FACILITATORS
Bethany Teachman, Co-Director, UVA Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment
David Danks, Polk JSF Professor of Philosophy, AI, & Data Science, University of Virginia
Michael Sheehy, Director of Research, UVA Contemplative Sciences Center

This event is part of the Tom Tom Festival 2026.

Join us for this roundtable discussion on AI and the potential, limitations, and responsibilities that come with using this technology. 

Topic
As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, economies, and daily life, a deeper question rises to the surface: What is all this innovation for?

AI & Human Flourishing invites leaders, founders, policymakers, and technologists to zoom out from product features and market disruption to examine the broader societal and ethical implications of artificial intelligence. What does responsible innovation look like at scale?

How do we design systems that strengthen democracy, expand opportunity, and enhance well-being rather than diminish it?
Featuring leadership from UVA’s Contemplative Science Center and Commons, this conversation explores the intersection of technology, ethics, public policy, and human development. Drawing from emerging research at the intersection of AI and contemplative science, the conversation will examine how institutions, entrepreneurs, and governments can shape technology that advances human potential rather than merely accelerates efficiency.

Format
Roundtable —10-15 speakers in a circle, with 25-30 “observers” in concentric circles. 30 minutes of facilitated conversation, followed by 10-15 minutes of interaction from audience.

Participants will leave with:

• A clearer framework for thinking about ethical AI beyond compliance
• Insight into how policy, research, and innovation ecosystems must collaborate
• Practical considerations for building technology aligned with long-term human flourishing
• A renewed sense of responsibility — and possibility — for the role innovators play in shaping society