Artificiality Summit 2026: Unknowing
The future belongs to those who can dwell in possibility.
AI is dissolving our inherited boundaries—between knowing and not-knowing, between thinking and acting, between who we have been and who we might still become.
The world is changing faster than our mental models can keep up.
Our instinct is to search for answers.
This year, we choose to embrace something else.
Unknowing.
Join us: October 22-24, 2026 in Bend, Oregon.
The future belongs to those who can dwell in possibility.
AI is dissolving our inherited boundaries—between knowing and not-knowing, between thinking and acting, between who we have been and who we might still become.
The world is changing faster than our mental models can keep up.
Our instinct is to search for answers.
This year, we choose to embrace something else.
Unknowing.
Join us: October 22-24, 2026 in Bend, Oregon.
A Gathering Like No Other
There are AI conferences. There are tech showcases. There are human potential retreats.
There is no other gathering designed specifically to figure out human + AI co-evolution—in real time, together, without false certainty.
Three days of sitting with uncertainty, questioning our assumptions, and discovering what becomes possible when we stop pretending we have the answers.
There are AI conferences. There are tech showcases. There are human potential retreats.
There is no other gathering designed specifically to figure out human + AI co-evolution—in real time, together, without false certainty.
Three days of sitting with uncertainty, questioning our assumptions, and discovering what becomes possible when we stop pretending we have the answers.
Why Unknowing
For centuries, humans believed we were the only species with reason, agency, self-improvement.
Then came AI.
We are no longer the only system that learns, adapts, or acts with agency. And when the boundary of intelligence moves, the boundary of humanity moves with it.
We are entering a period of unknowing—not ignorance, but a necessary release of inherited assumptions. We don’t yet know what AI will become, and we don’t yet know what we will become in relationship to it.
Unknowing is the space between—the place where neither side is fixed, and something new can emerge.
For centuries, humans believed we were the only species with reason, agency, self-improvement.
Then came AI.
We are no longer the only system that learns, adapts, or acts with agency. And when the boundary of intelligence moves, the boundary of humanity moves with it.
We are entering a period of unknowing—not ignorance, but a necessary release of inherited assumptions. We don’t yet know what AI will become, and we don’t yet know what we will become in relationship to it.
Unknowing is the space between—the place where neither side is fixed, and something new can emerge.
Contributors
We're thrilled to bring these fascinating people "to the couch" in 2026.
Cameron Allen
UC Berkeley
Gašper Beguš
UC Berkeley
Nina Beguš
UC Berkeley
Taylor Black
Microsoft
Ricky Bloomfield, MD
OÚRA
Dave Edwards
Artificiality Institute
Helen Edwards
Artificiality Institute
Jamer Hunt
Parsons School of Design
Judith Fan
Stanford University
Judith Fan
Stanford Univeristy
Jenna Fizel
IDEO
Jamer Hunt
Parsons School of Design
Rebecca Goldstein
Author
Rebecca Goldstein
Author
Robert Hawkins
Stanford University
Jess Holbrook
Microsoft
Jamer Hunt
Parsons School of Design
Jamer Hunt
Parsons School of Design
Maggie Jackson
Author
Kate Joyce
Photographer
Kate Joyce
Photographer
Savannah Kunovsky
IDEO
Josh Lovejoy
Autodesk
Josh Lovejoy
Autodesk
Wakanyi Macharia-Hoffman
Utrecht University
Adam Mastroianni
Experimental History
Billy Mickelson
Third Seven
Caleb Scharf
Astrobiologist
David Wolpert
Santa Fe Institute
Julian Yocum
UC Berkeley
Julian Yocum
UC Berkeley
Feedback from Previous Summits
"Three days of incredible conversations, amazing humans, and deep gratitude." — Tess Posner
"I couldn't tear myself away from any of the fantastic sessions that you arranged." — Maggie Jackson
"The Summit centered complex social systems. It held space for multiple definitions of intelligence. It focused on uncertainty, not-knowing, and multiple ways of knowing." — Charley Johnson
"It was so refreshing to be in a space where friction was welcome, discord meant healthy debate, and the community held one another through the uncertainty despite our differences." — Sarah Fink
