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
When solo efforts to understand AI feel insufficient
When you need collective wisdom for making sense of AI and its opportunities and potential consequences
When building a support network for technological change
When creating space for shared learning about AI
The Tool
Five Components for sustainable gatherings
Charter: One sentence stating why you gather—specific enough to guide, open enough to evolve
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)
Rituals: Consistent practices like the three-question check-in: What sparked curiosity? What concerned you? Where did you practice care?
Tools: Minimal infrastructure—only what you need to gather (Zoom + doc, or chairs + notebook)
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.
See it in practice: Five Chairs at the Library →