On a rainy December night at Tibet House in New York, over 100 people gathered to explore an urgent question: what do AI and emerging technologies mean for our humanity, our communities, and our sense of the sacred? We’ve made it through to February, but this evening has been on our minds ever since.
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!
