As Artificial Intelligence rapidly reshapes the landscape of human possibility, an essential question arises: what forms of intelligence are we amplifying, and which are we at risk of forgetting? In my presentation, The Original AI: Remembering Ancestral Intelligence, I explore the enduring presence of a far older intelligence—one rooted not in code, but in culture, embodiment, and lived experience. Ancestral Intelligence is the accumulated wisdom carried through generations in story, ritual, symbol, and the deep knowing of the human body. It offers context, meaning, and ethical grounding—qualities that no algorithm can fully replicate.

Rather than positioning these two forms of intelligence in opposition, this talk invites a deeper integration. As we build increasingly powerful external technologies, we are called to also cultivate our inner technologies—the capacities of awareness, attention, and connection that have guided humanity for millennia. Ancestral Intelligence reminds us that intelligence is not only about what we can create, but how we live, relate, and make meaning together. In a world shaped by Artificial Intelligence, it may be this original intelligence that helps ensure our future remains not only innovative, but deeply human.

Presented at the Anthropology of Consciousness Conference, April 2026 by Paul Robear, President / Executive Director, CUYA- Cuyamungue Institute.

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