Vancouver-based Quantum-AI Startup Nirvanic Consciousness Technologies Emerges From Stealth

Insider Brief

• Nirvanic Consciousness Technologies Inc., a Vancouver-based quantum-AI startup, has emerged from stealth to explore the computational basis of consciousness in creating safer, human-aligned artificial intelligence systems.
• The company aims to use quantum computing principles to imbue AI with qualities like intuition and empathy, addressing safety concerns with current, unconscious AI systems that lack adaptive awareness.
• CEO Suzanne Gildert, with expertise in quantum computing and robotics, co-founded Kindred AI and Sanctuary AI, and previously developed quantum machine learning algorithms at D-Wave.

Nirvanic Consciousness Technologies Inc., a Vancouver-based quantum-AI startup, emerged from stealth with the “heady” goal: exploring the computational underpinnings of consciousness to create safer, human-aligned artificial intelligence systems, according to a post on the company’s Substack.

The company’s vision is to imbue AI with qualities typically associated with human consciousness — such as intuition, empathy, and nuanced judgment — using a mix of quantum computing and classical AI techniques. Nirvanic claims this could resolve critical safety concerns with current AI systems, which operate without awareness or the ability to adapt to unpredictable situations.

“All AI systems today are unconscious,” writes Suzanne Gildert, CEO and founder of Nirvanic. “They may be super intelligent, but they only act based on what they have seen before.  They have no inner experience, no awareness of the consequences of their actions.  As these systems become more prevalent in the physical world, such as in self-driving cars or domestic machines, that could be a safety problem. Conscious AI, by contrast, would enable these systems to see many options at once, feel which ones are right and wrong, and know what to do.  We want to imbue AI with similar computational physics that life relies upon to make instinctive decisions.”

Gildert has an extensive background in quantum computing, robotics and artificial intelligence. In 2018, she co-founded Sanctuary AI, a company focused on developing human-like intelligence for general-purpose robots. Before that, she co-founded Kindred AI in 2014, which became the first robotics firm to deploy reinforcement learning in a production setting. The company was acquired by Ocado in 2020 for $339 million CAD, marking one of Canada’s largest robotics industry exits.

At D-Wave, Gildert worked on porting AI algorithms to quantum annealing hardware, designed quantum machine learning algorithms, and demonstrated the use of a quantum computer to control a robot’s motion. She holds a Ph.D. in experimental physics from the University of Birmingham and has also explored the intersection of quantum computing and art, creating digital works and the quantum-based game MAXCAT.

Consciousness as a Computational Problem

Nirvanic’s work centers on testing whether consciousness itself might have a quantum basis, a hypothesis supported by more speculative models such as the Penrose-Hameroff ORCH-OR theory. This theory suggests that quantum processes within cellular structures in the brain, called microtubules, allow living organisms to process massive amounts of information simultaneously and make optimal decisions in unpredictable scenarios.

By applying similar quantum principles to artificial intelligence, Nirvanic aims to create systems capable of shifting between “autopilot” and heightened awareness, much like humans do. For example, a driver coasts through familiar commutes on muscle memory but instantly switches to full alertness when a hazard arises.

Quantum Meets Artificial Intelligence

At the core of Nirvanic’s approach is the use of quantum computing technologies, which leverage principles such as superposition and entanglement to theoretically perform calculations beyond the reach of classical systems. Nirvanic hopes to leverage quantum computing to enable AI systems to evaluate multiple possibilities simultaneously and identify optimal choices, mimicking the brain’s hypothesized quantum processes.

Such advances would represent a shift from traditional AI, which relies on pre-trained models that struggle with new or unfamiliar inputs. By contrast, quantum-enhanced AI could adapt in real time, offering greater safety and efficiency in applications such as autonomous vehicles, robotic caregivers, and industrial systems.

According to Nirvanic, these systems would be better equipped to navigate human environments and situations, avoiding the pitfalls of current AI, which often lacks context sensitivity and moral reasoning.

Addressing AI’s Safety Challenges

Nirvanic’s proposition comes at a time of increasing public scrutiny over AI safety. Current systems, while capable of impressive feats, lack the ability to understand or anticipate the consequences of their actions, raising concerns about their deployment in critical settings.

The company argues that the real danger lies in unconscious AI—systems that blindly follow their training data without consideration for novel or high-stakes scenarios. By endowing AI with what Nirvanic calls “artificial consciousness,” the startup hopes to bridge this gap and create technology that operates in harmony with human values.

Gildert writes: “So when people say they’re afraid of AI, we think it’s unconscious AI they’re worried about—AI that isn’t equipped to handle the unpredictable nature of human environments. That’s what we want to change. We envision an AI that doesn’t just operate alongside people but actively supports them.”

A Philosophical and Technological Challenge

Besides facing one of today’s biggest technological challenges — safe AI — Nirvanic’s goals will lead them through some of philosophies thorniest brambles. The concept of artificial consciousness touches on long-debated questions about the nature of human experience and free will. Scientists and philosophers have struggled for decades to explain why consciousness exists or how subjective experiences arise from physical processes.

The so-called “hard problem” of consciousness, as coined by philosopher David Chalmers, remains unresolved. Quantum theories of consciousness, such as the one that is inspiring Nirvanic’s investigations, offer a potential explanation, though they remain speculative and controversial within the scientific community. Critics of quantum theories of consciousness note that while they are intriguing, they remain speculative, currently with limited empirical evidence supporting their claims.

The Broader Implications

Nirvanic’s emergence from stealth is part of a growing trend among AI developers to address ethical and safety concerns through innovative approaches. By exploring consciousness as both a scientific and engineering problem, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of two of the most cutting-edge fields: artificial intelligence and quantum physics.

While critics may question the feasibility of the company’s claims, Nirvanic is betting on the idea that understanding and replicating the computational power of consciousness could unlock new possibilities for AI. Whether or not it succeeds, the emergence of a company that’s ready to tackle these questions represents an important shift in how the tech industry approaches AI safety and alignment with human values.

The Road Ahead

Despite the uncertainties, the Nirvanic team suggests the time is ripe for such experimentation, pointing to advances in quantum computing as a key enabler. The company is leveraging hybrid quantum-classical systems to simulate the kinds of processes hypothesized to occur in biological consciousness.

While Gildert acknowledges the road to artificial consciousness is long and uncertain, she argues the potential rewards justify the effort.

Gildert writes: “As a roboticist and quantum physicist, I find the brain’s computation of consciousness a miracle. What if we could harness it?”

Nirvanic plans to share updates on its progress via its website and social media platforms, emphasizing transparency in its journey to humanize AI.

More information about Nirvanic’s mission and ongoing work can be found at nirvanic.ai and across their social media channels.