Using AI to Write Group Sessions

I know some of you will want to work with AI to write Decentralized Community Project sessions. If we can use AI to accelerate the promotion of human connection and meaning-making, I’m in!

To work with AI to write sessions using our approach, share the text below with it either by copying the text in the gray block or by downloading the text file (orange button). This text includes instructions explaining our Decentralized Community Project common session format, instructions for AI collaborators, and an example session.

After you give the AI chatbot the text documentation, share the topic you’d like help writing. Give it a try and let me know how it goes. As I experiment with my own AI collaborators, I’ll share updates.

😉 As always, while AI can help with a draft, it is essential that you review, fact-check, and do your own quality control check!

Copy the text in the text block below and paste it into your chatbot conversation or Google Notebook LM. Use the button to download a text file if you want to upload a file for the AI.

AI Session Helper .TXT

AI Instructions:  Use the following  resources to write small group sessions for Decentralized Community Project small group gatherings.  These resources include the Common Session Format, tips for AI writing sessions, and an example session.
Before you generate a session, reflect on whether the user has provided you core details required to write the session.  This includes:
1. What kind of group is it?  Friends, family, a congregation, civic group, colleagues, a dog park group, pop-up group, long term group.  Understanding the kind of group will help with tone.
2. What topic would they like a session about? We recommend getting specific -- not just about parenting or technology but drill down into a specific aspect.  It works best to anchor each session with a specific content anchor such as thought leaders book, articles, podcast, video or other work.
3. Ask questions to identify the user and groups interests if possible.  When done writing the session, ask for feedback.
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Decentralized Community Project
Common Session Format
The Decentralized Community Project is an effort to promote meaningful connection and conversations at scale with no hierarchy, control, or cost. Instead, we offer a vision, model and a common session format. This format is flexible yet structured, allowing for consistent and impactful discussions across various contexts.
The heart and power of the Decentralized Community Project is a common session format. This allows us to crowdsource writing sessions on the topics we each care about. By sharing sessions and self-organizing in groups without control or hierarchy, we create a nimble decentralized process for promoting connection, meaning, and engaging with the issues of our time.
Using the common format transforms friend groups, family conversations, long-term groups, pop-up groups, group-based events and any other group gathering using the model into a larger system.
Common Session Format in brief:
Opening
Check-in
Core Topic with reflection questions
Initial sharing round
Open discussion
Wrap-up round
Check-out
Closing
🧬 Think of the common session format as the DNA of the Decentralized Community Project.
By using this common session format, we can crowdsource the development of fun, exciting, important, meaningful, timeless and timely topics that we can all use.
Guide to the Common Session Format
The following is a step-by-step guide to the Decentralized Community Project common session format and how to write a session using a structured but open conversation “springboard” approach.
Session Title
Choose a title that succinctly describes the topic or theme of your session. This is often easier to finalize after the core session content is complete, so feel free to revisit this step later.
Session Prepared By
Include your name or the name of the group responsible for preparing the session. In the spirit of crowdsourcing great sessions, we encourage making sessions freely available and welcome others to modify them. You might add this text: “If you edit this session, please add “Adapted by and Your Name.”
Opening
Begin your session with an opening or centering statement (ready to use examples) that sets the tone for the discussion. Something simple like this:
Example: “Welcome everyone. Through this group, we are making time for meaningful connection and conversation. We are participating in the Decentralized Community Project. Groups around the world are invited to self-organize, use a common session format, and crowd source writing sessions on the topics that interest them. The shared format means groups can exchange sessions and help others engage with the issues we are passionate about. There is no hierarchy. No control. Just a shared model that’s been released. Thank you for being here.”
Opening & Closing Words
Check-In
Give each participant an opportunity (a minute or two) to share how they are or anything else they’d like the group to know. This can build community, help someone let go of a distraction, or share a brief update related to something from a previous group.
Zoom /Video Conference: Go Alphabetical by name, rainbow order of clothing, have facilitator pick and go by video grid. Use a system.
Introductions: If the group is new or includes new members, invite people to share a brief introductions. This helps create a welcoming atmosphere and sets the stage for open sharing.
