What does it mean to create an event that is not just about showcasing technology, but about reshaping how we think and feel about it? Lauren Crichton has helped make the Sana AI Summit a space where people are invited to reflect, not just on AI’s capabilities, but on its meaning. In this conversation, we unpack Sana’s mission of “empowering knowledge,” why writing and creativity remain vital in an AI-first world, and how organisations can foster safe environments for experimentation. We also explore Lauren’s views on intentionality, embodiment, and why the emotional impact of the summit might matter more than the tech on display.
Key takeaways
The emotional landscape of AI is just as important as its capabilities
Lauren emphasised that the Sana AI Summit was never meant to be just another tech event. Its true goal is to create space for reflection: “There was a real opportunity to carve out a space where people could look at this transformative technology from multiple perspectives… to feel awed and maybe nervous or full of wonder.”
Writing remains a sacred human act—even in an AI world
Despite the ease of using generative tools, Lauren views writing as a deeply human practice worth protecting. “Writing is a way of both thinking and feeling. If I choose to let AI do all of my writing, I lose the opportunity to think and feel and reflect on life.”
Creativity isn’t being replaced—it’s being redefined
As AI generates more content, the creative director becomes more important—not less. Lauren frames it as a rising standard, not a threat: “It actually can raise expectations, raise the bar when you allow yourself to think about what it could be like if you just stopped doing something that you’ve always liked doing.”
Embodiment and emotion are essential to real intelligence
Lauren challenges the Cartesian legacy of separating thought and feeling—and warns against repeating those mistakes with AI. “We decided that those things were separate and put logic and reason on a higher pedestal… I don’t buy this idea that we can define intelligence purely in terms of raw intellect.”
AI transformation requires safe spaces to experiment
Rather than rushing to ROI, Lauren calls for an organisational culture where it’s okay to not know yet.
“It’s wild really to think that we are putting all of this pressure on ourselves to prove ROI from a technology that even the people who have invented it don’t fully know what it’s capable of doing.”
