The Human Essence Project

Call for Collaborators

Human Essence in the Age of AI: Breaking the Shell

We are looking for collaborators to join a creative research project that explores a big question: What makes us human in a world shaped by AI, and how can we show this in ways that connect with people across fields?

The project is built on a framework of human essence developed through ongoing work with AI tools and grounded in ideas from philosophy, psychology, anthropology, neuroscience, sociology, the arts and other disciplines or areas of inquiry. This framework maps the skills, values, and experiences that set humans apart from machines, from creativity and moral judgment to storytelling and resilience.

Our goal is to turn this framework into something people can see, hear, and experience. We want to blend scholarship with creativity to create work that can be shared widely. Possible outcomes include:

• Articles and monographs

• A website or interactive tool that visualizes the framework

• Videos, podcasts, and essays that explain and illustrate each aspect of human essence

• Artworks or performances that bring the ideas to life

We welcome academics, AI researchers, designers, artists, ethicists, business leaders, and storytellers. You don’t need to be an expert in every area — curiosity and an openness to working across disciplines are key.

You might be a good fit if you are interested in:

• Human–AI collaboration and ethics

• How people think, create, and connect

• Turning complex ideas into engaging visuals, stories, or experiences

• Exploring the role of human values in a tech-driven world

If you are curious about participating, please express your interest by completing this simple form.  

For questions and additional information, please contact David Cedrone at: cedrone.david.sr@gmail.com