AI is rapidly shaping the systems that govern our economies, institutions, and daily lives. But too often, its development is concentrated in siloes inside a handful of companies or labs, where it risks reinforcing bias, limiting access, and failing to deliver on its potential to serve people and society. Without collaboration, transparency, and shared standards, AI can deepen divides instead of strengthening humanity.
SAIpien is a coalition of builders, researchers, and industry leaders shaping a new era of human–AI collaboration. At the MIT Media Lab, we bring together strategic cohorts of cross-industry collaborators to build AI fluency, share data transparently, and transform moonshot ideas into trustworthy products and platforms. By convening diverse organizations that would not…
AI is rapidly shaping the systems that govern our economies, institutions, and daily lives. But too often, its development is concentrated in siloes inside a handful of companies or labs, where it risks reinforcing bias, limiting access, and failing to deliver on its potential to serve people and society. Without collaboration, transparency, and shared standards, AI can deepen divides instead of strengthening humanity.
SAIpien is a coalition of builders, researchers, and industry leaders shaping a new era of human–AI collaboration. At the MIT Media Lab, we bring together strategic cohorts of cross-industry collaborators to build AI fluency, share data transparently, and transform moonshot ideas into trustworthy products and platforms. By convening diverse organizations that would not normally work side by side, sAIpien turns ambitious research into real-world solutions.
What we do
Set new Standards for Human-Computer-Interactions
We’ve set a new benchmark for ethical AI, HCI2™,** Humane, Calm and Intelligent Interfaces,** creating the principles that guide our members in developing solutions that are inclusive, responsible, and transparent. This is a set of principles that allows us to look beyond the classic HCI, Human-Computer Interaction, literature and focus on the type of AI that aims to facilitate Human-Human Interaction.
Establish Cooperative Advantages
We unite non-competitive, cross-industry cohorts into an ecosystem for shared learning, auditable data, and symbiotic insights that lead to business and culture transformation.
Create and Empower AI-Literate Leaders
We empower and inspire people and organizations to use AI confidently and responsibly, cultivating literacy and agency at every level, while turning AI disruption into a competitive advantage.
Build Interoperable AI Experiences and Products Rooted in Science
We research and build the foundations of the next generation of AI products, turning moonshot ideas into scalable solutions that deliver measurable societal, economic, and competitive impact.
Current Focus Areas
This program is tailored for large and complex enterprises, cities, and government agencies that are seeking to become future industry leaders.
Key Member Benefits
We work with corporate leaders across critical industries seeking to navigate AI disruption with clarity and confidence and want responsible, commercially viable AI they can actually use.
What you get:
Unparalleled Access to Cross-Sector AI Experts
- Access to faculty and futurists: Closed-door collaboration with world-class researchers across the five imperatives
- Immersion in the MIT Media Lab: Exposure to cutting-edge labs (Human Dynamics, City Science, Space Enabled, and more) where new technological frontiers are explored.
- Cross-industry alliance network: A trusted, non-competitive cohort for shared learning, transparent ways of working, and market-making collaborations.
Tangible AI Products and Roadmaps
- Real prototypes, not slide decks: Rapid proofs-of-concept that de-risk priority use cases and inform strategic direction.
- Exclusive digital-twin access: A living, privacy-preserving model of your experts/organization to simulate scenarios, test decisions, and train human-AI agents before production.
- Actionable roadmap: Translation of moonshot ideas into executable pathways for products that make real commercial and societal impact.
Executive-Level AI Confidence
- Leadership literacy and readiness: Board-ready governance and strategy, with executive briefings and toolkits that raise AI fluency across the organization.
- Responsible AI assurance: Guidance for data safety, privacy, audit assurances, and interoperable data strategies.
- Culture playbooks: Practical guides to build a human-centered AI-driven culture of innovation.
sAIpien Team:
Founding Faculty
Hossein Rahnama, Founding Member Sandy Pentland, Founding Member Dava Newman, Founding Member Kent Larson, Founding Member Matti Gruener, Founding Graduate Student
Fellows and Affiliates
John Werner Founding Fellow and Advisor Douglas Kim, Founding Fellow Tracey Forrest, Fellow Marjan Alirezaie, Affiliated Professor Daniel Platnick, Affiliated Research Scientist
Collaborators and Friends
Erin Leonard, Innovation Affiliate Mae-Lynn Slater, Innovation Affiliate Raven Lucas, Innovation Affiliate Nadia Otake, Innovation Affiliate
sAIpien is designed for some of the largest companies in the world through engagement with C-Suites and Boards of Directors who want to shape the future of their organizations and the market through advanced research.
Contact us to learn more:
e. rahnama@mit.edu **w. ** media.mit.edu