AI + Human Connection Summit 

Recap | April 2024

What will happen when a crisis of disconnection meets a world shaped by AI? 

In April 2024, The Rithm project gathered 40  leaders to consider how AI will reshape relationships and to chart a future of human flourishing. 

Who was invited?

When envisioning this Summit, we knew that the people in the room would be critical to its success. In particular, we were making a bet on breaking down the silos that perpetuate the challenges we already see in the field.

With this in mind, we curated a cross-generational group of accomplished leaders that spanned technologists, mental health experts, educators, youth activists, philanthropists, policy makers, and community builders.

What happened?

TUESDAY, APRIL 23:

Why human connection? Why now?

We began by centering on the power of relationships — both by building them amongst each other, but also by exploring the state of connection amongst young people today and understanding what was at stake. Using our interview notes of teens and young adults we had all conducted before coming together, we sought to understand the bright spots, pain points, and ways technology was shifting the relationships in their lives.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24: 

How might AI reshape relationships?

We spent day two understanding the ways that this new force of artificial intelligence might intersect with the trends we heard from young people. We began by using and exploring the AI tools of today — debriefing various experiences with AI chatbots and then zooming out to the wide range of technologies coming onto the market. For each technology, we honed our lens of asking, “In what ways might this strengthen connection? How might it erode it?” 

In the afternoon, we stretched our imaginations of where this technology might go in the future. With the help of theater troupes and futurists, we stepped into three possible futures — from an AI-integrated workforce to a reimagined schooling system that intentionally unplugs young people from tech — and used this fodder to illuminate the tensions, risks, and possibilities that we must mitigate and shape. 

THURSDAY, APRIL 25:

What’s the future we want to build?

In our final day, we blended our learnings from the previous two days to ask: how do we shape the best possible future for human connection? We started by defining the range of levers that would need to be pulled to influence this future — from developing more pro-social technology, to building AI literacy and smart adoptions, to establishing better policies and incentives to prevent the greatest risks. With this broader picture in mind, we started to get concrete — joining forces to design actual solutions aligned to these levers, and thought-partnering on efforts that attendees had underway that could be strengthened by the diversity of the group. As we closed, we committed to taking action — not only in our own work and lives, but together in pursuit of more systemic change.

“The Summit transformed my understanding and beliefs about artificial intelligence and the ways we must evolve our priorities and systems in response. I'm leaving with conviction, clarity, and dozens of new friends to do this work.”

- Malia Burns

What was the impact?

A transformative experience… 

First and foremost, our intention was that this Summit provided the experience and community necessary for folks to 1) viscerally feel the connection we want to create in the world 2) deepen and refine their understanding of how AI would influence the state of relationships for the next generation and 3) leave with conviction and clarity to act towards a more connected future. Our survey data confirms that these goals were overwhelmingly met.

… with ripple effects.

Of course, our hope was that the powerful three days would be a catalyst for action — personal and collective. While it is still early days, we have been humbled by the ways in which attendees have both sparked new action as well as applying the lessons and insights into the work that was already underway. This includes:

  • Jack Carey from Live Oak Camp, Kim Smith from Learner Studio, Malia Burns from Open Seat, Chris Wilson from GenThriveTech, and Travis Commons from Valor Collegiate are coming together to realize a pilot that was conceived during the Summit: a program housed in a summer camp designed to help young people build the uniquely human skills required for connection. 

  • Kashyap Rajesh and the team at Encode Justice — a youth-led movement for human-centered AI — released their call for policy action. And fellow attendee, Rhea Madhogarhia, is launching a Chicago chapter now for Encode Justice. 

  • Andrew Buher published an article in The 74, calling out the rising risk of AI-generated deep fake nudes for teen girls, galvanizing action in state governments. 

  • Kanya Balakrishna, CEO of The Future Project, is testing an AI-coach to support young people in building the futures they want, using insights from her consultancy in Colorado about the places humans vs AI can be uniquely impactful.

“I am forever changed from this experience. My clear take away is human connection doesn't happen by accident but is brought about, or taken away, with very consistent design and effort.”

- Heidi Baskfield

What are we learning?

1. Be the connection we want to see:

The depth of relationships and trust that was built amongst the group was truly profound — but not accidental. From the culture that was established,  to the time spent on community building, to the cohort selected, it was essential that participants truly feel what meaningful connection could be. 

2. Break down silos:

Nearly every attendee commented on the unique (and rare) experience of deeply collaborating with not only leaders across sectors, but in particular alongside youth leaders who have deep proximity to the ways technology is influencing their generation. 

3. Step into the future:

It can be challenging to truly imagine the possible directions this rapidly evolving technology might go or to consider how society might respond to it. Leveraging new methods like immersive theater allow participants to stretch their imagination and truly consider the downstream consequences of AI on connection. 

4. Grow the conversation:

Not only were there nearly 3x more applications for this experience than we had space (even after we doubled the size), but nearly every attendee requested support or resources to bring this experience to their teams and communities back home.

What is next?

1. Fan the flame of the experience

As attendees continue to act on their commitments, The Rithm Project is working to support those efforts, by offering ongoing thought-partnership, to connecting to resources and people, to lifting up learnings. 

2. Enlist more leaders

From sharing learnings and resources from the Summit to hosting virtual book clubs, we are building a steady drumbeat of opportunities for more people to come into this conversation. 

3. Do it again!

On May 13-16th 2025, we will be hosting a second Summit at Lone Rock. If you are interested in joining, let us know here.

Thank you to Kim Smith and The Learner Studio for helping bring this idea to life.