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Open to the public:
Friday, May 22, 2026
Gar Bergstedt presents:
What is Being Human in the Age of Intelligence?
A 90-minute visual presentation
NOTE: When you submit your RSVP, you will not receive an email confirmation, but you will see a pop up that says “Thanks, we received your RSVP!”
LOCATION: Avalon, 6185 Arapahoe Rd., Boulder, Colorado 80303
TIME: Noon – 2:30 pm (doors open at 11:30 am)
COST: $20 cash/check at door
Bring a “brown bag lunch” if you like; drinks are provided.
Abstract:
As artificial intelligence grows capable of reasoning, creating, and even rewriting the genetic code we’re made of, a profound question emerges: what does it mean to be human now — and what will it mean tomorrow?
Drawing on the Being Human in 2035 report by the Imagining the Digital Future Center — a survey of nearly 300 global technology experts — this presentation explores how AI is predicted to reshape twelve core human capacities by 2035, from deep thinking and emotional intelligence to individual agency, moral reasoning, and our sense of identity and purpose.
But the story doesn’t stop at how we think and feel. AI can now manipulate DNA at a foundational level — designing new biological organisms, eliminating genetic disease, enhancing human cognition and strength, halting aging, modifying behavior, and even integrating itself with human biology through neural interfaces and bio-digital hybrids. The presentation maps a spectrum of biological futures from cure to construct and asks: if everything about us can be edited, what is the original? If AI enters the body, where does “you” end and “it” begin?
Across seven parts, the presentation moves from the arrival of AI through what machines cannot replicate — felt experience, embodied existence, moral struggle, personal meaning — to the promise and peril of human-AI collaboration, the biological frontier, and ultimately, the question of what we choose to protect and nurture in ourselves.
Designed for a general audience, the presentation uses bold visuals, large imagery, provocative single-line statements, and built-in discussion moments rather than text-heavy slides. It is philosophical in tone, grounded in current research, and structured to provoke thoughtful conversation rather than deliver definitive answers.
The machines are getting better. So should we.
Bio:
Gar Bergstedt is a retired Senior Software Engineer and Physicist with more than five decades of experience evolving alongside the rapidly changing world of technology. Beginning his journey with computers over 50 years ago, Gar was exploring artificial intelligence programming techniques as early as the mid-1970s, long before AI became part of mainstream conversation. His lifelong passion for innovation has given him a unique perspective on the extraordinary transformation of computing and human potential.
Throughout his career, Gar worked across the full spectrum of technology, from personal computers to large-scale mainframe systems. He mastered multiple operating systems and programming languages ranging from Assembly (ASM) to modern scripting languages, while also owning and operating his own technology company for 12 years. His depth of technical expertise, combined with decades of hands-on problem-solving, has made him a respected voice in both software engineering and emerging technologies.
Since retiring, Gar has devoted his time to researching the accelerating advancements in artificial intelligence and their profound implications for humanity. He believes AI is not simply another technological shift, but a transformational force that will fundamentally reshape how we live, think, work, and relate to one another. With both curiosity and caution, Gar continues to explore the evolving relationship between human consciousness and intelligent machines, asking one essential question: Are we truly ready for what comes next?