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UNICON Annual Workshop: What Does It Mean To Be Human?

Item No. a04U1000003f20vIAA
MIT dome in the foreground, Charles river and city views in the background image number null
Next Available Date Jul 16–17, 2026
Format In Person
Location Cambridge, MA
Tuition $0 Registration Fee: USD $715 for first 40 registrants; USD $795 after that. You will not be charged during checkout. A follow up email and invoice will be sent afterwards.
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Overview
Schedule & Location
Who Should Attend
Faculty
Accommodations
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Registration Questions

For questions about registration or payment, please contact: execed-registration@mit.edu

For any other questions, please contact: mit.unicon.support@mit.edu

What to Expect

What Does it Mean to be Human? People & AI – Learning and Working Together

The UNICON 2026 Annual Workshop “What Does It Mean to Be Human?” explores the evolving role of humanity in a world increasingly shaped by digital and physical transformation. The workshop will include experiences and perspectives to help executive education professionals think more deeply about what is changing in human work (and what will continue to change), and the implications for executive learning.  

We will explore challenges and opportunities posed by AI through a series of dualities 

  • Technologies accessible to experts *vs* everyone 
  • New and better ways to do work *vs* elimination of work altogether 
  • Efficiency and often insight/depth on demand *vs* originality & creativity 

And we will reflect on these questions: 

  • As individuals: How do we stay grounded, curious, and ethical? 
  • As leaders: How do we foster cultures of responsible innovation? 
  • As members of teams: How do we build trust and psychological safety in AI-augmented environments? 
  • As part of our institutions: How do we lead the way in shaping AI’s role in society?
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UNICON 2026 Annual Workshop at MIT

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What does it mean to be human?

People & AI - Learning and Working

UNICON 2026 Annual Workshop at MIT

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What does it mean to be human?

People & AI - Learning and Working

Workshop Location

The workshop will be held in MIT Sloan’s NEW Executive Education facilities located on MIT campus along the Charles River: 

MIT Sloan Executive Education 

One Memorial Drive, 2nd Floor – Building E66 

Cambridge MA 02142 

Schedule

View the full schedule: executive.mit.edu/uniconschedule

Thursday, July 16 - Confronting What's Changing - and What Endures

8:00am – 7:00pm

Session 1 — The Company of the Future

Session 2 — Keeping the Human in the Loop

Session 3 — Reimagining Learning Through Immersive Experience

Session 4 — Human–Machine Interaction: Past, Present, Future

Friday, July 17 - Choosing How We Respond 

8:00am – 1:00pm

Session 5 — Leading with Intention in the Age of AI

Session 6 — New Times, New Teams

Final Reflections

After 1:00pm: Optional Activity, MIT Campus Walking Tour

Who Should Attend

Open to: executive education professionals – leadership, program development, sales and marketing, operations – who want and need to better understand how AI is changing our world and our work.

Faculty

Confirmed Faculty Members

*Subject to change

Paul Cheek
Paul Cheek
Senior Lecturer, Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management
MIT Sloan School of Management
Paul McDonagh-Smith
Paul McDonagh-Smith
Visiting Senior Lecturer
MIT Sloan School of Management
Ben Shields
Ben Shields
Senior Lecturer, Managerial Communication
MIT Sloan School of Management
Shira Springer
Shira Springer
Senior Lecturer, Managerial Communication
MIT Sloan School of Management

Hotel Options

MIT discount codes provided upon registration:

Boston Marriott Cambridge: 50 Broadway, Cambridge MA 02142 (8 - 10 min walk to workshop location)

The Kendall: 350 Main Street, Cambridge MA 02142 (8 - 10 min walk to workshop location)

The Royal Sonesta Boston: 40 Edwin Land Boulevard, Cambridge MA 02142 (14 min walk to workshop location)

Marriott Residence Inn Boston Cambridge: 120 Broadway, Cambridge MA 02142 (12 min walk to workshop location)