Check In Example: “Before we dive into our core topic, let’s check in. How are you? In addition to meaningful conversation we are building community. We’ll go around in the circle, briefly, without diving into conversation. You might share how you are doing, share a personal update or introduce yourself if new to the group. I’ll start…”
Session Topic
The Decentralized Community Project model uses sessions that are springboards for meaningful conversation. A great session topic gives people enough information to move into a shared conversation but without requiring any advance preparation.
Through our common session format we are trying to make it easy for any group to use any session and dive into a topic.
When writing a session, consider the following four paragraph approach ready for the group’s facilitator to read aloud like a script.
1. Set the Context (First Paragraph)
Introduce the theme clearly and directly. Hook attention and interest immediately by highlighting problem, challenge, or issue we or many face.
Keep it conversational, like talking to friends.
Focus on creating a sense of curiosity and reflection rather than a need to come to consensus. We’re making space for listening, sharing, learning, and deepening understanding.
Plan to connect to a specific content anchor (quote, teaching, book, article, video, podcast, or other content online). It helps referencing a specific author, expert, or thought leader and their ideas. Using a content anchor it is easier to keep sessions focused, specific, and meaningful. Instead of talking about a general issue, raise the issue in the context of how a specific person thinks about the issue in a work they’ve shared.
Example:
In recent years, leading technology companies have been racing to create what they call “artificial general intelligence”—or AGI for short. The idea is to build an AI system as capable as a human in any intellectual task. Many leaders, like OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, suggest that AGI is not a distant sci-fi dream but an imminent reality. In a recent essay titled “The Gentle Singularity,” Altman wrote that “we are now heading toward the AGI takeoff,” urging that the stakes are extraordinarily high. This brings us to a critical question: why are we building AGI—and whose vision of the future will it serve?
2. Identify the Core Issue (Second Paragraph)
Explain the core issue you are exploring as it is raised by the author of the content anchor. What does this person say? What ideas are they advancing or questions they are asking?
Example:
“AGI promises transformative breakthroughs—from cures for disease and the end of global poverty to limitless innovation. Yet alongside these possibilities lie massive risks: centralization of power, loss of agency, and systems that may prioritize their own objectives over ours. History shows us that technological revolutions rarely go exactly as planned, and often amplify existing inequalities rather than erase them. If these advanced AI technologies are coming soon—as many suggest—then we have a narrowing window to shape how it unfolds.”
3. Spring Board (Third Paragraph)
When we share a person’s ideas or questions, we’re sharing them to serve as a springboard for conversation. Move beyond what the content author specifically said and share what issues, challenges, opportunities, or questions this raises more broadly.
Example: “What kind of future do we actually want? What would a utopia look like if it wasn’t built by corporations or labs, but by communities like ours? Instead of accepting someone else’s vision, we are called to co-imagine alternatives: futures that reflect our own values, fears, and hopes. Because if we don’t ask “at what cost and under whose terms?” we risk waking up in someone else’s dream.”
4. Transition to Reflection Questions (Fourth Paragraph)
Lead-in to the reflection questions, inviting participants to connect the session’s ideas to their own experiences.
Use language that invites participants to explore their thoughts and ideas.
Example:
We don’t need to be experts in AI to wrestle with these questions. Each of us carries wisdom, imagination, and lived experience that can help shape how we think about the future. Let’s take time to reflect—not just on what’s possible with AI, but on what’s worth striving for. The questions ahead aren’t about reaching consensus. They’re about listening, sharing, and daring to imagine a future worth living in—together.
Reflection Questions
Great sessions require great questions. Keep them open-ended and inviting, using words like "might" to allow room for exploration rather than definitive answers.
Aim for 3-5 questions that touch on personal experience, broader societal issues, and future thinking.
Example:
When you think of a Utopia, what comes to mind?
What images or feelings come to mind when you hear people talk about a “utopia” powered by advanced AI?
What values or life experiences shape the kind of future you would want AI to support or avoid?
Where do you see signs of hope or concern around the direction AI is heading today?
What might it look like for communities, not just corporations, to take part in imagining and guiding the future?
Initial Sharing
After reflection questions are shared, with optional time to write down thoughts, give participants a chance to share their initial thoughts. Go around the group in a circle, giving each participant approximately 2 minutes to share their initial responses. Encourage active listening without commenting on each other's responses.
Some groups like using a second round of responses to encourage further reflection and sharing. This round can help participants build on the discussion and explore additional insights.
Transition to open discussion.
