Overview
From writing critique to setting goals, people increasingly turn to AI systems to support reflection and support in creative practice. However these interactions are most often done in solitary contexts with sycophantic models that have a tendency to reinforce existing beliefs, rather than support the active process of self discovery.
In contrast, we submit Rock Talk. It is an AI mediated rock garden which facilitates asynchronous wisdom sharing between creatives in a community. Each rock in the garden represents a spiritual teaching or practice recommended by a member of the community. The rocks and their teachings are enacted verbally through an AI chatbot embedded in a small compatible base. Upon returning the rock to the garden, participants leave behind a fragment of their reflection. This allows subsequent users to learn from those who came before them.
By embedding AI within a tangible, natural, shared interface, Rock Talk proposes experiences with AI that reflect values of commitment, shared history, and time. It also serves as a wide metaphor for the collective desire for stronger connection and real social care.