Identity & Access Management

The state deals with a lot of money. People and organisations need to declare, file, and pay taxes or receive returns if they overpaid the state. Tax contributions amount to billions of euros, funding public goods such as infrastructure, education, social welfare, and defence. In the 13th edition of our meetup series, we take a closer look at research and design in public finance and taxation, exploring diverse perspectives from 3 speakers. The evening aims to spark a discussion about the government’s or the state’s role, and how it can be accommodating to citizens, residents, and business owners. We will hear from: * Manuel Großmann (Taxfix) * Merici Vinton (formerly US Digital Service) * Sonja Wilczek (DigitalService des Bundes) The federal government’s DigitalService is hosting the meetup on the mezzanine floor of its Kreuzberg office. All presentations will be given in English. Questions in the later discussion part can be raised in either English or German. The event is jointly organised and hosted by CityLAB Berlin and DigitalService.

For the June edition of our collaborative modeling meetup, we’ll continue the EventStorming deep dive we started earlier this year and explore some of the tactics and recipes of this format. What does that mean, exactly? Massive learning, massive fun, and massive numbers of sticky notes. As always, everyone is welcome. You don't need to be a software engineer to participate. In fact, it would be great to have more people who aren't software engineers. We're here to solve problems cross-functionally, not get into implementation details. As long as you care passionately about getting things right, then you belong here! This is a hands-on workshop. Be prepared to participate fully and add to the energy of the room. Looking forward to seeing you there!

*This event is a collaboration with our friends from Domain Driven Design Berlin, check out their Meetup page [here](https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/domain-driven-design-berlin/) and sign up there!* \-\-\-\-\- **About the evening** For the June edition of our collaborative modeling meetup, we’ll continue the EventStorming deep dive we started earlier this year and explore some of the tactics and recipes of this format. What does that mean, exactly? Massive learning, massive fun, and massive numbers of sticky notes. As always, everyone is welcome. You don't need to be a software engineer to participate. In fact, it would be great to have more people who aren't software engineers. We're here to solve problems cross-functionally, not get into implementation details. As long as you care passionately about getting things right, then you belong here! This is a hands-on workshop. Be prepared to participate fully and add to the energy of the room. Looking forward to seeing you there! **RSVPS:** **Please sing up on the event page from [Domain Driven Design Berlin](https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/domain-driven-design-berlin/)!** \-\-\-\-\-\- **Code of Conduct** We adhere to the [Berlin Code of Conduct](https://berlincodeofconduct.org/) to ensure a welcoming and respectful environment for all participants. The event space operates under largely compatible [Thoughtworks Meetups & Events CoC](https://www.thoughtworks.com/en-de/about-us/events/code-of-conduct-germany). **Accessibility** The Location is accessible for wheelchair users. This includes the entrance (no steps to get into the location), toilets and the stage.

We are back in the c-base! Do you already run NixOS and want to talk to other people or want an introductory session with some NixOS users. Just bring your machine! Usually there are no topics, we just sit in front of our computers, talk about stuff, debug some problems or review some PRs on nixpkgs. There are drinks usually available from the c-base bar. If you can't find us. just ask around or ask in irc (#krebs on hackint)

