About Artificiality

Artificiality is a micro-think tank pursuing macro ideas. We study “The Artificiality”:  the emerging paradigm where the boundaries between organic and synthetic systems blur, driven by the fundamental role of information and computation in complex systems. 

The Artificiality encompasses the reshaping of human consciousness, identity, and experience through our increasing symbiosis with digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and information networks. 

It challenges traditional distinctions between living and non-living, evolved and designed, biological and artificial, proposing a new understanding of life and intelligence based on information processing and computation.

We don’t just study these trends in isolation; we explore their complex interactions and emergent properties, providing a holistic view of humanity's techno-social evolution. Our work empowers clients to anticipate, adapt to, and shape the future of human-AI symbiosis.

What We Do

• The Imagining Summit: We host our annual, flagship, future-focused event in Bend, Oregon.
• Private Events: We create impactful, bespoke programs for clients to catalyze change, educate teams, and inspire new ideas.  
• Keynotes: We provide provocative keynotes for private and public gatherings on The Artificiality, the future of AI, and the shifting human experience. 
• Research & Technology Scouting: We synthesize emerging trends and breakthroughs in synthetic life through trendcasting, custom research, and technology scouting for our clients.
• Commentary and Conversations: We pioneer big ideas that reimagine the integration of human and synthetic realities through our writing and podcast.

Our Current Research Areas

• Intimacy: Exploring how intimacy, not attention, becomes the driving force in human-AI interactions and how deeply personalized AI connections reshape relationships, going beyond superficial engagement to foster meaningful human-AI bonds.
• Spatiality: Examining how spatial and embodied intelligence alters human cognition and abstract reasoning, with implications for problem-solving and collaboration.
• Consciousness: Rethinking consciousness by examining the distinction between biological and synthetic awareness, and the moral questions that arise as synthetic forms emerge.
• Knowledge: Understanding the consequences of the "knowledge-ome"—a planetary-scale system where AI, human intelligence, and ecosystems of information can reshape our understanding of knowledge itself.
• Minds: Exploring AI as more than a tool, considering it as a “mind" capable of augmenting and expanding human creativity, emotional depth, and strategic thinking.

Who We Work With

We work with a wide range of corporate, government, higher education, and non-profit organizations, including Capgemini, E.ON, EY, Galp, the House of Beautiful Business, Linn-Benton Community College, Lane Community College, Lotto NZ, the National Head Start Association, Numenta, Montana University System, Oregon State University, Quartz, R/GA, Santander, Starbucks, the State of Oregon, StraitNZ, The New York Times, Webjet, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

Some of the people we work with have been kind enough to say nice things about us.

“It’s been a tremendous honor to have the chance to work with you and learn from you. We’re looking forward to integrating your book into our learning ecosystem.” Kathy Doiron, Director, Catalyst Labs, Starbucks

“Helen and Dave are two of the most fascinating human beings I’ve crossed paths with in this industry and are well worth following.” Josh Lovejoy, Designer, Google

“Helen and Dave delivered a brilliant session for our 500-person advertising team at The New York Times. For businesses not inherently rooted in technology, there is perhaps no phenomena as alluring in its potential, inevitable in its advance and utterly terrifying by virtue of its technical and moral complexity as artificial intelligence. Dave and Helen delivered a uniquely engaging session that addressed this exact complexity and everyone came away from the workshop more optimistic about the role AI will play in their business moving forward.” Zazie Pence, Talent and Culture, The New York Times

”Helen and Dave sparked a candid and vigorous conversation among senior administrators from Oregon colleges and universities during their half-day session. While we've all been inundated with news reports and commentaries about AI, their presentation cut through the noise by helping identify key information and issues for these leaders to wrestle with.” Ben Cannon, Executive Director, Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission

“The incredible workshop session led by the Edwards at the 2020 Talent Summit was not only thought provoking, engaging, and innovative, but came with practical takeaways. Feedback on the workshop from summit attendees was excellent. The Edwards knocked it out of the park!” Todd Nell, Director, State of Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board

“Helen and Dave were great workshop facilitators and our diverse group—from AI novices to experts—was able to learn valuable AI insights and create new ideas for ethical AI in education.” Taylor Bohn, Partnerships, National Head Start Association

“I have been involved in executive development and digital transformation for a number of years and can safely say that Helen and Dave's ability to make AI simple and accessible is outstanding. They break down technical barriers so executives can understand new strategic opportunities and the extent to which machines will change people and the way we work.” Paulo Pisano, Chief People Officer, Galp

“Helen and Dave have a unique understanding of AI technology, its business opportunities and its effect on people and society. They have a knack for pulling disparate pieces together in a way that helps people understand the bigger picture.” Kevin Delaney, Co-President and Editor-in-Chief, Quartz

“Helen and Dave have a unique ability to describe what it means to be human in the age of AI. They prompt an audience to think beyond the technology and to consider how technology can be both humanizing and dehumanizing. They are masters in translating complex issues into compelling, relatable stories, and theirs was the first presentation about AI that reassured me that, yes, we can do this, a beautiful future is possible with AI.” Tim Leberecht, Co-CEO, The House of Beautiful Business

Who We Are

Helen and Dave Edwards are a husband-and-wife team of technology executives and AI pioneers who founded Artificiality. Their expertise blends insights from fields as diverse as cognitive science, complexity theory, philosophy, and design, which they have applied in the AI space since 2012. In 2017, they sold their first AI market research firm, Intelligentsia.ai, to Atlantic Media, continuing their work at Atlantic Media’s subsidiary Quartz.  

At Artificiality, Helen combines decades of experience innovating across major industries with a superpower for identifying the next emergent scientific breakthrough that will impact our complex world of humans and machines. She previously co-founded Intelligentsia.ai (which Atlantic Media acquired) and worked at Fonterra, Meridian Energy, Pacific Gas & Electric, Quartz, and Transpower NZ.

At Artificiality, Dave combines decades of experience distilling and advancing big technology trends with a superpower for understanding how technology, design, and capital will shape our future. He previously co-founded Intelligentsia.ai (which Atlantic Media acquired) and worked at Apple, CRV, Macromedia, Morgan Stanley, Quartz, and ThinkEquity.

Helen and Dave are co-authors of Make Better Decisions: How to Improve Your Decision-Making in the Digital Age and the upcoming Mind for our Minds: A Human-Centered Design Philosophy for AI and Amplify: A Guide to the Complexity of Human-Machine Collaboration.