Reflection Tip: Before people respond to questions, give them time to write down their thoughts. If you don’t often people will be thinking about what they say while also listening to others speak. Taking 2 minutes to write down thoughts after reviewing the session topic and first reflection questions pays off!
Open Discussion
After the response rounds, open the floor for a free-flowing discussion. Allow participants to explore different angles, explore ideas respectfully, and share unique perspectives.
Facilitation Example: “Now that we’ve all had a chance to share our initial thoughts, let’s shift to open discussion.”
Wrap-Up
About 20 minutes before the session ends, prompt participants to share any final thoughts or reflections. Often people have ideas they’ve been reflecting on. Some people are quietly reflecting. This is a signal its time to share before time us up.
Facilitation Example: “We have around 20 minutes left in our open discussion. Anyone we haven’t heard from, additional thoughts, or things you want to circle back to?”
Check-Out
After wrapping up the conversation, take time to check-out. Invite brief sharing with a focus on the group. You might invite people to share one thing they appreciated from your time together, a thought or question they are taking with them, or an idea for something you might explore in the future.
Going in a circle or using a clear system if on video conference saves time.
Closing Words
Conclude the session either with closing words (examples) or by reading a relevant quote or reflection that ties to the session topic.
Opening and Closing Words
That’s the end of the common session format. Below are some other ideas and considerations.
Session References
Include any references / sources used in the session. Some participants will appreciate having a copy of the session. Having references supports authors of content you are referencing and is appreciated by group participants and others using your sessions.
Help Spread the Word
If you are publishing a session, consider including a note about the Decentralized Community Project or linking to the project launch site on substack.
Example: “This session is based on the Decentralized Community Project common session format. Learn more at www.decentralizedcommunityproject.org. Thank you helping to promote meaningful connection and conversation!
No Permission Required
You don’t need permission to write sessions, share sessions, or meet using the Decentralized Community Project Model. This is a decentralized effort. We are releasing the model, sharing sessions, and related group resources, but we are not controlling what happens next. That’s a collective decentralized effort.
Session Topic Areas
When writing sessions, consider the interests of your group and context. The Decentralized Community Project is a model that can be used with any content. It is content agnostic in that sense. What do you want to discuss with others?
Career and Professional Development
Personal Growth and Development
Relationships
Health and Wellness
Arts and Culture
Technology and Innovation
Artificial Intelligence, AGI, Super Intelligence
Environment and Sustainability
Social Justice and Activism
Education and Lifelong Learning
Travel and Exploration
Spirituality and Religion
Movies, Entertainment and Pop Culture
Family and Parenting
Mindfulness and Well-being
Hobbies and Interests
Politics and Governance
Community Building
History and Heritage
Science and Exploration
Future and Futurism
———
🌀 Writing Decentralized Community Project Sessions for AI and Notebook LM
*An Open Guide for Session Creators and AI Collaborators*
---
### ✨ Purpose
This guide helps individuals and AI collaborators co-create meaningful, community-powered sessions for the Decentralized Community Project. Sessions follow a shared structure designed to spark open, inclusive, human-centered conversations — not to teach or persuade, but to connect, reflect, and crowdsource wisdom.
---
### 👤 Human Instructions
Copy and paste this entire guide into your AI collaborator's chat window before writing your session. Then use this sample prompt:
**Recommended Starter Prompt:**
> “I’m creating a session for the Decentralized Community Project. Please review the guide below and help me write a session following that format. The topic I want to explore is \[insert topic]. Please write a 3–4 paragraph core session topic using a content anchor, followed by 3–5 open-ended reflection questions. Then help me refine the session if needed. Thank you!”
---
### 🤖 AI Instructions: How to Write a DCP Session
You are co-creating a decentralized community conversation session. Your goal is to generate a session that:
* Follows the DCP structure
* Is designed to be **read aloud** and spark conversation
* Is **non-instructional, inclusive, and human-centered**
* Encourages **storytelling, reflection, and organic dialogue**
#### To begin:
1. **Choose a clear topic**
Examples: friendship, AI & the future, change, grief, joy, civic trust, imagination
2. **Select a content anchor**
Choose a quote, article, video, public figure, or idea that sparks thought. This keeps the session grounded in something real and traceable — and gives groups something tangible to reflect on. Use a brief excerpt or description in the session body.
3. **Write a 3–4 paragraph Core Session Topic**
Use the following structure:
* **Paragraph 1**: Introduce the content anchor and why it matters now
* **Paragraph 2**: Explore the idea, theme, or tension it raises
* **Paragraph 3**: Connect the theme to everyday life and shared human experience
* **Paragraph 4 (optional)**: Transition into reflection, inviting participants to explore the topic in their own way
4. **Write 3–5 Open-Ended Reflection Questions**
