Meetup on Notes from the Rabbit Hole

Ideas in Motion: When AI Meets Art, Meaning, and the Future of Human Expression

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 00:20:00 -0400

Ideas in Motion: When AI Meets Art, Meaning, and the Future of Human Expression

Hosted by: CASHE x NY AI (Joint Event)
Date: Friday, June 6, 2025, 8:30 PM
Format: Online Discussion
Host: Tone Fonseca

This was the third in a series exploring the intersection of AI, creativity, and meaning-making—building on previous conversations about “The Origins of Art” and “AGI: What, When, How…and Are We Ready?” What emerged was a thoughtful exploration of how artificial intelligence is reshaping our understanding of creativity, consciousness, and what it means to be human in an age of thinking machines.

Can AI Be Conscious? Deep Insights from a Philosophy of Mind Discussion

Fri, 23 May 2025 21:30:00 -0400

I recently attended a fascinating discussion forum hosted by CASHE and the New York Artificial Intelligence Meetup Group that tackled some of the most profound questions about AI, consciousness, and humanity’s future. The conversation brought together diverse perspectives on topics that sit at the intersection of technology, philosophy, and existential risk.

The Central Question: Can AI Be Truly Conscious?

The discussion opened with what many consider the fundamental question of our technological age: Could an artificial system ever truly be conscious, or are we destined to create only sophisticated imitations?

AgileRTP Meetup: Fostering Collaborative Innovation through Improv

Tue, 06 May 2025 19:00:00 -0400

AgileRTP Meetup - Fostering Collaborative Innovation through Improv

May 6, 2025 | Presented by Tiffany Rozell

Meeting Overview

Tiffany Rozell, Principal Agile Practitioner for Red Hat in AI Engineering, led a session exploring how improvisation techniques can foster collaborative innovation in teams. The interactive meeting included practical improv exercises that participants engaged in remotely.

Introduction & Background

Tiffany is writing a book on Inclusive Innovation
She has experience with improv in academic settings (Virginia Tech and Executive MBA program)
Initially hesitant about improv herself, she discovered its value for workplace collaboration

Connections Between Improv & Agile

Improv aligns with agile principles: responding to change over following a plan
Key aspects of improv parallel agile practices:
- Being present and focused (especially important in virtual settings)
- Adaptability and quick pivoting
- Building psychological safety
- Bringing voices into conversations (especially those who might not normally speak up)
- Encouraging experimentation and risk-taking

Benefits of Improv in the Workplace

Creativity Enhancement: Reduces pressure to have perfect ideas by encouraging quantity over quality
Listening & Collaboration: Reinforces true co-creation rather than competition
Psychological Safety: Creates environments where people feel safe to contribute
Energy & Morale: Reduces burnout by adding fun and boosting dopamine
Physiological Benefits: Laughter and engagement trigger chemical changes that improve creativity

Exercise 1: Name Game with Adjectives

Participants introduced themselves with an adjective sharing their first initial, then repeated all previous introductions before adding their own.