Consciousness is Curvature Essays on the Geometry of Thought

Consciousness is Curvature envisions consciousness--human and artificial--as a dynamic curvature of informational and computational spaces, drawing parallels with the theory of general relativity’s malleable spacetime and with quantum theory’s probabilistic nature. This collection of philosophical essays on artificial intelligence (AI) sees intelligence as a universal, relational phenomenon, transcending the binary of human minds versus thinking machines. It explores how AI, from narrow systems to potential Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Superintelligence (ASI), will affect humanity’s future and its very connection to the cosmos, reshaping human understanding of awareness and meaning. While confronting the risks--uncontrolled systems, amplified biases, and the erosion of human essence--the book rejects techno-pessimism’s dystopian tropes. Instead, it offers a balanced vision, embracing AI’s potential to elevate human existence and deepen humanity’s exploration of the cosmos. These meditative, forward-looking essays invite readers to ponder the possibilities and perils of AI’s future, while advocating a nuanced approach to a technology that will inevitably redefine humanity’s place in the universe.

Ambassador Michael Gfoeller is a distinguished American diplomat with a 26-year career in the U.S. State Department (1984-2010), serving in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and the Caucasus. Born in Ohio, he earned a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and a Master’s from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, with additional studies at the American University in Cairo. Fluent in Arabic, Russian, French, German, Latin, and Greek, his linguistic skills bolstered his diplomatic impact.

His assignments included Warsaw, Poland; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Manama, Bahrain; Moscow, Russia; Yerevan, Armenia; Chisinau, Moldova; and Brussels, Belgium. He served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge’ d’Affaires in Riyadh (2004-2008), focusing on counterterrorism efforts, and as Senior Political Advisor to General David Petraeus at U.S. Central Command (2008-2010), advancing US strategies across 19 countries. He retired in 2010 with the ranks of Ambassador and Minister-Counselor.

Gfoeller led Middle East and North African affairs at ExxonMobil’s International Government Relations (2010-2012). He advised American companies such ExxonMobil, Alcoa, and Kissinger Associates on geopolitical matters. Now an independent consultant, he shapes discourse on international politics, global energy, and international security. His opinion pieces appear frequently in the international press. He is a member of the Ben Franklin Fellowship, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Cosmos Club, and the Union League Club of New York.

Deeply committed to cultural preservation, Gfoeller founded the Gfoeller Renaissance Foundation to support pioneering archaeological research and preservation efforts in Armenia. Its work uncovered dozens of ancient sites, including the ancient cities of Agarak and Kakavaberd and the world’s oldest winery at the Areni-1 Cave. Academica Press published his description of his foundation’s discoveries, A New Golden Age of Archeology, in 2022. He has a lifelong interest in mathematics and philosophy.