In this episode of INNER INTELLIGENCE, I sit down with Dr. Karina Alexanyan, Founding Executive Director of the Positive Technology Institute, a nonprofit working to promote technologies that support human flourishing. We talk about a different way of approaching innovation: What if we started by imagining the world we want to live in, and then asked how technology could help us create it? We explore the possibilities and challenges of AI, from its potential to empower individuals and expand creativity to the questions it raises about human agency, trust, and responsibility. We also talk about the human capacities we need to cultivate as technology advances, including curiosity, critical thinking, empathy, and connection. And why creating a better future requires more than technological progress. It requires people coming together around shared values and taking action. At the heart of our conversation is a question: How can we make sure technology serves humanity, rather than the other way around? In this conversation * Why ethical innovation and profitability can go hand in hand * Starting with the world we want to create, rather than the technology we can build * Human agency and our ability to shape the future of AI * Curiosity, creativity, and the human skills that matter in an increasingly automated world * How AI can empower individuals while also creating new challenges * The importance of diversity, trust, and human connection * Moving beyond fear toward a more hopeful vision of the future About Dr. Karina Alexanyan Dr. Karina Alexanyan is the Founding Executive Director of the Positive Technology Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting technologies for human flourishing, with a focus on sovereignty, well-being, and abundance. She has worked at the intersection of technology, social science, and social impact throughout her career, including research at Harvard’s Berkman Center, work at Stanford, and collaborations with organizations such as Partnership on AI, All Tech Is Human, and Internet Safety Labs. Through the Positive Technology Institute, Karina brings together researchers, innovators, and funders who want to develop technology that benefits people and the planet. One of the institute’s initiatives is the Positive Technology Pledge, a commitment to creating and supporting technologies that contribute to human flourishing. The pledge is open to individuals who want to be part of a growing community working toward a more positive technological future. Connect with Dr. Karina Alexanyan * Positive Technology Institute: https://www.positivetechinstitute.org * Read and sign the Positive Technology Pledge: https://www.positivetechinstitute.org/pledge * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinaalexanyan This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulwithnina.substack.com
