Can AI help us better connect on a human level?

What if technology could help us connect better as humans and take action together for the planet? At the recent AI for All Buildathon hosted by 42 London, we explored this idea in the context of our Money Movers programme, where groups come together to fight climate change through their finances. 

Unlike traditional hackathons focused on ideation, this Buildathon brought us closer to a working prototype of OctopAI—an empathetic AI assistant designed to help facilitators manage group dynamics, boost participation and simplify complex topics.

It felt like the start of something with real-world potential.

Breaking down barriers to scaling impact

Group spaces can be transformative, but scaling initiatives like Money Movers is challenging. Here are some common hurdles:

• Hosts often require expensive training and may feel nervous about leading groups.
• Participants can struggle with financial jargon or feel unsure about their knowledge.
• Managing group dynamics, such as ensuring equal participation, can be daunting.

We wondered: could AI support facilitators in creating better group experiences, reducing costs, and fostering deeper connections?

OctopAI: An AI that supports, not replaces

OctopAI is a quiet, back-channel assistant designed to enhance facilitation without taking over. Its core features include:

• Real-time transcription and sentiment analysis to "read the room."
• Actionable coaching prompts to deepen discussions, ensure equal participation, and resolve conflicts.
• Built-in knowledge base to assist facilitators with green financial resources and concepts.

Crucially, OctopAI’s design prioritises human interaction. It intervenes only when needed, helping facilitators focus on the group—not the technology.

What we learned

The Buildathon offered rapid, creative experimentation. Here are key takeaways for others exploring using AI in group-based work:

• Real-time matters, but it’s tricky Latency remains a challenge. Refining OctopAI’s speed will be essential for real-world application.
• Knowing when not to act Sometimes, the best support is doing nothing—letting the group’s natural flow take over. We built system prompts to help OctopAI identify such moments.
• The human makes the final call OctopAI provides guidance, but the facilitator remains in control. We defined clear triggers for AI intervention and created examples of good and bad responses.
• Playfulness has power OctopAI’s tone is approachable and fun. We described it as, “A secret weapon that keeps things flowing smoother than a dolphin doing the backstroke.”
• Unreasonable optimism drives progress Initially, we underestimated the complexity of building OctopAI, but optimism kept us pushing forward—one practical step at a time.

A vision beyond Money Movers

While OctopAI was prototyped with Money Movers in mind, its applications could extend far beyond.

• Helping communities navigate tough local decisions with empathy and fairness.
• Giving nature and diverse lived experiences a seat at decision-making tables by integrating scientific data and the latest research.
• Enhancing collaboration in workplaces and grassroots movements.

By democratising facilitation, coaching and mediation skills, OctopAI could empower communities to take meaningful action together.

An open invitation

To the Buildathon team - thank you for your creativity, grit and good humour. To anyone dreaming of using AI to strengthen human connection—keep going. 

Imagine the possibilities:

• Groups working more effectively.
• Communities tackling shared challenges.
• Teams taking action faster and with greater confidence.

We’re at the start of this journey and would love to hear from developers, funders or organisations interested in collaborating. If you’d like to find out more, or help develop this AI tool - let’s explore what’s next for OctopAI. 

For more information about Money Movers, please visit our free resource hub.