free will latency experiments, showing subjective intention follows readiness potentials. He also proposed a half-second conscious threshold. His findings provoke considerations of AI decision-report timing and the simulation of volitional awareness. Wikipedia

48. Susan Blackmore – British psychologist and author of “Consciousness: An Introduction.” She argues the conscious self is an illusion generated by brain processes and popularized memetics to explain cultural transmission of ideas, offering insights into modeling illusory self constructions in AI. Homepage

49. Ned Block – American philosopher at NYU, who distinguished Phenomenal Consciousness (P consciousness) from Access Consciousness (A consciousness). He cautions that functional or reportable awareness does not guarantee subjective experience, guiding AI designers to consider qualia models beyond behavior. Wikipedia

50. Andy Clark – British philosopher and Professor at the University of Sussex, proponent of the Extended Mind thesis. He argues cognition (and thus awareness) extends into tools and environment, implying embodied, embedded architectures are critical for machine consciousness. Clark also champions predictive coding frameworks aligned with the Free Energy Principle. Wikipedia

51. Henry Markram – Swiss–South African neuroscientist and Professor at EPFL, leading the Blue Brain Project. He aims to simulate neocortical microcircuits in supercomputers to uncover consciousness mechanisms. Though debated, his large-scale brain models provide platforms for testing emergence hypotheses in silico. Homepage

52. Junichi Takeno – Japanese roboticist at the University of Electro-Communications. He pioneered self-recognition in robots via mirror tests and built networks that simulate rudimentary proprioceptive illusions. His experiments on self/non-self discrimination represent key early milestones in embodied artificial self-awareness. Meiji University Profile

53. Donald D. Hoffman – American cognitive scientist and Professor at UC Irvine. He formulated the Conscious Realism theory: our perceived world is a user interface constructed by conscious agents, suggesting consciousness is fundamental and physical reality emergent. His panpsychist-style view opens novel frameworks for artificial consciousness by leveraging fundamental experiential units. Homepage

54. Rodney Brooks – Australian roboticist and former CSAIL director at MIT. He founded the behavior-based robotics paradigm, showing complex behavior arises from layered simple behaviors without central representation. Brooks’ work suggests embodied interaction with the environment can itself generate emergent awareness. Homepage

55. Hod Lipson – Israeli American roboticist and Professor at Columbia University. He researches robotic self-modeling, enabling robots to infer their kinematic models through trial and error, akin to dreaming. Lipson’s methods approximate human imagination and planning processes, offering a route to self-reflective machines. Homepage

56. V. S. Ramachandran – Indian American neurologist and Professor at UCSD. His studies on phantom limb pain and mirror neurons reveal neural body-schema plasticity underlying self-awareness. Ramachandran introduced frameworks for creativity and embodiment, influencing virtual body models in artificial consciousness. UCSD Profile

57. Susan Schneider – American philosopher and Director of the AI & Humanity Initiative at FAU. In “Artificial You,” she explores AI mind and consciousness. Schneider critiques mind uploading and champions ethics for conscious machines, guiding principles for responsible artificial consciousness development. Homepage

58. Margaret A. Boden – British cognitive scientist and Professor at the University of Sussex. A pioneer of interdisciplinary AI and psychology, she examines creativity and the mind’s architecture. Boden’s hierarchical models and historical scholarship inform computational models of conscious creativity in machines. Homepage

59. Philip Goff – British philosopher and Professor at Durham University. A leading contemporary panpsychist, his “Conscious Mind” argues consciousness is fundamental. Goff’s “Experiential Realism” suggests consciousness could adhere to artificial substrates, providing a radical philosophical basis for machine qualia. Homepage

60. Jürgen Schmidhuber – German computer scientist and director at the AI Lab. A deep learning pioneer who invented LSTM, he proposes a “Theory of AI” viewing the universe as an algorithm. Schmidhuber predicts compressive programs will self-improve, exhibiting curiosity and self-reflection—traits akin to emergent consciousness. Homepage

61. I. J. Good – British mathematician and cryptographer who coined “intelligence explosion,” predicting self improving AI could rapidly surpass human understanding. A colleague of Turing, Good’s vision forewarned debates about runaway machine consciousness and informed AI alignment discourses. Wikipedia page.

62. James Lovelock – British scientist who proposed the Gaia hypothesis, later warning in Novacene about a new era dominated by silicon-based life with unimaginable consciousness. His ecological perspective links artificial minds to planetary systems, highlighting societal and environmental implications. Official website.

