Micro-Circle Launch Kit
From Chapter 7 of AI and the Art of Being Human
What it is
Essential elements for starting a sustainable community to navigate AI’s impact together.
Where you would use it
- 01
When solo efforts to understand AI feel insufficient
- 02
When you need collective wisdom for making sense of AI and its opportunities and potential
- 03
consequences
- 04
When building a support network for technological change
- 05
When creating space for shared learning about AI
The tool
Five Components for sustainable gatherings
- 01
Charter
One sentence stating why you gather—specific enough to guide, open enough to evolve
- 02
Roles
Rotating functions that prevent hierarchy (examples: Host who facilitates, Witness who captures themes, someone who brings provocative questions, someone who tends to group wellbeing)
- 03
Rituals
Consistent practices like the three-question check-in: What sparked curiosity? What concerned you? Where did you practice care?
- 04
Tools
Minimal infrastructure—only what you need to gather (Zoom + doc, or chairs + notebook)
- 05
Feedback
Every fourth session, a 5-minute Keep/Stop/Try review to evolve together
How to use it
Find 2–4 others wrestling with AI’s potential opportunities and impacts. Draft your one- sentence charter together in 30 minutes. Choose a weekly or monthly cadence. Rotate all roles. Start with rituals like the three-question check-in. Keep infrastructure minimal—the constraint helps focus on connection over tools. After four sessions, run Keep/Stop/Try to adjust.
Try it