Patterns of the Mind

Early Bird Fee: ₹2,500 (until 10 Sept 2025)  

Standard Fee: ₹3,500  

👉 Register Now

Step back from the noise to see the big picture

Ever felt psychology was reduced to memorizing theories and statistics? That it should connect more deeply with your life and future?  

Patterns of the Mind is a residential seminar that blends theory, practical insight, and heart-to-heart conversations. It isn’t about tools or quick fixes. It’s about stepping into the overlap of psychology, cognitive science, and philosophy — to ask why.  

The Challenge

Everyone is busy debating which jobs AI will take or which tools to master. But the real questions go deeper:  

- What truly makes human intelligence unique? Is it language, creativity, or something else?  

- How does natural intelligence — from forests to ant colonies — reveal ways of knowing no machine can replicate?  

- Where does artificial intelligence fit: rival, tool, or the next step in the evolution of intelligence?  

This program invites you to step away from the noise, confront these questions directly, and see intelligence itself in a new light.  

Topics Covered

Over two days, we will challenge assumptions, examine boundaries, and ask whether the categories of “natural,” “human,” and “artificial” are as separate as we think. This is not another tutorial on AI tools. It is a space to think, to wrestle with unsettling questions, and to discover fresh perspectives.  

Session 1 – Intelligence and Sentience 

• An overview of key concepts of AI, HI, and NI.

Session 2 – Intelligence as Emergence  

• Exploring how intelligence arises in systems and in nature.  

Session 3 – Where We Are Now

• Examining today’s AI, its relationship with human and natural intelligence, and the possibilities for the future.  

Beyond the Weekend

This isn’t just a workshop — it’s your entry into an ongoing learning community:  

- Join our psychology learning community (free for attendees).  

- Access exclusive discounts on future workshops and certificate courses.  

- Connect with like-minded professionals for ongoing growth.  

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## Practical Details

📍 **Venue**: Fenn Hall, Kottayam, Kerala  

📅 **Dates**: 27–28 Sept 2025  

🍴 **Residential fee**: ₹10,000 (rooms and meals)  

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Who Should Attend

- Psychologists, educators, and researchers  

- Professionals curious about the deeper meaning of AI  

- Anyone seeking to engage in thoughtful, high-level discussions on intelligence and mind  

Note: To maintain the standard of discussion, non-psychologists may be asked to provide a short write-up about their background and motivation to attend.  

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 Facilitator

Mathai Fenn is a cognitive psychologist whose work bridges psychology, design, and the evolving landscape of human–machine interaction. With a PhD from IIT Bombay and decades of experience in applied psychology, he has helped leaders, organizations, and communities rethink the way intelligence and creativity shape their future.

Unlike the usual voices that reduce AI to tools or threats, Mathai brings a deeper lens: how intelligence itself—whether natural, human, or artificial—emerges, evolves, and transforms the way we live. His approach is not academic theory alone, but a mix of practical insight, storytelling, and real-world application.

Through Patterns of the Mind, he invites participants to step out of the noise and into conversations that reconnect psychology, philosophy, and lived experience—conversations that matter as we navigate a future where machines are no longer just tools but possible partners in thought.

Sessions

Over two days, we will challenge assumptions, examine boundaries, and ask whether the categories of “natural,” “human,” and “artificial” are as separate as we think. This is not another tutorial on AI tools. It is a space to think, to wrestle with unsettling questions, and to discover fresh perspectives.

The sessions will cover:

• Intelligence and Sentience — redefining what it means to know, exploring the history of intelligence.
  
  

• Emergence — how systems theory explains the rise of new forms of intelligence in nature and technology.
  
  

• Where We Stand Now & What’s Next — beyond the Turing Test and chatbots, toward planetary intelligence.

The setting matters. With only a handful of participants, shared meals of traditional Kerala food, and space for late-night conversations, Fenn Hall becomes more than a venue — it becomes part of the learning.

Seats are intentionally limited to keep discussions deep and personal. Early Registration closes 10 September 2025. After that, full registration fees will be charged.

What Makes This Program Different?

This isn’t another academic seminar. At Talk Shop Academy, we’re creating a space where:

• You step back and see the big picture.
  
  

• Psychology becomes personal — applied to your own path.
  
  

• You gain practical research skills valuable in both academic and commercial settings.
  
  

• You set your own learning agenda instead of following a rigid curriculum.
  
  

With only 12 participants, shared meals of traditional Kerala food, and late-night conversations, Fenn Hall itself becomes part of the learning experience.

Who Should Attend?

• Psychology graduates (or allied fields)

• Those considering higher education in psychology (in India or abroad)

• Anyone who wants to explore psychology's application beyond clinical settings

• People who learn best through conversation and shared exploration

Your Host

Dr. Mathai Fenn brings forty years of experience as a cognitive psychologist, educator, and therapist to this intimate gathering. With a PhD from IIT Bombay and teaching experience at institutions like XLRI Jamshedpur and the American University of Armenia, he bridges academic rigor with real-world application. (more...)

Beyond The Weekend

This gathering is just the beginning. Participants will:

• Join our free Psychology Learning Community.
  
  

• Receive exclusive discounts on future workshops and certificate programs.
  
  

• Build lasting connections with peers who think differently about intelligence.