We are excited to feature **Georgia Channing**, who is currently leading the AI for Science team at **Hugging Face** and will discuss "**When Silicon Meets Carbon: Bringing Synthetic Biology to Life**", lasting approximately 45 minutes. After the talk, seize the opportunity to connect with fellow AI enthusiasts to share ideas and questions while enjoying free drinks and pizza. **Door close by 7.15pm, so please come early! Also, "attend"ing (RSVP) here on Meetup is strictly necessary to be guaranteed entry.** Please note that Meetup has recently been quite keen on promoting its Plus program. However, you are not obligated to purchase it, as both our events and the platform remain free. **Who is this event for?** This event is open to everyone interested in state-of-the-art AI research. We especially design it for students, PhD candidates, academic researchers, and industry professionals with a research focus in machine learning. **Abstract**: Foundation models have transformed how we read and design biological systems, from protein structure prediction to the generation of novel sequences. But building these models is as much an engineering problem as a scientific one. This talk looks at what it takes to bring AI for biology from research into practice, and at the challenges that make science a uniquely demanding domain for machine learning. We will cover how foundation models for biology are trained and deployed at scale, why scientific data is so different from the text and images that drive mainstream AI, and where the gap between a benchmark result and a real biological discovery still lies. The aim is to show how modern AI connects to living systems, and what we need to get right for synthetic biology to fully benefit from it. **Bio**: Georgia Channing is the AI for Science Lead at Hugging Face, working at the intersection of machine learning and the natural sciences. She read for her Master’s and PhD in computer science at the University of Oxford, with a focus on applying AI to scientific discovery. Her work has spanned a wide range of AI-for-science areas, including remote sensing, biophysics, and materials design. She now focuses on building open tools, models, and communities that make scientific research more accessible, collaborative, and reproducible. We are [BLISS](https://bliss.berlin/) e.V., the **AI** **organization** in Berlin that **connects like-minded individuals** who share great interest and passion for the field of machine learning. This summer 2026, we will, again, host an exciting speaker series on site in Berlin, featuring excellent researchers from cohere, ETH Zürich, University of Oxford, HuggingFace, and Stanford University. Website: [https://bliss.berlin](https://bliss.berlin/) Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin](https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin) Disclaimer: By attending this event you agree to be photographed.

Liebe JUG-Mitglieder, wir möchten Euch herzlich zu unserem nächsten Stammtisch, der jeden ersten Dienstag im Monat stattfindet, einladen. Alles weitere kann im unserem Blog unter http://www.jug-berlin-brandenburg.de/ gefunden werden. Viele Grüße Sandra, Jan, Jörg und Oliver

From APIs to Agents: Control, Identity, and What Breaks Along the Way Most of what we've built over the last \~15–20 years assumes a static frame of reference: Apps talk to services over APIs. You know who's calling what, you can stick a gateway in front of it, apply some policy, and move on. Agents don't really fit that model. They don't just call an API and return. They decide what to do, call a tool, look at the result, call something else, maybe involve another agent, loop through an LLM a few times… all the while, doing onbehalf of the user, with permissions that aren't always obvious. It's not always clear who is actually doing something. It's not obvious what the full execution path looks like. And the access control models we're used to — user → service, service → service fall part. We'll dig into what actually breaks when you start wiring agents into real systems, especially around identity and access control. Things like: \- how \(or if\) you assign identity to an agent \- what it means for an agent to act "on behalf of" someone \- how you enforce policy when the flow isn't predefined \- and how you get any kind of visibility into what just happened We'll also look at some of the patterns starting to emerge: agents talking to other agents, tools being invoked dynamically, and why a mediation layer (ie, agentgateway) must be built from the ground up with this in mind. \-\-\-\-\-\- Speaker \-\-\-\-\-\- Christian Posta (Solo.io) Christian is a globally recognized expert in cloud-native architecture, service mesh, and distributed systems. As Global Field CTO at Solo.io, he works with enterprises to design and implement next-generation platforms—and is now at the forefront of AI-native infrastructure and agent systems. \-\-\-\-\-\- Who should attend? \-\-\-\-\-\- This meetup is for people who are building or thinking about the next generation of enterprise systems: Platform engineers and architects, Cloud-native practitioners, AI engineers working with agents and LLMs, Anyone exploring how AI changes system design \-\-\-\-\-\- How to join \-\-\-\-\-\-\- This time, the meetup will be in the premises of Riverty in Kantstrasse 17, Berlin (4th Floor of Living Berlin mall). Riverty will provide pizza and drinks. Please bring your ID as you will need to sign an NDA (we are a regulated entity).

