Human Connection + AI Summit 

What do young people need to reclaim and evolve connection in an age of AI?

MAY 13-15, 2025

Today’s young people are coming of age in an era of disconnection. They spend more time alone than any generation before, navigate technology designed to pull their attention to screens, and report record levels of loneliness and anxiety.

And now, generative AI is reshaping the landscape of trust and relationships in ways we can barely wrap our minds around — blurring the lines of what is real and introducing not just relationships through technology, but with technology itself.

The collision of these two forces is a real reason for concern. But this is not the whole story. Young people — native to a world where technology and relationships are deeply intertwined — are already forging new ways to use digital spaces for expression, belonging, and community.

What if this isn’t a crisis, but a crossroads? What if this generation leads us into a new era of human connection in harmony with technology?

The question is: How do we equip young people to reclaim and evolve connection in this AI age?

This May, we are convening 35 visionary leaders in Colorado—psychologists, youth advocates, educators, technologists, and researchers—each holding a critical piece of the puzzle. This invite-only summit is designed to break down silos, spark fresh insights, and chart a path toward a future where technology strengthens relationships rather than replaces them.

Join us in shaping this future.

Yvette Renteria, an attendee at a previous Summit, reflects on her experience.

  • We’ll walk the walk of connection, prioritizing relationships with each other and exploring what this unlocks.

  • You were invited because you hold a unique piece of the puzzle. We’ll create the space for you to contribute your expertise and for your perspective to evolve.

  • Through activities designed to engage our collective imagination, we’ll challenge ourselves to think beyond the familiar and tap into different ways of knowing. We’ll invite you to approach this with curiosity and a spirit of experimentation.

  • A big question will anchor our time together, guided by an intentional roadmap — but not a rigid destination. Again and again, we’ve seen that the right people, with rich fodder, and a shared aspiration can spark possibilities we couldn’t have predicted.

What you can expect

With the help of futurists and actors, we’ll step into immersive simulations of what the world might look like as AI continues to reshape human connection. Watch the clip to hear two past participants reflect on the value of a similar simulation to spark reflection and sharpen our understandings of the possibilities and risks.

Day 1

We will arrive mid-afternoon to set the stage for the time together. We will begin by building community, rooting ourselves in why human connection matters — to us, to young people today, to this moment in time — and what we know about what supports and erodes it.

Day 2

We’ll spend the day exploring how AI is—and will continue—reshaping relationships and meaningful connection. As part of that, we’ll dive into “experiential futures”—immersive glimpses into what the world might look like a decade from now—to sharpen our vision of the future we want to create. We’ll also take time to tap into the unique expertise each of us brings, ensuring our collective insights help guide us toward that future.

Day 3

In our final day, we weave together our conversations from the last two days to answer our key question: what do young people need to have agency over this moment and actively build a future that prioritizes connection? We’ll hone our personal and collective points of view about this, and try our hands at building and refining concrete solutions. We’ll close out by asking, what’s next — for this group and the field?

Where we will be

We are honored to host the gathering at Lone Rock Retreat. An hour drive outside of Denver, Colorado, this beautiful mountain retreat provides the perfect setting to connect with nature, each other, and look out to the horizon — literally and metaphorically.

FAQs

  • This is an intentionally curated group of 35 leaders who can uniquely help us make breakthroughs increasing human connection, and are poised take action on our collective learning. The attendees bring deep expertise in some essential dimension of this challenge — from research, to leading school systems, to developing tech products. Each person is accomplished in their own right, but enters with low ego and eagerness to learn from others and push their thinking.

  • With the generous support of funders, we are excited to subsidize the cost of the experience for participants. There will be a sliding scale ranging from $0 to $1,500 to attend for the full event. This includes programming, food, and accommodations. It does not include flights to/from Colorado, but there are limited travel stipends available if needed.

  • We’d love to know your recommendations — please send them to info@therithmproject.org. There are going to be so many more amazing people than space, but we will be excited to keep them in mind for future engagements if not this one.

  • Given the nature of the event and the remote mountain location, we’re asking that people only join if they can commit to attending the full event. Our programming will begin at 4pm MT on Tuesday, May 13, and conclude at 4pm MT on Thursday, May 15. Guests have the option to leave Thursday evening or stay and continue to enjoy the Lone Rock campus, continue the conversations, and integrate the experience.

    Once you have confirmed your attendance, we will share more details about travel, including flight arrival and departure windows and group shuttle information. If you have any pressing questions about travel or timing, feel free to reach out to us.