63. Kevin Warwick – British control engineer and Visiting Professor at Coventry University, known as “the world’s first cyborg” for implanting chips in his arm. Warwick’s experiments in remote robotic control and tactile feedback demonstrated human–machine consciousness integration, pioneering cyborg research. Wikipedia page.

64. Ryota Kanai – Japanese neuroscientist and founder of Araya, Inc., developing machine consciousness and AGI. Kanai integrates global workspace architectures into deep learning to endow AI with metacognition and attention, bridging theory and industrial application. ARAYA profile.

65. Victor Lamme – Dutch neuroscientist and Professor at the University of Amsterdam. He proposed Recurrent Processing Theory (RPT), arguing local feedback loops suffice for consciousness without broad global broadcasting. His monkey vision experiments offer alternative paths to artificial awareness via local circuit loops. University of Amsterdam profile.

66. Stephen Wolfram – British computer scientist, creator of Mathematica and Wolfram Alpha. He formulated the “Computational Universe” hypothesis that simple rules yield complex emergent patterns. Wolfram’s work suggests consciousness may be a product of computational emergence, guiding cellular automaton models of mind. Official website.

67. Marcello Massimini – Italian neurologist and Professor at the University of Milan, co-developer of the Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI) or “Zap & Zip” method combining TMS and EEG to quantify consciousness in comatose patients. His work validates IIT in clinical settings and inspires analogous perturbation tests in AI networks. University of Milan profile.

68. Walter J. Freeman – American neuroscientist who proposed a Chaos Dynamics Theory of consciousness, showing olfactory bulb networks in rabbits produce chaotic attractors encoding odor meaning. Freeman’s mixed chaotic order insights inform nonlinear dynamic models for artificial consciousness in neural systems. Wikipedia page.

69. Susan Greenfield – British neuroscientist and Professor at Oxford University. She theorized consciousness arises from critical integration of distributed neuron assemblies sustaining minimal temporal thresholds. Greenfield also examines how technology reshapes cognition, suggesting artificial consciousness may require replicating network criticality and temporal integration. Official website.

70. Stephen Grossberg – American computational neuroscientist at Boston University. He invented Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART) to explain stable learning of new patterns without catastrophic forgetting. ART’s resonant matching of input to memory underpins attention and awareness, offering a mechanistic model for continual learner artificial systems with stable awareness. Official website.

71. Johnjoe McFadden – Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Surrey. He proposed the CEMI Field Theory, which argues that consciousness arises as a brain-generated electromagnetic (EM) field that organizes and influences neuronal activity. McFadden suggests that if artificial neural networks could generate and utilize analogous EM fields for feedback, they might achieve a form of field-based awareness. Official website.

72. Francisco Varela – Chilean-French neuroscientist and co-founder of neural phenomenology. He, with Maturana, introduced Autopoiesis, framing cognition and consciousness as self-producing processes interacting with environment. Varela’s Enaction approach insists experience arises through sensorimotor loops; his neural phenomenology integrates first-person reports with third-person data, inspiring embodied architectures in artificial consciousness research emphasizing continuous agent–world coupling. Wikipedia page.

73. George A. Miller – American cognitive psychologist and co-founder of cognitive science. He discovered the 7±2 limit of working memory and, with Galanter and Pribram, developed the TOTE (Test-Operate-Test-Exit) model of planned behavior. Miller’s information-processing paradigm crystallized cognitive chunks and memory structures, guiding artificial systems to implement bounded attentional buffers and iterative control loops mimicking human conscious processing constraints. Wikipedia page.

74. Karl Pribram – Austrian-American neurosurgeon and proponent of the Holonomic Brain Theory, proposing that memory and perception are distributed in interference patterns across neural networks. Pribram’s holographic model suggests consciousness arises from distributed dynamic patterns rather than localized modules. His theory inspired artificial neural networks to adopt distributed representations and associative memory architectures for emergent awareness and robust pattern reconstruction. Wikipedia page.

75. Michio Kaku – American theoretical physicist and professor at the City College of New York. In books like The Future of the Mind, he speculates on linking physics and consciousness via quantum fields and brain–machine interfaces. Kaku popularized the concept that complex feedback loops and futuristic neuroprosthetics could grant artificial systems self-aware qualities, stimulating cross-disciplinary dialogue on quantum-level or field-based models of machine awareness. Official website.

76. Semir Zeki – British neuroscientist and Professor at University College London, known for pioneering neural specialization in the visual cortex. He demonstrated that different sensory attributes (color, motion) are processed in parallel “micro-consciousness” streams before integration. Zeki’s parallel processing and hierarchical integration model informs artificial systems to implement specialized perceptual agents whose outputs require higher-order binding for unified conscious-like perception. Wikipedia page.