"30 years of all kinds of gatherings, this weekend was very best by a mile. Was most impressed with how quickly (12 hrs? 8?) I felt like I was *part* of a real community. So much gratitude." — Jess Graham
"It was a real community of intelligent, creative, caring and open souls who wanted to be in a space to explore, be curious, and build relationships with really great people - all in a beautiful and inspiring environment." — Rix Kramlich
"Thank you, Helen Edwards and Dave Edwards for the engaging, diverse group you have put together. This is not your everyday conference, and especially not the everyday AI conference." — Don Norman
“I will remember the Artificiality Summit, well…forever. It was more intellectually compelling than anything I can remember participating in.” — John Pasmore
“The Artificiality Summit struck the perfect balance of rigor and playfulness, formality and informality. It was a dazzling event and a impeccably curated roster of speakers.” — Jamer Hunt
"Still glowing from the conference, so much intelligence, but also kindness, safety and warmth. A humane and vital discussion of technology as a part of humanity and humanity as part of something much bigger." — Whit Morriss
"From the beginning to end, it was a perfectly curated weekend of building connections, sharing ideas and having genuine conversations across science, design, art and the innovations that are expanding our future and imagining what can be next in AI." — Abigail Snodgrass
"That was one of the best tech experiences I have ever had. I have been to all sorts of screwball conferences and big-name experiences. I even built a few. But yours was something different. It was intimate, humble, and curious. A little feisty, a little nervous, but completely authentic. On Sunday afternoon, I looked around and thought, 'THIS is my tribe.'" Dave Merwin
"Three days of incredible conversations, amazing humans, and deep gratitude." — Tess Posner
"I couldn't tear myself away from any of the fantastic sessions that you arranged." — Maggie Jackson
"The Summit centered complex social systems. It held space for multiple definitions of intelligence. It focused on uncertainty, not-knowing, and multiple ways of knowing." — Charley Johnson
"It was so refreshing to be in a space where friction was welcome, discord meant healthy debate, and the community held one another through the uncertainty despite our differences." — Sarah Fink
"30 years of all kinds of gatherings, this weekend was very best by a mile. Was most impressed with how quickly (12 hrs? 8?) I felt like I was *part* of a real community. So much gratitude." — Jess Graham
"It was a real community of intelligent, creative, caring and open souls who wanted to be in a space to explore, be curious, and build relationships with really great people - all in a beautiful and inspiring environment." — Rix Kramlich
"Thank you, Helen Edwards and Dave Edwards for the engaging, diverse group you have put together. This is not your everyday conference, and especially not the everyday AI conference." — Don Norman
“I will remember the Artificiality Summit, well…forever. It was more intellectually compelling than anything I can remember participating in.” — John Pasmore
“The Artificiality Summit struck the perfect balance of rigor and playfulness, formality and informality. It was a dazzling event and a impeccably curated roster of speakers.” — Jamer Hunt
"Still glowing from the conference, so much intelligence, but also kindness, safety and warmth. A humane and vital discussion of technology as a part of humanity and humanity as part of something much bigger." — Whit Morriss
"From the beginning to end, it was a perfectly curated weekend of building connections, sharing ideas and having genuine conversations across science, design, art and the innovations that are expanding our future and imagining what can be next in AI." — Abigail Snodgrass
"That was one of the best tech experiences I have ever had. I have been to all sorts of screwball conferences and big-name experiences. I even built a few. But yours was something different. It was intimate, humble, and curious. A little feisty, a little nervous, but completely authentic. On Sunday afternoon, I looked around and thought, 'THIS is my tribe.'" Dave Merwin
Tickets
Early registration is open now, with a limited early-commitment rate. If you’re ready to explore the space between what is known and what is possible, reserve your seat.