Riverty Tech Night in collaboration with KI Park and cloud ahead Most of what we've built over the last \~15–20 years assumes a static frame of reference: Apps talk to services over APIs. You know who's calling what, you can stick a gateway in front of it, apply some policy, and move on. Agents don't really fit that model. They don't just call an API and return. They decide what to do, call a tool, look at the result, call something else, maybe involve another agent, loop through an LLM a few times… all the while, doing onbehalf of the user, with permissions that aren't always obvious. It's not always clear who is actually doing something. It's not obvious what the full execution path looks like. And the access control models we're used to — user → service, service → service fall part. We'll dig into what actually breaks when you start wiring agents into real systems, especially around identity and access control. Things like: \- how \(or if\) you assign identity to an agent \- what it means for an agent to act "on behalf of" someone \- how you enforce policy when the flow isn't predefined \- and how you get any kind of visibility into what just happened We'll also look at some of the patterns starting to emerge: agents talking to other agents, tools being invoked dynamically, and why a mediation layer (ie, agentgateway) must be built from the ground up with this in mind. \-\-\-\-\-\- Speaker \-\-\-\-\-\- Christian Posta ([Solo.io](http://solo.io/)) Christian is a globally recognized expert in cloud-native architecture, service mesh, and distributed systems. As Global Field CTO at [Solo.io,](http://solo.io,/) he works with enterprises to design and implement next-generation platforms—and is now at the forefront of AI-native infrastructure and agent systems. \-\-\-\-\-\- Who should attend? \-\-\-\-\-\- This meetup is for people who are building or thinking about the next generation of enterprise systems: Platform engineers and architects, Cloud-native practitioners, AI engineers working with agents and LLMs, Anyone exploring how AI changes system design \-\-\-\-\-\- How to join \-\-\-\-\-\-\- This time, the meetup will be in the premises of Riverty in Kantstrasse 17, Berlin (4th Floor of Living Berlin mall). Riverty will provide pizza and drinks. Please bring your ID as you will need to sign an NDA (we are a regulated entity).

Welcome to **ChessBar Events! 🍻♟️** We host **weekly chess tournaments** in different bars across the city — the perfect mix of strategy, drinks, and good vibes. The tournament is organized directly through our **ChessBar app**, where you can see your next opponent, enter results, and gain ranking points throughout the season. **The number of people shown on Meetup is not accurate. Please check the ChessBar app for the actual number of participants.** ✨ **What to expect** \- 5 games in **rapid format** (10 minutes per player) 🕹️ **\- Free entry** 💸 **\- Open to all levels** \- Up to 12 players can participate \- No need to bring a board or pieces — we provide all the material\! **How to join** 📲 Please make sure to **register through the ChessBar app** (signing up on Meetup alone is not enough). 👉 [https://onelink.to/chessbar-s](https://onelink.to/chessbar-s) 🌐 **More info** Website: [www.chess-bar.com](https://www.chess-bar.com/) Instagram: [@chess___bar](https://www.instagram.com/chess___bar/)