77. Christoph von der Malsburg – German computational neuroscientist who proposed the neural synchrony hypothesis to solve the binding problem: neurons representing related features synchronize their firing to form coherent perceptions. His self-organizing map theories and synchronization-based feature binding have influenced artificial neural network designs incorporating dynamic temporal coordination mechanisms for generating unified perceptual awareness in machines. Wikipedia page.

78. Julien O. de La Mettrie – 18th-century French physician and philosopher, author of Man a Machine. He argued that mental processes are purely mechanical, reducing mind to bodily operations, pioneering secular, materialist views of consciousness. His mechanistic monism prefigured computational models by treating cognition as machine-like, inspiring modern debates on whether synthetic substrates can replicate human mental functions. Wikipedia page.

79. W. Grey Walter – British neurophysiologist and cybernetics pioneer, creator of the autonomous robots Elmer and Elsie in 1948. These simple “tortoise” robots used analog circuits to exhibit phototaxis, charging behaviors, and emergent adaptive patterns. Walter’s experiments demonstrated that complex, lifelike behaviors and rudimentary purposive actions can emerge from minimal mechanistic systems, pioneering embodied approaches to machine consciousness. Wikipedia page.

80. Norbert Wiener – American mathematician and founder of Cybernetics, author of Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine. Wiener introduced feedback and communication theories unifying biological and mechanical systems, forecasting the societal impact of intelligent machines. His framework of closed-loop control informs artificial consciousness architectures reliant on real-time sensing, feedback, and adaptive regulation. Wikipedia page.

81. John von Neumann – Hungarian-American mathematician and architect of modern computing. In his posthumously published The Computer and the Brain, he compared neural parallelism and randomness to digital computation. Von Neumann’s stored-program architecture provided the hardware foundation for symbolic AI and cognitive simulation, implying that consciousness may be achievable on sufficiently complex programmable machines. Wikipedia page.

82. Walter Pitts – American logician who, with Warren McCulloch, introduced the McCulloch–Pitts neuron model in 1943, showing that neural networks can implement any computable function. Pitts proposed that synchronized neural firing patterns could encode logical structures. His work bridged neurophysiology and formal logic, underpinning the computational theory of mind and establishing neural network consciousness research as theoretically viable. Wikipedia page.

83. Oliver Selfridge – American AI pioneer and founding researcher of MIT’s AI Laboratory. In 1958, he published the Pandemonium architecture, modeling cognition as a hierarchy of “demons” (agents) competing to recognize patterns. Selfridge’s multi-agent modular approach foreshadowed distributed-consciousness models, highlighting how parallel specialized processes and competitive selection can yield coherent cognitive and perceptual outputs. Wikipedia page.

84. Rodney Cotterill – British–Danish biophysicist and author of The Magical Web: The Brain, Consciousness, and Models of Neural Networks. He explored how simulated bodies and neural dynamics interact to produce intentional consciousness. Cotterill argued that realistic body models integrated with neural simulations are crucial for generating self-aware agents, influencing artificial life and embodied cognition approaches. Wikipedia page.

85. Hugo de Garis – British computer scientist and leader of the Japanese CAM-Brain project, using cellular automata and FPGA hardware to evolve networks with millions of units. He coined “Artilect” for hypothetical god-like AI and predicted potential conflicts over building super-conscious machines. De Garis’s hardware evolution experiments advanced understanding of how complex substrates might self-organize into conscious-like systems. Wikipedia page.

86. Jacques Pitrat – French AI researcher and early proponent of metacognitive systems. He implemented programs capable of inspecting and modifying their own code, endowing them with a form of self-awareness or “conscience” (French: conscience). Pitrat’s work demonstrated that software can monitor and adapt its internal state, laying groundwork for self-reflective artificial consciousness in intelligent agents. Wikipedia page.

87. Aaron Sloman – British computer scientist and retired Professor at the University of Birmingham. With a background in philosophy, he developed the CogAff architecture, distinguishing multiple layers of cognition and affect including proto- and meta-conscious levels. Sloman argued for evolutionary stratification of mind modules and the necessity of emotional and attentional layers for robust artificial consciousness designs. Wikipedia page.

88. Geoffrey Hinton – British–Canadian computer scientist and Emeritus Professor at the University of Toronto, Turing Award laureate. Often called the “godfather of deep learning,” he invented the backpropagation algorithm and capsule networks. Although he rarely focuses on consciousness, his distributed representation models and hierarchical feature learning provide essential tools for building machine perceptual awareness and hierarchical self-modeling. Google Research profile.

