AI beyond productivity: Experts at Summer Davos call for human-centred design
Synopsis
At Summer Davos in Dalian, an EEG-powered robotic sculpture called 'Doing Nothing with AI' became the unlikely centrepiece of a bigger argument: that artificial intelligence should be designed not just to boost productivity, but to slow us down, foster reflection, and deepen what it means to be human.
Key Takeaways
Experts at the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos in Dalian, China on 23 June called for AI to prioritise human reflection and creativity over efficiency alone.
An interactive installation titled 'Doing Nothing with AI' by artist Emmanuel Golab uses an EEG headset to connect visitors' brain activity to a moving robotic sculpture.
Jahnavi Phalkey , Director of Bengaluru Science Gallery , said the project shows how AI can interpret signals from the human brain to create more empathetic interactions.
Researcher Ryan Jefferies of Science Gallery Melbourne described the artwork as encouraging visitors to pause and reflect on their own mental state.
Experts argued that understanding neural activity could enable AI systems to respond more personally and empathetically — a potential pathway to applications in mental health and education.
Artificial intelligence should move beyond efficiency gains and actively create space for reflection, creativity, and richer human experiences, experts said on Tuesday, 23 June at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions — popularly known as Summer Davos — held in Dalian, China. Researchers and curators at the event highlighted how brain-sensing technologies are enabling more empathetic, personalised interactions between humans and machines.
The Installation at the Centre of the Debate
A standout exhibit at the gathering was an interactive artwork titled 'Doing Nothing with AI', created by artist Emmanuel Golab in collaboration with Science Gallery Melbourne. The installation uses an EEG headset that detects electrical activity in the brain and connects it to a large robotic sculpture, which moves in response to the visitor's neural signals.
Jahnavi Phalkey, Director of Bengaluru Science Gallery and a member of the Science Gallery International Network, explained the concept: 'Visitors wear a device similar to spectacles on their forehead, which detects EEG activity and electrical signals from the brain. The robot then responds to what is happening inside a person's mind.'
Art, Neuroscience, and AI Converge
Ryan Jefferies, a researcher associated with Science Gallery Melbourne, described how the artwork functions as a bridge between human emotion and machine intelligence. 'It uses an EEG headset that picks up electrical activity within the brain and connects it to a large robotic sculpture that moves according to that activity,' he said.
Jefferies noted that the central purpose of the installation is to encourage visitors to pause, slow down their thoughts, and reflect on their own mental state while interacting with an intelligent system. This stands in deliberate contrast to the dominant narrative around AI — one focused almost exclusively on speed, automation, and output.
Why This Matters Beyond the Gallery
According to the experts gathered at Summer Davos, understanding brain sensations and neural activity could enable intelligent systems to respond more personally and empathetically to people. Phalkey argued that such projects illustrate how AI can create more meaningful, human-centred experiences rather than focusing solely on productivity metrics.
Notably, this conversation is emerging at a moment when global policymakers and technologists are grappling with the societal consequences of rapid AI deployment. The Summer Davos platform — which brings together government leaders, business executives, and researchers — is increasingly being used to surface perspectives that go beyond economic utility.
What This Signals for AI Development
The convergence of art, neuroscience, and AI showcased in Dalian points to a broader shift in how researchers and designers are thinking about the role of intelligent systems in everyday life. Rather than positioning AI purely as a tool for optimisation, advocates argue it should be designed to deepen human self-awareness and emotional connection.
As brain-computer interface research accelerates globally, installations like 'Doing Nothing with AI' may offer an early glimpse of how such technologies could eventually be applied in mental health, education, and therapeutic settings — well beyond the gallery floor.
Point of View
A brain-reading robot that rewards stillness is a pointed counter-argument. The deeper question it surfaces — whether AI should be optimised for output or for inner life — is one that neither the tech industry nor regulators have seriously engaged with. Brain-computer interfaces are advancing rapidly, but the ethical and design frameworks for empathy-driven AI remain embryonic. Dalian may be the first major stage where that gap was made visible.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the key message from AI experts at Summer Davos 2025?
Experts at the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos in Dalian argued on 23 June that AI should move beyond productivity and efficiency to create space for human reflection, creativity, and deeper emotional experiences. They showcased brain-sensing technology as one pathway toward more empathetic human-machine interaction.
What is the 'Doing Nothing with AI' installation?
'Doing Nothing with AI' is an interactive artwork by artist Emmanuel Golab, developed in collaboration with Science Gallery Melbourne. It uses an EEG headset to detect electrical brain activity and connects it to a robotic sculpture that moves in response to the visitor's neural signals, encouraging stillness and self-reflection.
Who presented the AI and neuroscience exhibit at Summer Davos?
The exhibit was presented by Jahnavi Phalkey, Director of Bengaluru Science Gallery, and researcher Ryan Jefferies from Science Gallery Melbourne, both members of the Science Gallery International Network.
How does EEG technology connect to artificial intelligence in this context?
The EEG headset worn by visitors detects electrical signals from the brain and feeds that data to an AI system, which then drives the movement of a robotic sculpture. This demonstrates how AI can interpret neural activity to respond personally and empathetically to an individual's mental state.
Why is this conversation about AI and human experience significant?
It represents a growing push to reframe AI development away from pure automation and toward human wellbeing. Experts suggest that brain-sensing AI could eventually find applications in mental health, education, and therapy — areas where empathy and personalisation matter more than speed or output.
