Building human connection in an age of AI.
The Rithm Project stokes conversation, insight, and action to rethread a sense of human connection for the next generation. Against the backdrop of a loneliness epidemic and unprecedented technological revolution, we are at a moment of great peril and promise. The Rithm Project hopes to enlist leaders across sectors in building a future where we can feel connected, whole, and fully human.
A call to action.
Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy raised the alarm on American loneliness, and urged the country to “prioritize building social connections the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders.”
The data backs up the sense of urgency: In 2021, 25 percent of high schoolers reported that they had considered suicide, while four in 10 said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Only 27 percent of American men have at least six close friends — half of what it was 30 years ago.
This crisis of connection comes at the same time artificial intelligence is poised to make things a lot more complicated. From the proliferation of AI “companions” to the sophistication of deep fake technology, the way we connect with ourselves and each other is poised to change dramatically.
The Rithm Project is convening leaders across sectors to consider how we can enter this next chapter clear-eyed about the potential that can be unlocked, and the very real risks we need to guard against.
THE RITHM PROJECT is named to honor what’s possible when humans and technology come together in harmonious ways. It speaks to the rhythm of our heartbeat, the drumbeat of community, and the algorithms we use to train AI into its potential.
The Rithm Project is led by Michelle Culver. She has worked for over 20 years to ensure the next generation thrives, first as a teacher in Compton and most recently leading the Reinvention Lab at Teach For America.