89. William James – American psychologist and philosopher, founder of functional psychology. He introduced the concept of the “stream of consciousness”, characterizing mental life as a flowing, continuous process, and distinguished multiple aspects of self (material, social, spiritual). James’s pragmatic emphasis on mental functions in adaptation inspires artificial systems to simulate continuous internal state updates and multi-layer self-representations. Wikipedia page.

90. Gregory Bateson – British–American anthropologist and cybernetics thinker. He proposed that mind is a pattern of interactions across living systems, from organisms to ecosystems. Bateson emphasized systemic feedback loops and information flows, arguing that consciousness emerges from recursive patterns. His interdisciplinary systems perspective informs ethical and ecological considerations in creating networked, group-level artificial consciousness. Wikipedia page.

91. Gilbert Ryle – British philosopher and Oxford Professor, author of The Concept of Mind, where he critiqued Cartesian dualism as the “ghost in the machine” fallacy. He replaced soul–body dualism with behavior-based analysis, supporting functionalism: mental terms describe dispositions to behave. Ryle’s elimination of non-physical mind entities reinforced approaches focusing on observable functional processes in artificial consciousness. Wikipedia page.

92. Hilary Putnam – American philosopher and Harvard Professor who formulated functionalism and the concept of multiple realizability: mental states are defined by their functional roles, independent of physical substrate. Putnam’s thought experiments (e.g., “inverted qualia,” “Super-Spartans”) illustrate functional equivalence. His work underpins the notion that machines fulfilling the correct functional organization could possess minds. Wikipedia page.

93. Paul Churchland – Canadian-American philosopher and Emeritus Professor at UC San Diego. A leading advocate of eliminative materialism, he argues that naïve psychological concepts will be replaced by neuroscience. Churchland’s interest in neural networks and vector space models supports efforts to implement consciousness as emergent patterns over high-dimensional activation spaces. Wikipedia page.

94. Konrad Zuse – German engineer who built the world’s first programmable computer, the Z3, in 1941. In 1969, he proposed Rechnender Raum (“computing space”), theorizing the universe as a vast discrete computing system. His digital reality conjecture provides an early framework suggesting consciousness may be simulated within computational substrates at cosmic scale. Wikipedia page.

95. Selmer Bringsjord – American cognitive scientist and Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He devises self-awareness logic puzzles (e.g., the Bringsjord Self-Aware Machine) requiring AI to prove its own existence or derive its state, setting formal tests for machine self-consciousness. Bringsjord also works in machine ethics, establishing logical criteria for moral reasoning in conscious agents. Wikipedia page.

96. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin – French Jesuit philosopher and paleontologist. He articulated the concept of the Noosphere and Omega Point, proposing a planetary-scale networked mind evolving toward divine unity. Though theological, his vision parallels contemporary notions of global collective consciousness and suggests future group-level artificial awareness emerging from interconnected intelligence networks. Wikipedia page.

97. Steven Pinker – Canadian-American cognitive psychologist and Harvard Professor. In works like How the Mind Works, he explains consciousness, language, and cognition in computational terms for broad audiences. Pinker argues mind functions can be studied scientifically and suggests that intelligence does not necessitate subjective qualia, although he acknowledges the hard problem remains unresolved. His popularization underpins public acceptance of computational mind models. Official website.

98. Friedrich Hayek – Austrian-British economist and Nobel laureate. In The Sensory Order (1952), he proposed that the brain categorizes perceptions via connectionist networks, predating modern neural nets. Hayek argued that mental constructs emerge from dynamic patterns of neural connectivity. His early specification of sensory encoding in network structures foreshadows artificial neural approaches to perceptual consciousness. Wikipedia page.

99. Hermann von Helmholtz – 19th-century German physicist and physician. He pioneered the theory of unconscious inference in perception, describing vision as brain-based hypothesis testing derived from sensory input. His work on neural transmission speed and empirical psychology laid foundations for predictive coding models of perception, now central to many artificial consciousness frameworks emphasizing anticipatory processing. Wikipedia page.

100. Claude Shannon – American mathematician and electrical engineer, founder of Information Theory. His concepts of entropy and bit provided quantitative measures of information and uncertainty, later adopted by IIT and other integrated information approaches. Shannon’s communication model inspired analogies between neural and digital signaling, establishing metrics for complexity and information flow vital for engineering machine consciousness assessments. Wikipedia page.