All over the world, and particularly in Russia, Artificial Intelligence technologies are undergoing exponential development. Intelligent systems are widely integrated into various fields of activity, releasing human cognitive resource spent on performing routine tasks for more creative application. But while one part of society perceives intellectual systems as a progressive trend, the other part continues to regard the extension of the «digital mind» as an alarming factor that carries the potential threat to rights, freedom and opportunities of members of society. Strategies for managing the risks and benefits associated with the growth of intellectual potential dictate the need for an interdisciplinary dialogue of specialists from all areas of knowledge — science and technology, humanitarian and social fields.

Today, when humanity is trying to transfer a part of the intellectual potential to machines and put them at the service of their interests, the scientific community still cannot give a definite answer to the question «How does the human brain work?» The sense of scientific research in different fields is to find the «Holy Grail» — a clue how the brain forms a unique human personality. Now we can say that world neuroscience has accumulated a huge database and has attracted many revolutionary technologies. In the era of technological breakthrough, which brings both benefits and risks, the task of studying the human brain goes from a quantitative to a qualitative plane. It means that it is necessary to reduce accumulated knowledge into a fundamental «register» within the scope of a single centralized strategy for the study of natural intelligence in order to develop a general brain theory and to study its most important properties and functions. It’s time to get an answer to the question — how brain cells form thoughts and feelings.

Questions for discussion:

• Algorithms of memory, intelligence and consciousness — is it a step towards the general brain theory?
• The inner man world — a «zone of application» of the nerve cells activity.
• Can AI «change the mind» of the human brain (does the digital mind have the potential to mimic the human mind, is there any threat to human intelligence from the artificial side)?
• Is artificial intelligence able to penetrate our brains, predict our feelings and make decisions instead of us?
• Children of the 2000s: is global digitalization capable of changing the way generation Y is thinking?

Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies can provide people with assistance in many areas — data analysis, choosing optimal solutions, monitoring situations and managing. There is a trend of the global AI influence on the economy, business and society. The high demand for intelligent virtual assistants provides the market with an annual growth of over 30%. However, despite its potential power, creativity and human morality are inaccessible to AI. Today it is required to synchronize steps and build a policy of harmonization of research programs in the field of information technology and biomedicine. It is necessary to reach an agreement and develop effective programs for the interaction of artificial and natural intelligence, aimed to develop a comfortable and secure future for all people.

Questions for discussion:

• What is the difference between AI and EI (how one affect another)?
• How does AI help natural intelligence: what functions does it take upon itself, what «role» remains with natural intelligence, is AI an «instrument» of man?
• In which areas will Artificial Intelligence replace natural intelligence, where will it have an advantage?
• In which areas does natural intelligence retain its position?
• Is there a threat of a «digital dictatorship»? Does humanity have enough potential to protect its interests and not become an «appendage» of the digital mind?
• The impact of the AI ​​phenomenon on society and technology.