We invite you to our [Digitale Leute Meetup in Berlin powered by SAP](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/dl-meetup-12-powered-by-sap-berlin-tickets-1987405580591?aff=oddtdtcreator). Look forward to inspiring talks and Q&A sessions. Get your free ticket [here](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/dl-meetup-12-powered-by-sap-berlin-tickets-1987405580591?aff=oddtdtcreator) *** The Digitale Leute Meetup is an event series organized by *Digitale Leute*. **Invitation** We invite you to join us for our second meetup this year on June 4th at SAP in Berlin! We just celebrated the successful restart of our event series in Cologne with over 100 participants, and we cannot wait to dive deep into the Berlin product builders community. Look forward to leading professionals from product, engineering, and UX/design, sharing their best practices and discussing trends and topics with you the community. We are still early in our planning, but expect the first speaker announcements soon. Join us for an evening of networking, fueled by drinks and bites – just bring your ideas and your colleagues! **Schedule** 06:30 PM - Doors open 07:00 PM - Welcome by Christoph Bresler, Founder of Digitale Leute School 07:05 PM - Welcome by SAP & Moderation by Thomas Riedel 07:10 PM - DL Interview: **Mareike Dorra**, Head of Product Management Bootcamps at Digitale Leute School (ex-Zalando) will interview **Jan Hegewald**, VP Engineering at Rabot Energy (ex-SumUp, -Zalando, -Idealo) about the rise of Product Engineering. AI is changing how software is built. In this conversation, Mareike Dorra and Jan Hegewald explore why the focus is shifting from software development to product development—and how engineers, through product thinking, new tools, and closer collaboration with product managers, are evolving into “product engineers.” 07:40 PM - Questions & Answers 08:00 PM - Networking 08:55 PM - Wrap up of the meetup **Good to know** In addition to our meetup, we bring together over 1,000 product builders in Cologne every November at our international software product development conference, the Digitale Leute Summit. Speakers in 2026 include representatives from Atlassian, Google DeepMind, Zendesk, sevdesk, and many more. You can find more information here: [Digitale Leute Summit 2026](https://www.digitale-leute.de/summit/26/ "https://www.digitale-leute.de/summit/26/") **About Digitale Leute** Digitale Leute has always been about one thing: bringing together the people who shape digital products. The thinkers, the builders, the ones who care deeply about how technology is made and why it matters. Over the years, our community has grown – but we’ve missed the magic that only happens when you’re in the same room, sharing ideas, swapping stories, and sparking conversations that no Slack channel can replicate. So we decided: it’s time to bring our meetups back. **About SAP in Berlin** Located in the heart of European innovation, [SAP in Berlin](https://www.sap.com/germany/about/berlin.html "https://www.sap.com/germany/about/berlin.html") combines the power of a global company with the strength of a unique local ecosystem – we attract talent, shape SAP‘s image as a front-runner of innovation, and foster our position as market leader for enterprise application software in Berlin. Our location in Berlin offers a perfect meeting point for innovators and decision makers, while we stay on top of software trends and technologies to define their value for business and society.

Welcome to Sunday Tech Coffee. This is a **networking** event for those in the tech industry in Berlin. We are usually inside and to the right. Ask the barista/bartender if you can't find us.

**⚠️ IMPORTANT: REGISTRATION MANDATORY ⚠️** Registration on **Luma** is **REQUIRED** to attend this event. **Link: https://luma.com/7zfk3orp?utm_source=meetup** Your registration is subject to host approval. You must complete the registration process on lu.ma to receive the full event location details and confirmation of your attendance. **Please note: Without approved registration on Luma, you will NOT be able to access the event location or attend.** We are excited to host a **BLISS x juna.ai workshop** featuring **Dr. Nima Siboni (senior RL Engineer)**, who will guide us through an interactive session on algorithm discovery with LLMs. **​​​ Title: The Heuristic Scientist: Open-Ended Algorithm Discovery with LLMs** **📅 Date: 03.06.2026** **🕕 Time: 18:00** 📍 Location: TU Berlin Marchstrasse 23 [Room 0.011] ​​​The session will last around 2 hours, followed by a networking session with juna.ai and fellow AI enthusiasts (and free pizza!🍕). Bring your laptop! **​Abstract:** Large language models are increasingly useful not only for writing code, but for exploring the space of possible algorithms. In this hands-on workshop, we will look at how LLMs can act as “heuristic scientists”: generating candidate strategies, turning ideas into executable code, testing them against concrete objectives, and refining them through feedback. The workshop centers on the general discovery loop behind LLM-assisted heuristic generation. Participants will learn how to structure problems for algorithm discovery, prompt models to propose interpretable heuristics, evaluate those heuristics with simulations or benchmarks, and use the results to guide further search. We will also discuss when simple prompting is enough, when training or fine-tuning may help, and how to keep generated heuristics understandable, testable, and auditable. ​By the end of the session, participants will have built a small discovery loop of their own and will understand the practical trade-offs involved in using LLMs for open-ended algorithm discovery: creativity versus control, exploration versus verification, and automation versus human judgment. ​ **⚡ FINAL REMINDER ⚡** **You MUST register and be approved on Luma to attend. The event location will only be visible after your registration is confirmed by the host. Link: https://luma.com/7zfk3orp?utm_source=meetup** *** We are **BLISS e.V.**, Berlin’s AI community connecting like-minded individuals passionate about machine learning and data science. Our **BLISS Workshops** connect **students and young professionals with industry partners**, offering an inside look into **how machine learning is applied in real-world settings** \- from research and development to deployment\. ​ ​​​BLISS Website:[ https://bliss.berlin](https://bliss.berlin/?utm_source=luma) ​​​BLISS Youtube:[ https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin](https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin?utm_source=luma)

