XPANSE 2024: Pioneering Tomorrow
The Visionaries Building Tomorrow Today
XPANSE 2024 was a groundbreaking forum in Abu Dhabi that brought together global leaders in quantum tech, AI, biotech, space exploration, and more. From inspiring panels to immersive experiences, I was thrilled to share some space there with thought leaders like Zina Jarrahi Cinker, Phnam Bagley, Bobby Azarian, Anil Seth, Sean Carroll, and more. It was most certainly groovy to be able to share my own insights on alien life, consciousness, and the Panzoic Effect at the meeting.
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It was so much fun to look back on the experience of XPANSE 2024 and share it here on The Cosmobiologist. Enjoy!
XPANSE is the vision and brainchild of Zina Jarrahi Cinker, a forward-thinking innovator in next-generation materials science. As the creator of MATTER Inc., Zina has carved out a reputation for imagining and shaping civilization-changing technologies.
XPANSE reflects this ethos in Zina’s work, serving as a convergent forum for collective insights on exponential technologies—from quantum computing and artificial intelligence to artistic integrations and future engineering innovations. The meeting brought together thought leaders, Nobel laureates, artists, authors, and visionaries—united by a shared purpose of sculpting tomorrow.
XPANSE 2024 took place in Abu Dhabi from November 20-22 at the ADNEC Center. Hosted by ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, in partnership with MATTER Inc., the event convened over 2,500 trailblazers, including industry leaders, CEOs, ministers, scientists, and thinkers from across the globe. And, of course, there was little ol’ me.
I was honored to attend XPANSE 2024. I was turned on to the event by my friend Phnam Bagley of Nonfiction Design Studio, whose work brings science fiction into reality through design. I had the pleasure previously of hanging out in-person with Phanm at the Analog Astronaut Conference, and it was so awesome to see her and her partner Mardis Bagley at XPANSE this year!
Walking into XPANSE 2024 was like stepping into the future: multiple stages, breakout spaces, art installations, and even a “forest” for collaboration and relaxation. The venues ranged from the immersive Imaginarium stage to the more intimate fireside chat space and the dynamic startup pitch platform. XPANSE didn’t just offer discussions; it created experiences that bridged science, art, engineering, and business.
The agenda spanned a dizzying array of fields: quantum technologies, artificial and embodied intelligence, genomics, fusion energy, brain-machine interfaces, sentient cities, and beyond. While I could write for hours and hours about all of the things I experienced there, for now I’m going to share about some of the most remarkable talks and ideas I heard, my own contributions during the meeting, some of the unique interactions I had, and how you can take part in the next meeting.
Exploring the Spectrum of Talks and Panels
XPANSE featured an extraordinary diversity of talks and panels, as a glance at the agenda reveals.
Talks, panels, fireside chats, and startup pitches included topics like involving more people in quantum tech, using AI for improved healthcare solutions, the role of AI and robotics in cybersecurity, future tech in pharmaceuticals, machine learning in sports, flying cars, the future of machine intelligence, consciousness studies related to AI, genetically modified organisms for soil and regolith remediation, satellite technology, telecommunications, the matterverse, bionic limbs and human embodiments of non-human forms, collective intelligence, memory, black holes, revolutionary physics, ecosystem restoration, climate issues, the nature of time, DNA computing, exponential technologies in materials science, sensory perception, agricultural technologies, bioelectronics, human space exploration and space tourism, architectural design for space, using graphene tattoos for monitoring blood pressure, wildfire mitigation technology, sustainability, nanotech, and so much more.
It was such a rich array of conversations and talks and more. I was pretty floored by how well it was all prepared and how smoothly everything ran given the sheer magnitude of speakers and ideas.
My Contributions: Aliens, Consciousness, and the Panzoic Effect
I’m deeply grateful to have shared my ideas on life, intelligence, and consciousness at XPANSE.
Alongside informal conversations, I participated in two panels and delivered a talk on the Imaginarium stage, presenting the Panzoic Effect.
