AI Is Joining Human Conversations on ‘Forest Walks’
AI may be changing how we connect. A new venture is betting that technology could make real-world human connection more valuable.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly involved in human conversations, potentially enhancing face-to-face interactions. Hy, a new venture ecosystem, is testing this concept through "forest walk" experiments, where AI records and summarizes conversations between people and human listeners. Hy's product and experience lead, Weston Mossman, explains that AI documentation preserves decisions and helps map collective knowledge, while humans stay responsible for meaning and direction.
Afterward, the AI can analyze the conversation from different perspectives, aiding in decision-making. Hy has conducted 21 experiments so far, with participants retaining ownership of their transcripts. The company, headquartered in San Francisco's Bay Area, is collaborating with over 100 communities and organizations, including tech companies, financial institutions, and startup ecosystems.
Hy's approach divides labor between AI's salience (information organization) and humans' sapience (interpretation) and sentience (emotional experience). Founder and CEO Ariana Bahrami believes this method has improved Hy's own working practices, allowing for faster conversation documentation and more time for relationships. Despite concerns about loneliness, Hy sees an opportunity to provide something AI cannot: human connection.
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