**This is 100% non-profit. The 15€ sign up fee for everyone is only to minimize last-minute cancellations. The total sum goes to a bar-tap that everyone can use to order drinks until the amount is used up. ‼️NO REFUNDS‼️** **‼️Please don't just show up without RSVPing here and paying the 15€. We have a separate room that has limited capacity and a specific drinks agreement with the bar - so splitting up the bill won't become a mess.‼️** **Small update on how your money get's used from May 2024 onwards:** As of this month, meetup.com has started charging me 34€ instead of 16€ per month. I've decided to distribute this fee evenly among all us participants every month. Example: In the last 12 meetups, the average number of attendees was 17. With 17 attendees I would effectively collect 230€ (after fees). I would now substract 34€ leaving us with 196€ that go to the bar. 15% get's tipped to the wait staff, in this case 30€, leaving us with 166€ effectively to order drinks. Hope everyone is cool with this system. :) Website: https://www.pberg-engineers.me WhatsApp groups: Please come and join us on WhatsApp! \- "PBerg Engineers \- NEWS" \- Only organizers can post announcements or polls \-\> https://chat\.whatsapp\.com/EqMJMmlCZO6LOOfAoG4yTj \- "PBerg Engineers \- DISCUSS" \- Everyone can post \-\> https://chat\.whatsapp\.com/LPuo76J83gF6IZMLUcM4u2 Please join those groups now if you're interested. :) All skill/education-levels welcome! :) Lightning Talks: \- TBD We'll also have a brief "Jobs: Lost & Found section". **Location:** From the street you will have to enter the right hand Cafe Chagall (yes, there are 2). Then, you go upstairs and our private room is in the far end corner of the building. We are a relaxed, non-formal meetup of like-minded software engineers who want to always keep learning and want to meet in physical reality over a drink or two. Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin is home to some of the most talented software engineers in the world, and every month, they come together for an exciting knowledge sharing meetup. This meetup is a chance for attendees to learn from each other, share their experiences, and gain new insights into the world of software engineering. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, and the discussions are always engaging and thought-provoking. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting out in your career, you'll find something valuable at this meetup. Don't miss out on your chance to connect with like-minded professionals and advance your knowledge of software engineering. Sign up for the next event now! **Website:** https://www.pberg-engineers.me **WhatsApp groups:** Please come and join us on WhatsApp! \- "PBerg Engineers \- NEWS" \- Only organizers can post announcements or polls \-\> [https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqMJMmlCZO6LOOfAoG4yTj](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqMJMmlCZO6LOOfAoG4yTj) \- "PBerg Engineers \- DISCUSS" \- Everyone can post \-\> [https://chat.whatsapp.com/LPuo76J83gF6IZMLUcM4u2](https://chat.whatsapp.com/LPuo76J83gF6IZMLUcM4u2) Please join those groups now if you're interested. :)

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Join us as we discuss our June pick: Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider! Book description: Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true. Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart. Packed with knife fights and seafaring adventure, METAL SLINGER is the smash-hit start to the romantic fantasy duology, the Fire & Metal series

Couldn't make Knowledge? Or want to debrief the dancing robots or Autonomous Workforce? Join us for a Knowledge '26 recap, insights sharing, a couple rounds of golf, and fun at Topgolf. As always, drinks and food will be provided. More details to come — mark your calendar, RSVP, and save your spot today!