Details
Dates: October 22-24, 2026
Location: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, Oregon.
Space is limited to 150 participants
Email us at hello@artificialityinstitute.org for access to our 30% education and non-profit discounts.
What's Included:
28 hours of programming across 3 days:
Thursday October 22: 5pm-9pm
Friday October 23: 9am-9pm
Saturday October 24: 9am-9pm
Five meals from our favorite Bend restaurants endless chai & coffee, fresh popcorn, snacks galore, bottomless bubbly water, Oregon wine & beer.
Creativity: music, art, experiences.
Ticket Transparency & Cancellation Policy
We want you to register for the Artificiality Summit with confidence. Because we're an intimate, capacity-limited event that people travel to attend, our commitments to our venue, lodging, and catering partners are made well in advance. The policy below is built to give you real flexibility while reflecting those upfront commitments — and to make sure that, even if your plans change, your investment is never simply lost.
The Summit takes place October 22–24, 2026. All timeframes below are measured from the event's first day (October 22).
Refunds:
Through August 23, 2026 (60 or more days before the Summit): 80% refund.
August 24 – September 22, 2026 (30–59 days before): 50% refund.
After September 22, 2026 (within 30 days of the Summit): tickets are non-refundable, as our final venue, lodging, and catering guarantees lock in at this point.
Approved refunds are returned to your original payment method within 14 business days of your request.
Transfers — available any time
Can't make it? You may transfer your ticket to a colleague or peer at no cost, any time up to 48 hours before the Summit begins. (We set that short cutoff only so we can prepare badges and materials for your replacement.) A transfer keeps your full ticket value intact — nothing is lost.
Rollover credit — for last-minute changes
If you need to cancel inside the non-refundable window and can't arrange a transfer, you may instead roll over 100% of your ticket value as a credit toward next year's Summit. Rollover credits are based on the amount you paid, are valid for the following year's Summit only, and may be applied to any ticket tier. (If next year's price is higher, you're welcome to apply your credit and pay the difference.)
If we cancel or reschedule
If we cancel the Summit, you'll receive a full refund of your ticket price. If we reschedule to new dates, your ticket will be honored for those dates; if you're unable to attend the new dates, you may transfer or roll over your ticket as described above. Please note we're unable to reimburse travel, lodging, or other personal costs, so we recommend refundable travel arrangements or travel insurance.
How to request
To request a refund, transfer, or rollover, just contact us at hello@artificialityinstitute.org. We're happy to help.
Dates: October 22-24, 2026
Location: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, Oregon.
Space is limited to 150 participants
Email us at hello@artificialityinstitute.org for access to our 30% education and non-profit discounts.
What's Included:
28 hours of programming across 3 days:
Thursday October 22: 5pm-9pm
Friday October 23: 9am-9pm
Saturday October 24: 9am-9pm
Five meals from our favorite Bend restaurants endless chai & coffee, fresh popcorn, snacks galore, bottomless bubbly water, Oregon wine & beer.
Creativity: music, art, experiences.
Ticket Transparency & Cancellation Policy
We want you to register for the Artificiality Summit with confidence. Because we're an intimate, capacity-limited event that people travel to attend, our commitments to our venue, lodging, and catering partners are made well in advance. The policy below is built to give you real flexibility while reflecting those upfront commitments — and to make sure that, even if your plans change, your investment is never simply lost.
The Summit takes place October 22–24, 2026. All timeframes below are measured from the event's first day (October 22).
Refunds:
Through August 23, 2026 (60 or more days before the Summit): 80% refund.
August 24 – September 22, 2026 (30–59 days before): 50% refund.
After September 22, 2026 (within 30 days of the Summit): tickets are non-refundable, as our final venue, lodging, and catering guarantees lock in at this point.
