Four incredible panelists—Scott Snibbe (Buddhist teacher and multimedia artist), Anne-Isabelle de Bokay (AI developer), Anna Jahn (AI policy expert), and Rev. Dr. Ian Rottenberg (chaplain and educator)—brought wisdom from philosophy, tech development, policy, and religious life. The conversation then continued in breakout groups and on "Prototopia," a collaborative art installation where participants visualized futures ranging from dystopia to utopia. What struck us most was how many people wanted to engage!

The central themes of our discussions were: the gap between human consciousness and AI, the concentration of power in tech development, the role of embodied community in spiritual life, and what we risk losing and what we might gain as technology reshapes our world.

📸 Browse photos from the event here

With governments cutting internet access to silence dissent, we are reminded that technology is only as liberating as those who control it allow it to be. As AI and emerging technologies concentrate even more control in fewer hands, we need to ask: what can we do at an individual level to preserve our humanity and autonomy?

There are no easy solutions, but one thing is clear: we're better equipped to face these challenges together than alone. If these questions interest you, we hope you'll explore these resources and join the conversation.

Read a full conference review below: themes, conversations, and what comes next!

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Event Details:

• Tuesday, December 2nd

• 6:00pm - 8:30pm ET

• Hybrid | FREE

• Location: Tibet House (22 W 15th St, New York) or Zoom Link Here

In our increasingly virtual world, questions about what it means to be human have taken on new valence. AI’s exponential force has rapidly reconfigured the technological landscape—and ventured into new domains. It is no longer if AI will change the human experience, or even when AI will change the human experience—but how? Our program intends to explore the intersection of religion and technology as it relates to the future of humanity.

Technological advancements have long intertwined with notions of personhood, spirituality, and faith. In the face of a “singularity,” an ever-more-probable chance at immortality, or, maybe, the end of the world as we know it, how are we negotiating the boundaries of our own humanity? If it’s man versus machine, what side are we on?

Our program will explore questions like: Can machines ever carry the moral, emotional, or spiritual weight of being human? Can they ever simulate the sacred, or is their domain forever profane? What are the social and ethical implications of AI companions? What is the purpose of Art and creativity and does human-created Art have more value than AI-generated works?

Will AI bring about the end of humanity or usher us into a golden age of consciousness, or both?

Join us at Tibet House on December 2nd as academics, artists, and thinkers alike come together to explore the strange meaning of being human today and what it could mean tomorrow.

Food and Drinks Provided!