Get ready for a Picnic, this is our social and member appreciation event for the year! Feel free to bring family, but be sure to reach out with the number of attendees, so we can provide food for everyone. There will of course be food, music, games and fun! Event is held rain or shine, we have a covered shelter house reserved for the event. Agenda --- Moderators Kimberly Deal - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Kevin Stanley - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Greg Sprowls - Columbus Atlassian Community Leader Hosted By Kimberly Deal, Atlassian User Group Leader Kevin Stanley, Chief Everything Greg Sprowls, Agility Lead --- Global Partner Atlassian (http://atlassian.com) Millions of users globally rely on Atlassian products every day for improving software development, project management, collaboration, and code quality. For over a decade, Atlassian customers have come together to network, share ideas, solve problems, and find new ways to use Atlassian products. Today, more than 15,000 people take part in Atlassian community events in more than 30 countries. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://ace.atlassian.com/events/details/atlassian-columbus-presents-annual-columbus-ace-summer-picnic/.

## 🤝 Host Information A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus 💡 About the Workshop AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge. This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow. Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required. 🛠️ What to Bring Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go. AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!) 🍕 Logistics & Perks Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided! Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site. ###

You're invited to Indiana D365 User Group Meeting Wed Jun 10, 2026 2-4 PM Agenda (sessions may change time slots before the meeting.) 2 Welcome 2:10 Stratgies for successful testing - Carla Teasdale from Wilmuth Solutions 2:50 Building Power Apps in an AI world using Claude Code demo - Natalie Roberts from Leaf Software Solutions 3:30 Everything you need to know about Quality in BC - Derek Bohman, BC Consultant 4:00 Closing Notes 4:10-5 Networking Social at Upland Brewing at Clay Terrace (walk over) Link Information to join remotely below [https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YWRkNmQ1NWMtN2E0Mi00ZDU4LThmNzMtMDdlODMwMDNkMGMz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22b4c9f32e-da17-4ded-9c95-ce9da38f25d9%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2267db4a27-1865-4ea7-bb20-a28137a8aa56%22%7](https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YWRkNmQ1NWMtN2E0Mi00ZDU4LThmNzMtMDdlODMwMDNkMGMz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22b4c9f32e-da17-4ded-9c95-ce9da38f25d9%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2267db4a27-1865-4ea7-bb20-a28137a8aa56%22%7d) Tap on the link or paste it in a browser to join

I have been studying the question of "self" online with Prof. Ellie Anderson and so I thought a prompt on the "self" might be interesting. Full confession: I had Claude create this prompt and I like it, so here goes: Imagine a thought experiment that merges two classic puzzles: > You undergo a procedure, performed neuron by neuron, in which every biological component of your brain is replaced with a functionally identical synthetic substitute. At each step, your behavior, memories, and personality remain unchanged. When the last neuron is swapped, is the consciousness experiencing the world still you? And — more pressingly — was there ever a continuous "you" to begin with? ### Questions to Wrestle With * If consciousness is purely physical, does the *gradual* nature of the replacement matter, or is it equivalent to being destroyed and rebuilt? * Could there be a "self" without continuity of experience — even moment to moment, while you sleep? On a more practical level, consider the simpler case first: **hemispherectomy** patients — people who have had an entire cerebral hemisphere surgically removed — often retain a strong sense of personal identity and continuity. This suggests "you" are not rigidly tied to specific physical material. But does that vindicate the synthetic neuron case, or merely show that identity is more *flexible* than we thought — not that it can survive *complete* substrate replacement? I used Claude so I could get this out today and let everyone have some time to consider it. Hope to see you at the Oracle. Sorry about the location change two weeks ago. That's what I get for trusting local weather predictions!