Approved refunds are returned to your original payment method within 14 business days of your request.
Transfers — available any time
Can't make it? You may transfer your ticket to a colleague or peer at no cost, any time up to 48 hours before the Summit begins. (We set that short cutoff only so we can prepare badges and materials for your replacement.) A transfer keeps your full ticket value intact — nothing is lost.
Rollover credit — for last-minute changes
If you need to cancel inside the non-refundable window and can't arrange a transfer, you may instead roll over 100% of your ticket value as a credit toward next year's Summit. Rollover credits are based on the amount you paid, are valid for the following year's Summit only, and may be applied to any ticket tier. (If next year's price is higher, you're welcome to apply your credit and pay the difference.)
If we cancel or reschedule
If we cancel the Summit, you'll receive a full refund of your ticket price. If we reschedule to new dates, your ticket will be honored for those dates; if you're unable to attend the new dates, you may transfer or roll over your ticket as described above. Please note we're unable to reimburse travel, lodging, or other personal costs, so we recommend refundable travel arrangements or travel insurance.
How to request
To request a refund, transfer, or rollover, just contact us at hello@artificialityinstitute.org. We're happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will we gather?
We believe in creating an immersive experience for all. While we feature speakers, we hope and expect all attendees will feel like contributors to and participants in our community—not simply an audience. Our program is constructed to provide deep discussion with all.
Who else will be there?
At our previous gatherings, we have welcomed amazing people from organizations such as Amazon, Bast AI, Berggruen Institute, Brown University, Columbia University, Cisco, DXM, EY, Google, Harvard University, IBM, IDEO, Inflection, Latimer.ai, M13, Microsoft, Netflix, Oregon State University, Parsons School of Design, Salesforce, SAP, Slalom, Stanford University, Starbucks, SurveyMonkey, Thomson Reuters, Tufts University, University of California, University College London, University of Portland, University of Washington, VSCO, Workday Foundation, and Yale University.
How do I get to Bend, Oregon?
Bend is serviced by RDM, a lovely, small airport in Redmond, Oregon which is 20-30 minutes from downtown Bend. RDM is serviced by Alaska Air, American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines.
Can my company or brand become a partner of the Summit?
Yes! We offer various partner and sponsor opportunities.
The Artificiality Summit offers a unique opportunity to align with a movement that is reimagining the future of intelligence, identity, and intimacy in a synthetic world.
This is a gathering where thought leads action, and where your brand can stand for something more enduring than visibility: meaning.
Email us at hello@artificialityinstitute.org to learn more.
How will we gather?
We believe in creating an immersive experience for all. While we feature speakers, we hope and expect all attendees will feel like contributors to and participants in our community—not simply an audience. Our program is constructed to provide deep discussion with all.
Who else will be there?
At our previous gatherings, we have welcomed amazing people from organizations such as Amazon, Bast AI, Berggruen Institute, Brown University, Columbia University, Cisco, DXM, EY, Google, Harvard University, IBM, IDEO, Inflection, Latimer.ai, M13, Microsoft, Netflix, Oregon State University, Parsons School of Design, Salesforce, SAP, Slalom, Stanford University, Starbucks, SurveyMonkey, Thomson Reuters, Tufts University, University of California, University College London, University of Portland, University of Washington, VSCO, Workday Foundation, and Yale University.
How do I get to Bend, Oregon?
Bend is serviced by RDM, a lovely, small airport in Redmond, Oregon which is 20-30 minutes from downtown Bend. RDM is serviced by Alaska Air, American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines.
Can my company or brand become a partner of the Summit?
Yes! We offer various partner and sponsor opportunities.
The Artificiality Summit offers a unique opportunity to align with a movement that is reimagining the future of intelligence, identity, and intimacy in a synthetic world.
This is a gathering where thought leads action, and where your brand can stand for something more enduring than visibility: meaning.
Email us at hello@artificialityinstitute.org to learn more.
