Our attention, creativity, emotional resilience and ability to make well-informed decisions are becoming increasingly important for society, the economy and global sustainability. Drawing on two reports from RISE, this talk from Jay Hennessy, Director of FL4ALL and Senior Project Leader at RISE explores how brain science, innovation and the responsible use of AI can help protect and strengthen these capacities, while promoting flourishing lives on a flourishing planet.
The talk examines how today’s digital environments and business models can fragment our attention, reinforce short-term reward patterns and create what the reports describe as mental pollution. At the same time, AI offers significant opportunities to expand access to knowledge, support learning and creativity, and help us address complex societal challenges. The central question is therefore not only what AI can do, but how technology, our organisations and society can evolve to strengthen human capacities and create the conditions for genuine wellbeing.