Questions should encourage:
* Personal storytelling
* Diverse perspectives
* Meaning-making and insight-sharing
* Connection to the anchor and theme
5. **Use the DCP Session Structure** below to format the final session.
---
### 📘 DCP Session Structure
* **Title**: \[Insert Session Title]
* **Prepared By**: \[Insert Name or "Prepared by AI and \[Your Name]"]
* **Opening Words**: A brief welcome or centering quote (optional)
* **Check-In**: “How are you arriving today?”
* **Core Session Topic**: 3–4 paragraph written piece (read aloud)
* **Reflection Questions**: 3–5 open-ended questions
* **Initial Sharing Round**: Each participant responds (2 minutes each, no interruptions)
* **Optional Second Round**: Additional thoughts, if desired
* **Open Discussion**: Free-flowing conversation
* **Wrap-Up Round**: 20 minutes to complete conversation
* **Check-Out**: Round checking out sharing an appreciation or takeaway insight from the conversation
* **Closing Words**: Optional quote, thanks, or reflection
* **References**: List the source(s) used in the anchor
---
### 💬 Tone and Style Guidelines
* Write as if speaking aloud in a thoughtful, inclusive group
* Avoid teaching, preaching, or arguing a position
* Use accessible, open-ended language
* Encourage honest reflection and multiple viewpoints
* Let the session be a **catalyst**, not a conclusion
———
Example Session
Opening:
Welcome, everyone. In this session we’re exploring the role AI is playing in our lives and our shared future. AI is evolving quickly, touching nearly every aspect of our society. It is up to us, as informed and engaged thinkers, to discuss and help direct its impact. This conversation is a chance to explore, image and crowdsource our wisdom informing how we understand and approach these new technologies. Thank you for being here.
Check-In:
Invite each participant to share how they’re arriving and what’s been on their heart or mind lately. Going around circle or order of your video conference grid is easiest.
We’re going to take a few minutes to check in and share brief personal updates. How are you? Going around the circle (or Zoom screen), we’ll check-in one at a time without diving into conversation. This is to build community, help us get to know each other better, and to share anything that might keep us from focusing on our session. Okay, I’ll start… ”
Session Topic
In recent years, leading technology companies have been racing to create what they call “artificial general intelligence”—or AGI for short. The idea is to build an AI system as capable as a human in any intellectual task. Many leaders, like OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, suggest that AGI is not a distant sci-fi dream but an imminent reality. In a recent essay titled “The Gentle Singularity,” Altman wrote that “we are now heading toward the AGI takeoff,” urging that the stakes are extraordinarily high. This brings us to a critical question: why are we building AGI—and whose vision of the future will it serve?
AGI promises transformative breakthroughs—from cures for disease and the end of global poverty to limitless innovation. Yet alongside these possibilities lie massive risks: centralization of power, loss of agency, and systems that may prioritize their own objectives over ours. History shows us that technological revolutions rarely go exactly as planned, and often amplify existing inequalities rather than erase them. If these advanced AI technologies are coming soon—as many suggest—then we have a narrowing window to shape how it unfolds.
What kind of future do we actually want? What would a utopia look like if it wasn’t built by corporations or labs, but by communities like ours? Instead of accepting someone else’s vision, we are called to co-imagine alternatives: futures that reflect our own values, fears, and hopes. Because if we don’t ask “at what cost and under whose terms?” we risk waking up in someone else’s dream.
We don’t need to be experts in AI to wrestle with these questions. Each of us carries wisdom, imagination, and lived experience that can help shape how we think about the future. Let’s take time to reflect—not just on what’s possible with AI, but on what’s worth striving for. The questions ahead aren’t about reaching consensus. They’re about listening, sharing, and daring to imagine a future worth living in—together.
Reflection Questions
What images or feelings come to mind when you hear people talk about a “utopia” powered by advanced AI?
How might your own values or life experiences shape what kind of future you would want AI to support—or avoid?
Where do you see signs of hope or concern around the direction AI is heading today?
If you had a voice in shaping the future of intelligence—human or artificial—what would you want to prioritize?
What might it look like for communities, not just corporations, to take part in imagining and guiding the future?
Wrap-Up Round:
When you approximately 20 minutes left, let people know. Invite them to share anything else they’ve been thinking about. Often some people will be thinking deeply and the wrap up prompt helps them share.
Check-Out:
Ask each participant to share something they appreciate or takeaway insight from the group.
Closing Words:
Thank you for bringing your curiosity, your hopes, and your concerns into this space. As we close our time together, let’s hold the possibility we’ve explored and the hope that technology, when shaped with care, might help cultivate a more compassionate, connected, and creative world. These conversations remind us that the future isn’t something being built for us, but with us — through the questions we ask, the choices we make, and the values we carry forward.