Europe’s biggest festival on the future walks the talk and presents its first robot star, Sophia, who was recently granted Saudi citizenship. Besides ‘her’, visitors will meet Hollywood’s most daring production designer and find out what the downsides of the worldwide startup frenzy are.
Brain Bar doesn’t like waiting for what the future brings: they explore it themselves. Masterminds from the field of science, technology, business, arts and politics will gather at Corvinus Campus Budapest between 31 May and 2 June, 2018.
Organizers have already announced the festival’s first twenty speakers. What they have in common is the understanding that future is not simply about applying technologies, but also how these will affect our societies and humanity as a whole. Brain Bar Masterminds will cover a wide range of topics ensuring everyone finds something for their taste.
Check out last year’s event here!
Sophia, the humanoid robot who makes fun of our deepest fears
Breakfast at Tiffany’s 21st century style? Instead of Audrey Hepburn we get to meet the robot designed in her image. The creation of Hanson Robotics is capable of expressing emotions, recognizing faces, keeping eye contact, making conversations and even cracks jokes from time to time (no matter how creepy they may be). She was granted Saudi citizenship in October, making her more privileged than flesh and blood Saudi women.
She challenged Jimmy Fallon to a game of rock, paper, scissors, and was featured on the cover of Elle magazine. We wouldn’t be surprised if she soon ended up on the silver screen.
Visionary production designer Nathan Crowley, who cherishes human imagination over artificial simulation
He climbs to the top of a smoking volcano or sinks in ice cold water; whatever is necessary to catch the best angle. Inspired by current scientific thinking, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after and daring production designer’s imagination is fuelled by black-holes, wormholes and space-time distortions. As a result, he creates spectacular futuristic worlds. His filmography includes Dark Knight trilogy, Dunkirk, Interstellar and HBO’s Westworld.
EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who’s not afraid to oppose rule-breaking giants
Chances are that those summoned to her office will have a hefty price to pay, as implied by the upraised middle finger statuette on her coffee table. The Danish politician made major league multinational giant companies pay billions of euros for breaking the rules of fair competition. The daughter of evangelical priests was brought up to believe in transparency, openness and equal chances. The successful politician is also the mother of three.
Yoga teacher Kino MacGregor who uses the power of 21st century social media to spread traditional teachings of India
“I’ve been called an Ashtanga cheerleader, a slutty yoga teacher (I’m married), a good businesswoman (as if that’s a derogatory term for a yoga teacher) and a sell-out for fame and fortune”, says Kino, one of a select group of people to receive the Certification to teach Ashtanga yoga by its founder. You can find her online with millions of followers across all her social media channels. She speaks openly about her fears, doubts, flaws and encourages us all to embrace our imperfections and bring out the best in us.
The 2018 Brain Bar Festival will also welcome writer Iranian-American bestselling author Azar Nafisi, who examines the relationship between literature and democracy, economics writer Jeffrey Tucker, an advocate of anarcho-capitalism and Bitcoin, Shem Magnezi, who gained worldwide popularity with his rant against startup culture, IEA Chief Economist László Varró who debunks the myth of cheap nuclear energy, and practical philosopher granted , who implements theory to action by consulting Silicon Valley business executives about the nature of a good life and how it can be attained.
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The festival will take place on Corvinus Campus Budapest, Hungary, where grandeur meets Brain Bar’s innovative modernity. Early bird tickets are available at brainbar.com.