AI, Mindfulness and Planetary Health

In the international symposium on “Human Consciousness and the Science of Human-AI Interaction” during the 2026 Zürich AI Festival, DSI researchers aim to co-develop a curated panel discussion on “AI, Mindfulness & Planetary Health” to raise awareness of the challenges humanity is faced with in the age of AI.

Background

As AI becomes increasingly present in healthcare and everyday life, there is a growing need to consider health beyond the individual. This panel discussion is designed around the concept of “Planetary Health” – as a unifying framework that recognises the interdependence of human, other beings, and the environment, and examines how AI & Mindfulness can be leveraged as pathways towards achieving a healthier, more connected, and more resilient society as well as nature. The objective is highlighting opportunities for responsible innovation, while fostering dialogue across scientific and practitioner communities. 

Concept

In collaboration with the Center for Law and Economics at ETH Zurich, the World Meditation Foundation (WMF), the Mindful Peace International (MPI), and the UZH.ai Hub, this panel discussion revolves around three main themes: 

• Rethinking Health: What does “health” mean in the context of AI, Mindfulness & Planetary Health? 
• Designing Responsible AI: How can Mindfulness support AI development & use – and AI enable Mindful living & working – in a mutually reinforcing way, towards the goal of fostering Planetary Health? 
• From Vision to Action: What collaboration or innovation efforts are needed to translate the Planetary Health vision into practice, through the “AI+Mindfulness” approach in an ethical, equitable, and environmentally sustainable manner? 

The panel brings together leading experts in AI, medicine, One Health, medicine, sustainability, and leadership, offering an engaging and forward-looking exploration at the intersection of AI, Mindfulness, and Planetary Health. Keynote speakers include:

• Prof. Dr. Claudia Witt, Professor of Complementary & Integrative Digital Health, Institute for Primary Care, University of Zurich, Switzerland 
• Prof. Dr. Jan Fehr, Professor of Global Health & Mobility, Department of Public & Global Health, University of Zurich, Switzerland 
• Prof. Dr. Christina Röcke, Professor of Lifespan Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland 
• Dr. Silvia Sanasi, Acting Director of Occupational Health & Safety Policy, Ministry of Health, Italy 
• Mr. Ruben Kranendonk, Head of The UZH.ai Hub, University of Zurich, Switzerland 

Please check out more info and join us!

Registration

2026 Zürich AI Festival