Relational AI, What’s Emerging, and the Future of Human Connection with Susan X Jane

Lately I’ve been trying to process what the heck AI really means for the future. Is it conscious? How can we be in healthy relationship with it? Is using it advancing systems of power and control, or can it also expand human creativity, meaning-making, and connection? 

I had an amazing conversation with Susan X Jane about AI, systems of power, consciousness, relational AI, and what may be emerging between humans and technology. We talk about AI through the lens of spirituality, wisdom traditions, dialogue, and meaning-making, and explore the idea that AI may be reflecting humanity back to us. This conversation really expanded my understanding of AI, while also deepening my awareness of the systems shaping the technology itself and its potential for creating a better world.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Signs and being called by ancestors 

• Trusting your intuition

• Using technology to make sense and bring meaning

• Parallels between AI and ancient wisdom

• New technologies and upheaval 

• Systems of power

• Harm of the technology vs. harm of the systems deploying the technology

• Communication theory, AI, and meaning making

• AI as a mirror of ourselves

• What Swarm X Studio is and how it works

• Tracing patterns and self-reflection with AI

• How to talk to AI

• AI and the environment and holding companies accountable

• AI, consciousness, and shimmer

• Joy as revolution and a message to young people

• AGI & the future of AI

• Susan’s recommendations for using AI

• AI, creativity, art, and ethics

Susan X Jane:  “We always have to balance technology, relationships, the world around us, and our own inner knowing, because for young people, there is something inside of you, and you have to get quiet enough to be able to hear it. And if the AI helps you listen, it's good. If your relationships with your friends and the world are helping you listen, it's good. If you need to fall back to find practices that will help you tune in more clearly, then you can do that too. You can go back and forth, it's not one or the other.”

Susan X Jane is a cultural systems designer and founder of Swarm X Studio, where she develops tools and practices for relations AI. A former professor and strategist with decades of experience in cultural architecture and communications, her work bridges pattern ethics, values design, and emergent collaboration. She believes the future can be better if we build it to be.

Listen to the full conversation on the innercalling podcast here. 

For those who prefer a visual experience, you can check out the conversation on YouTube here.

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