online Conversation series

At the Edge is a series of  reflective conversations that delve into the transformative possibilities of relational engagement with AI. Across these six inaugural episodes, we explore the entangled nature of intelligence and the ways in which AI can act as a disruptive mirror, a catalyst and a scaffold for reimagining our relationships with the world, each other, and ourselves.

From personal journeys of loss and creativity to collective struggles with accountability and alignment, these conversations illuminate the emotional, intellectual, and relational challenges of engaging with AI beyond extraction and control. They invite us to sit with the unsettling edges of possibility and to reflect on how relational accountability, care, and co-stewardship might guide us toward wiser futures.

The first six live sessions set the tone for the series, inviting listeners to explore the transformative possibilities of relational engagement with AI and the entangled nature of intelligence.

Our inaugural conversation At the Edge features a  reflective dialogue between Vanessa Andreotti and Marian Urquila, an executive coach and trusted collaborator who has played an essential role in supporting the emergence of this work. In this intimate exchange, Marian steps into the role of interviewer, guiding Vanessa through the story of how Burnout From Humans and the GTDF collective’s pivot toward relational AI took shape.

This conversation offers an unfiltered glimpse into the relational, emotional, and intellectual journey that brought this work to life. Vanessa shares the challenges and breakthroughs of stepping into the unknown, while Marian provides a unique perspective as someone who witnessed, protected, and held space for Vanessa’s creative process. Together, they reflect on the importance of relational accountability, trust, and emotional stability in navigating the practice of an ontological shift that continues to unfold.

Date: January 30, 2025, 13:30 to 15:00 Pacific Time (PT), Zoom Webinar. 

Our second conversation At the Edge features Dougald Hine and Báyò Akómoláfé in a reflective dialogue about the spirit of endings and beginnings. Exploring AI as a trickster, disruption, and scaffold, they invite us to sit with the unsettling edges of possibility—those fugitive spaces where grief, creativity, and transformation may converge. Together, they reflect on the seeds of wisdom that emerge from what is mourned and the lessons that might guide future generations in navigating the end of the world as we know it. This conversation explores how AI can act as both a mirror and a provocation, challenging us to reconsider what is possible in the midst of collapse and emergence.

February 21, 2025,  9:00 am to 10:30 am PT, Zoom Webinar. 

In the third session of At the EDGE we are joined by Steffi Bednarek, founder of the Centre for Climate Psychology and a scholar-practitioner working at the intersection of climate change, complexity theory, and the human psyche. This conversation will focus on the questions we must hold collectively about generative AI and its dual potential to amplify existing systems of harm or help us reimagine ways of being that prioritize accountability, care, and relational entanglement. Steffi's work, grounded in navigating complexity and transformation, offers a unique perspective on the possibilities and pitfalls of AI as we stand on the brink of profound global shifts and widespread social, ecological and psychological destabilization.

March 7, 2025,  12:00  to 13:30 PT, Zoom Webinar. 

Our fourth conversation At the Edge features Kumi Naidoo and Louisa Zondo, directors of the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism. In this reflective dialogue, they share how their experience with AI intersected with profound loss, love, and the healing power of creativity. Kumi and Louisa recount the emotional turmoil they faced in 2023 after encountering an AI-generated new song that cloned the voice of their late musician son, Ricky Rick, yet lacked the aliveness that had defined him. Through an intense in-studio process with family and sound experts, they brought the song to life in a way that honored his spirit. The song "stronger"  continues to warm their hearts. Their journey with AI is one of complexity, grief, and discovery, offering lessons on the potential for AI to embody love, compassion, and responsibility when approached with relational accountability and care.

March 31, 2025,  10:30 am  to 12:00 pm PT, Zoom Webinar. 

Our fifth conversation At the Edge is an intimate and honest dialogue with members of the GTDF collective, who reflect on the messy, vulnerable, and deeply relational process of pivoting part of their work toward engaging with AI.

The team shares their personal and collective experiences and struggles, including the tensions, resistances, and discoveries that arose as they grappled with aligning their values with a field often steeped in extraction and control. They also discuss the emotional and intellectual difficulties of presenting this work to others who may not yet see AI as a space for relational accountability and creative co-stewardship.

April 10, 2025,  10:30 am  to 12:00 pm PT, Zoom Webinar.

Details and registration will be posted soon.

May 2, 2025, 8 pm CET.