Designing AI systems for social connection and human flourishing
We see a society where technology is used to advance social flourishing.
The Challenge and the Opportunity
It is becoming well-known that our society is struggling with a decline in social connections and we know empirically that this has negative implications for our health, well-being, longevity, and prosperity.
Millions of lonely and isolated people are starting to use AI companions, often spending hours a day, to address their fundamental need for social connection and belonging.
We can't understand the implications of this trend if we can't collaborate across our silos.
That's why the HumanConnections.AI program exists—to bring together product developers, researchers, and investors who are shaping this new frontier.
Public, private, and social institutions failed to meet the moment on social media, and we must get it right with AI.
Leading collective action to repair the social fabric of democratic societies—and avoiding exponential damage—will require shared strategies for understanding and evaluating how new technologies like AI companions will impact human flourishing on both individual and societal levels.
Talk of AI seems to be everywhere these days. If you are a technologist or an investor, the tone of the conversation is likely to be boom. If you are a researcher or writer in the social fields, its likely to be doom.
What has been missing is a more practical dialogue between technologists, investors, and researchers about how we actually make AI work for human flourishing.
This is extremely important as we navigate a completely new territory for humanity: AI and human relationships.
To close the gap between industry and researchers, we (The Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and Preston-Werner Ventures) hosted the HumanConnections.AI Salon in the heart of San Francisco.
We used the principles of mutual respect, curiosity, vulnerability, and openness to ground a conversation between sides that don't often meet in a collaborative setting.
Our speakers and participants included leading social connection and AI researchers from universities like Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, Berkeley and technologists from leading AI companies like OpenAI, Google, Meta, Replika, and GitHub and investors from Bloomberg Beta, Preston-Werner Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners.
We are extremely thankful for the generous support from our sponsors Omidyar Network and Einhorn Collaborative.
The Salon
We all came together to ask the question:
How might we design AI systems to support close social relationships and human flourishing?
Eugenia Keyuda, CEO of Replika, speaking with Dr. Sherry Turkle, Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the HumanConnections.AI Salon on October 8th, 2024.
Panel: AI and Human Relationships – Different Perspectives
Panelists: Ron Ivey, Sherry Turkle, Eugenia Kuyda
“HumanConnections.AI was great. Conversations since the event have been the real surprise. I’ve found so many technologists who want to talk about these issues, responsible AI, etc.
This frame around “human flourishing” has been particularly interesting since it’s a positive goal, vs. simply avoiding problems (typical Trust & Safety or algorithmic bias frames). It gives something inspiring to work towards.”
—Ian Cairns, Founder and CEO of FreePlay.AI and former product leader at Twitter
Team
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Ron Ivey
Research Fellow, Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University; Founder, Rembrandt Collective
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Jonathan Teubner
Visiting Scholar, Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University; Founder and CEO, FilterLabs.AI
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David Price
General Partner, Preston-Werner Ventures
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Jennifer Tacheff
Founder, Manifest Advisors; Partner, W Fund
Contact Us
Interested in collaborating to make AI systems that support social connection and human flourishing? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!