Cyndi Coon's Vision of AI and the Future at the El Sailon Series
Cyndi Coon speaking at El Sailon, Edition One Gallery
Curt Doty of RealmIQ recently launched the AI Salon Series, entitled El Sailon, a platform dedicated to exploring the evolving relationship between AI and human creativity. The inaugural session featured Cyndi Coon, a prominent Applied Experiential Futurist, who shared her insights on the intersection of futurism, creativity, and AI, highlighting the crucial role humans play in shaping the future.
Coon's lecture delved into her work in "threat casting" and "future casting," methodologies she has developed to analyze data and anticipate potential future scenarios. These techniques allow her to gaze into possible futures and bring back valuable insights to guide present-day decisions. A key takeaway from her talk is the distinction she draws between human and AI capabilities—while AI is a powerful tool, it still lacks the ability to grasp the nuances and deeper meanings embedded in human experience, particularly in the social sciences.
Addressing the public's apprehension towards AI, Coon drew parallels to historical reactions to technological advancements such as photography and the internet. Just as these innovations were once feared but ultimately embraced, she advocates for a similar approach to AI. Coon emphasized that while AI will undoubtedly displace some jobs, it will also create new opportunities for those who harness its potential to enhance creativity and problem-solving.
In a particularly engaging segment of her lecture, Coon urged her audience to embrace AI with a sense of playfulness. She encouraged people to experiment with AI, document their experiences—especially the humorous and imperfect outcomes—and use this experimentation as a way to evolve alongside the technology. She highlighted the case of Jason Allen, an artist who used AI to create art that won a contest, sparking both admiration and controversy. This case, according to Coon, underscores the necessity of human engagement in AI-driven creative processes.
Coon also stressed that an open, playful mindset is key to staying relevant in an AI-driven future. The ability to experiment, learn, and adapt will be the most valuable skill as AI continues to evolve. She warned of an impending rapid adoption of AI technology, suggesting that those familiar with it will have a responsibility to help others adapt. Her closing thoughts centered on the importance of documenting and capturing the current moment in AI history. This, she believes, will serve as a valuable time capsule for future generations, offering them insights into how we navigated the early days of AI integration.
Cyndi Coon's lecture at the El Sailon Series offered a compelling vision of how we can engage with AI as both a tool and a partner in creativity, while keeping humanity at the center of this technological evolution. Her call to embrace AI with curiosity, playfulness, and generosity provides a roadmap for navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Curt Doty, Godfrey Reggio, Sabri Sansoy and Cyndi Coon
Our first El Sailon was a success! Thanks to everyone for attending. Special thanks to Edition One Gallery and Pilar Law for stepping up to the plate to provide the most unique and appropo site for this event. Thanks to Eric D. Renz-Whitmore and the City of Santa Fe for the support. Special thanks to filmmakers Glenn Silber and David Brownlow for documenting the talk. And to our special guest Cyndi Coon, what a way to kick off the series. Thanks so much. Orion Ohev and my wife Debra were instrumental in making this event happen. Deep gratitude. Save the Date for Sept. 10 for our next El Sailon! - Curt Doty
About the Author
Curt Doty specializes in branding, product development, social strategy, integrated marketing, and UXD. He has extensive experience on AI-driven platforms MidJourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Murf.ai, and DALL-E. His legacy of entertainment branding: Electronic Arts, EA Sports, ProSieben, SAT.1, WBTV Latin America, Discovery Health, ABC, CBS, A&E, StarTV, Fox, Kabel 1, TV Guide Channel, and Prevue Channel.
He is a sought after public speaker having been featured at Streaming Media NYC, Digital Hollywood, Mobile Growth Association, Mobile Congress, App Growth Summit, Promax, CES, CTIA, NAB, NATPE, MMA Global, New Mexico Angels, Santa Fe Business Incubator, EntrepeneursRx and AI Impact. His AI consultancy RealmIQ helps companies manage the AI Revolution.
© 2024 Curt Doty Company LLC. All rights reserved. RealmIQ is a division of the Curt Doty Company. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher is not responsible for any AI errors or omissions.
