Global Leaders Gather to Discuss Human Intelligence in Age of AI
News related to:The Power of Words® · 2 min read
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, October 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Power of Words® convened a gathering of global leaders at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) week.
Hosted by The Power of Words®, the session brought together policymakers, tech executives, and educators to discuss the role of human intelligence in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Deborah Sawaf, the Founder and CEO of The Power of Words®, emphasized that while AI can navigate possibility, only human beings can choose the destination. She argued that the ultimate value of AI depends on the emotional and relational maturity of the people who direct it.
The session featured several high-level panels and presentations. Shelley Zalis, the Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, moderated a discussion with Fernando Garibay, a Polymath and Creative Executive, and Joelle Jarvis, a Leadership Strategist. They explored how to protect human judgment, creativity, and inclusive leadership in corporate environments, highlighting the need to balance automation with human oversight.
Dr. Justin Thomas delivered a presentation on global digital wellbeing, which was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Deborah Sawaf. The panel included Dr. Melisa S. Valle from SYNC/Ithra and Professor Dr. C. Raj Kumar from O.P. Jindal Global University. They discussed how education and public institutions must adapt to preserve digital wellbeing and human culture.
Juliet Scott-Croxford, a Media and Business Executive, and Andrea Sullivan, the Co-Founder and CEO of vYve, joined Deborah Sawaf to discuss scaling compassion, healthcare, and collective action. They underscored the importance of human-centered approaches in addressing global challenges.
The presentation emphasized the need to preserve human empathy and voice for future generations amidst rapid digital change.
The session introduced The Power of Words®'s Relational Emotional Development (RED EQ™) framework, which translates emotional awareness into repeatable daily practice. The framework aims to support the guiding principle that "Practice Leads to Prevention®." The event also featured the Band Bond Initiative™ and the Two-Hand Principle™, a visible system designed to foster community support by signaling when an individual is working toward a goal or in need of assistance.
Following the event, participants agreed that the rapid advancement of AI makes human-centered leadership an urgent global priority. The Power of Words® will continue expanding its partnerships across corporate, educational, and public sectors to embed relational emotional development into organizational infrastructures worldwide.
The session highlighted the necessity of emotional regulation, judgment, and RED EQ™ in an automated world. It underscored that while technical fixes can address software and hardware issues, only intentional investment in human intelligence can rebuild resilience, restore agency, and safeguard ethical leadership.