What About Aliens?
Phnam Bagley, Amy Karle, and I engaged in a panel exploring the concept of “alien.” Rather than focusing on extraterrestrials or UFOs, we considered how humanity’s future might itself become “alien” through advances in AI, biotechnology, and space exploration. Are we creating new forms of alien intelligence? How does the concept of “alien” influence our scientific and artistic approaches to designing the future?
Astrobiology: A Cosmic Mirror
My talk on the Panzoic Effect emphasized how astrobiology and thinking about alien life can inspire better stewardship of Earth and envision a shared future for humanity. XPANSE’s design team elevated my presentation with generative AI animations that integrated with my narrative. It was thrilling to connect with the audience about how imagining aliens might improve our empathy, creativity, and long-term thinking.
Is the Universe Conscious?
Joining Bobby Azarian and David Brebner for a fireside chat on consciousness was another highlight. While tasked with addressing whether the universe is conscious, our panel broadened the discussion to explore the very definition of consciousness and its emergence in artificial systems. We explored how we might recognize or fail to recognize alien consciousness and considered the intersection of intelligence and sentience.
Unique Interactions and Future Perspectives
The true magic of XPANSE often happened between sessions, during chance encounters and deep conversations.
Amy Karle: Amy’s work bridges art and science, exploring how biotechnology and design can shape human futures. We bonded over shared interests in the Interstellar Foundation (which we’re both advisors for) and her visionary projects. I always loved hearing from artists on their unique viewpoints on the integrations of art, science, technology, and more.
Bobby Azarian: It was so awesome to meet cognitive neuroscientist and freelance author, Bobby Azarian. We shared a lot of ideas about the nature of consciousness and intelligence, the future, our understanding of time, human perception, and more. He’s definitely a remarkable thinker and I’m stoked that he gifted me a copy of his book, The Romance of Reality.
Whurley: Whurley’s passion for democratizing quantum computing aligns with my own views on making advanced technologies accessible. His energy and storytelling were infectious. It turns out that Whurley is also connected to my friend Heshan "Grasshopper" Illangkoon. Small world.
Rhea Mehra: Rhea’s curiosity and depth of knowledge amazed me. Her question during our panel—on biotech applications for Mars—was well-thought. I attended her keynote talk and was super impressed with her enthusiasm and interests in remediation of perchlorates on Mars and arsenic in groundwater on Earth using biotech applications. She also later interviewed me in the media center, and it was just lovely to chat with her about her future and interests.
Sean Carroll and Anil Seth: Finally meeting these intellectual giants was a highlight. Sean Carroll’s work on the arrow of time and Anil Seth’s research on perception have been important for my own thinking about how we might design systems to interact with non-human intelligences in the cosmos.
Zdenka Kuncic: It was a blast to meet Zdenka and speak with her about her research and ideas. Zdenka is a professor at the University of Sydney and overall just a fun person to chat with about physics, intelligence, life, and more.
Sara Sabry and Merritt Moore: I sadly didn’t get to speak with Sara and Merritt at the meeting, but I love their work and it was great hearing them speak. Sara Sabry went to space through the support of Space for Humanity. And Merritt Moore is a remarkable scientist and dancer who has merged her dance with robotics in delightful ways!
I also cherished meeting Dimitra Atri, a fellow astrobiologist and scientist with BMSIS, whom I had only known virtually beforehand. Our in-person conversations deepened my understanding of his work and life in Abu Dhabi, and it was a blast to hang out a bit.
Conclusion
XPANSE 2024 was more than a conference; it was a convergence of visionary minds dedicated to imagining and shaping humanity’s future.
The ideas exchanged and connections forged will ripple across my work in astrobiology and beyond. From the inspiring talks to the transformative personal interactions, XPANSE exemplified what’s possible when art, science, and technology converge. I left Abu Dhabi invigorated and eager to continue exploring the frontiers of knowledge and innovation.