François Lespinasse is a transdisciplinary Ph.D. student and artist based in Montreal, specializing in the intersection of neuroscience, artificial intelligence (AI), and creativity. He is currently enrolled in the Individualized program at Concordia University and the Programme court de Présence Attentive at UQÀM.

During his psychology Master’s at Université de Montréal, François was instrumental in the Courtois-NeuroMod initiative, a groundbreaking global project merging neuroscience and AI. His work focused on understanding the somatic states underpinning emotions and intersubjectivity by assessing inter-subject synchronization of both bodily and brain signals as participants engaged with TV shows and movies inside the neuroimaging scanner. This unique approach encouraged him to venture beyond lab confines, drawing from disciplines like music theory and phenomenology, and deepening his insights into the naturalization of consciousness.

A fervent advocate for open-source learning and collaboration, François’s contributions can be viewed on his portfolio on Github (github.com/sangfrois). This collection of work showcases his dedication to community-driven and project-based knowledge sharing.

In recent times, François’s work has ventured into innovative methodologies for evaluating creativity in both humans and AI through language-centric tasks. As an artist, he integrates biosignals into his work, crafting unique human-computer interfaces (HCI) that blend procedurally generated musical, visual, and textual compositions.

As part of the Applied AI Institute at Concordia, François aims to interview with leading Neuro-AI experts through contemplative dialogue. Through these conversations, François seeks to discern foundational beliefs, highlight latent biases, and advocate for transparent research communication. These dialogues, in turn, act as catalysts, spurring him to conceptualize immersive HCI experiences that further the frontiers of AI-driven creativity.

With the Centre for Sensory Studies, his focus is on the experiential realm of immersive interfaces. Here, HCIs weave intricate narratives of consciousness, offering retrospectives on its evolution and forecasting potential transhumanistic progressions. In these immersive spaces, users witness the convergence of brain-body dynamics and phenomenology, enriched by a symphony of visual, auditory, poetic, and tactile stimuli. Through these multiple endeavors, François continues his exploration of the evolving interplay between humanity, technology, and consciousness.