AI and the Art of Being Human
A practical guide to thriving with AI while rediscovering yourself in the process

JEFFREY ABBOTT is a Founding Partner at Blitzscaling Ventures and founder of AI Salon, a global community spanning 60+ cities that hosts hundreds of events annually. As a venture capitalist whose firm has invested in companies like CrewAI and the AI upskilling platform Multiverse, while simultaneously building one of the world's largest AI practitioner networks, Abbott bridges Silicon Valley innovation with human-centered values in ways few others can.His unique vantage point-managing AI investments at a venture capital firm backed by Reid Hoffman while fostering grassroots communities from Phoenix to Tokyo-gives him unparalleled insight into both AI's technical possibilities and its human implications. Through roles at GE, Brown-Forman, Arizona State University, and multiple boards, including the Qatar Technology Venture Fund, Abbott has witnessed digital transformation across Fortune 500 companies, startups, and global institutions.Abbott's advocacy for "AI that amplifies rather than replaces human potential" has made him a sought-after speaker at and international forums. His AI Salon network provides a built-in platform reaching thousands of AI practitioners, entrepreneurs, and concerned citizens worldwide-the exact audience hungry for practical wisdom about thriving in an AI age. ANDREW MAYNARD is Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions at Arizona State University and the founding director of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative. As an "undisciplinarian" who has shaped thinking around responsible and beneficial technology development from federal nanotechnology programs to World Economic Forum Global Agenda councils-all while reaching millions through digital platforms-Maynard bridges scientific rigor with human wisdom in ways few academics achieve.His unique vantage point-navigating emerging technologies for more than two decades while building engaged audiences across multiple platforms-gives him unparalleled insight into both technological transformation and human resilience. These platforms include his weekly Substack newsletter The Future of Being Human and the Modem Futura podcast, co-hosted with futurist Sean Leahy, which together connect with a large and diverse global audience of individuals seeking nuanced perspectives on our technological future. Through roles directing risk centers at two major universities, testifying before Congress, and contributing to outlets from The Washington Post to Scientific American, Maynard has witnessed how societies navigate disruption across policy, industry, and public spheres.Maynard's conviction that "relationships, not technologies, determine whether humanity flourishes" has made him a sought-after voice at international forums and undergraduate classrooms alike. His previous books Films from the Future and Future Rising demonstrate his signature ability to make complex ideas accessible without sacrificing depth or clarity.