On 25 July 2018, Mae Fah Luang University held the opening ceremony of the Eighth World Youth Buddhist Symposium at the Princess Srinagarindra Auditorium (C4).
The Eighth World Youth Buddhist Symposium was held by World Youth Buddhist Society in cooperation with Cherntawan International Meditation Center, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Chiang Mai Campus, the Center for the Study of Chan Buddhism and Human Civilization of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, PolyU Buddhist Studies Group PUBSG and Mae Fah Luang University during 25-28 July 2018 in Chiang Rai province, Thailand.
The purpose of the symposium was to help the younger generation to better understand Buddhism and provide a stage for the open communication between different religious and academic groups. This year, over 1,300 participants from 36 countries around the world gathered together to share and discuss under the theme of "Artificial Intelligence and Buddhism.”
In the opening address, President of Mae Fah Luang University remarked that Artificial intelligence is permeating various aspects of our day-to-day lives. In education, social development, and environment aspects, artificial intelligence is being developing to improve the quality of life and support human’s work in various dimensions. Furthermore, Dr. Vanchai believed that the symposium would be very beneficial for enhancing the academic potential by integrating knowledge with the essence of Buddhism in order to develop A.I for the benefit of the people.