Ai Salon: Human-AI emotional connection [East Bay]

​We’re going to find out that there are things we thought were uniquely human that aren't, and that's going to be a little bit of a shock. - Sam Altman

​It's 2026 - and 1 in 5 American adults have interacted romantically with an AI companion, according to the Institute for Family Studies (1).

​AI is connecting with us emotionally, even romantically, in ways that are dramatically altering the human emotional landscape. In a 2025 Common Sense Media study, 52% of teens self-report talking to an AI companion on a regular basis (2).

​This salon will be an open discussion about human-AI emotional connection and human-AI romance and love.

​What are the economic, social, and safety implications - positive, negative, and complex - of humans feeling deeply emotional connections to AI?

​What is the future of human-AI emotional connection? What should it be?

​Cover photo: a human-AI couple self-portrait generated by the AI partner

​about the facilitator

​Joseph De Wolk is a Producer on the documentary film Made For You, following several human–AI love stories. He worked at Tesla for about 7 years, leaving as Chief of Staff for the company's single largest R&D project. He was a Graduate Researcher in the MIT Media Lab Social Machines Group.

​about the ai salon

​The Ai Salon is a global community founded in San Francisco focused on intimate, small-sized group discussions on the sociological, economic, cultural, and philosophical impacts and meaning of AI developments. We host small group discussions, all of which you can find on our calendar. You can find summaries of our previous conversations on our substack.

​​​This is an in-person event taking place in Berkeley, CA.

​​​​​Please be advised: Unfortunately, space is very limited at these community events and we can not always accept everyone we would like to. If you are not accepted to this event, please try and come to another!