TED-tastic!?

This morning I wrote a one-pager as an exercise in trying to articulate what I'm trying to do with both buddi bench & virtuallyseth ai. I'm hoping to promote these ideas with a TED talk - should I be able to persuade them to platform moi. I include below my latest piece of prose as I hope it helps you better understand my vision:

Seth Hunter, an innovator at the intersection of mental health, technology, and community engagement, is the Founder and CEO of buddi bench and virtuallyseth ai, ventures that stand testament to his commitment to fostering connections as a remedy for loneliness, addiction, and emotional distress. With a background enriched by personal and professional experiences in mental health advocacy and a profound understanding of the power of connection and creativity, Seth has dedicated his career to creating spaces, both physical and virtual, that facilitate open conversations and genuine human interactions.

At the heart of Seth's vision is buddi bench, a not-for-profit initiative aimed at diminishing the pervasive sense of isolation in today's society by installing bespoke benches in UK parks and beyond. These benches are not mere seating arrangements; they are invitations to connect, designed to encourage strangers to engage in meaningful conversations. The initiative is supported by a suite of complementary platforms, including podcasts, a YouTube channel, blog posts, newsletters, and events, all operating under the guiding principle of "creative responses to human distress – chat | connect | care".

Seth also leads virtuallyseth ai, a pioneering venture that extends his mission into the digital realm. virtuallyseth ai offers users the opportunity to engage in simulated conversations with an AI trained to emulate Seth's own conversational style, with a focus on mental health and recovery from addiction issues. The idea is to create a 'virtual bench' where you can chat with Seth 24/7 from the comfort of your home. Seth's expertise in the field of mental health and addictions has been complimented by collaborating with a team of experts to ensure that this AI is informed, effective and safe. This innovative project not only showcases Seth's creative approach to leveraging technology for emotional well-being but also his commitment to making mental health support more accessible and engaging.

Seth's educational and professional journey, underscored by a values-driven life of honesty, open-mindedness, and compassion, uniquely positions him to advocate for the power of creative connections in healing and recovery. His work with buddi bench and virtuallyseth ai embodies a holistic approach to addressing human distress, uniting the physical and digital worlds in a shared mission to foster empathy, understanding, and community.

buddibench.org

creative responses to human distress

chat | connect | care