When fully understood and embraced by UU Saratoga’s leadership, we’ll want to describe Smartacus as the congregation’s bold initiative to deepen our engagement with the local Saratoga community, establish a respected progressive voice within UUism nationally, and generate a substantial financial contribution toward the construction of our new meeting house.

With AI and Faith, Peter Bowden, and UU Boca Raton, we’re launching a multi-modal storytelling initiative that, fixed on 2045, will generate thoughtful dialogue with experts and UU ministers, promote ethical considerations of emerging technologies, and explore humanity's destiny in face of the exponential advance of AI.

Revenue generated through Darwin’s Edge ticket sales and royalties will contribute to our building fund, while our engagement with cutting-edge topics will enhance our reputation as a forward-thinking, dynamic congregation.

The Power of Storytelling in Content Marketing

Storytelling lies at the heart of human connection, offering a powerful means to convey complex ideas, inspire change, and build community. On our Smartacus platform, we will harness the art of storytelling in multiple ways to engage audiences both locally and nationally. Our content marketing strategy will leverage compelling narratives to foster conversations about the challenges and opportunities of technological progress. Our stories resonate because they humanize abstract concepts, invite emotional investment, and provide a framework for exploring shared values. They also will demonstrate in surprising ways AI’s content-creating power. This approach will both amplify UU Saratoga’s voice and create meaningful connections with content partners and broader audiences.

In January, the Soul Matters Theme of Story

January’s Soul Matters theme, Story, offers a timely and fitting frame for Smartacus’s launch. It invites us to reflect on our collective narrative and envision a future where our principles guide humanity’s interaction with artificial intelligence. As part of this theme, we will frame the year 2045—a pivotal moment in the speculative timeline of AI development—as a focal point for imagining the future. This vision will inspire planning for the disinterment of the UU Saratoga Time Capsule, tying together our historical legacy with our aspirations. Through sermons, reflections, and community events, we will connect the Story theme with broader questions of justice, equity, and human agency in an AI-driven world. Here’s a proposed outline for our January 5 service.

Showcasing the UU Saratoga Time Capsule

To deepen engagement and broaden the scope of our initiative, we will host and publish a series of expert-led conversations on Peter Bowden’s YouTube channel, the AI and the Human website, and the AI and Faith newsletter and podcast stream. These dialogues will feature experts in AI, sci-fi authors, and UU ministers, all reflecting on the year 2045 and its implications for faith, ethics, and humanity. These discussions will be preserved in the UU Saratoga Time Capsule, offering future generations a snapshot of our community’s aspirations and thought leadership.

Opportunities to Generate Revenues

The Smartacus project offers transformative opportunities to bring Darwin's Edge to life through multiple creative channels:

  • AI-Generated Podcast: Adapt Darwin's Edge into a serialized podcast, leveraging AI tools to create immersive audio experiences that capture the story’s essence.

  • AI-Scripted Musical: Develop an innovative stage production blending human creativity with AI-assisted scripting, offering audiences a unique theatrical experience.

  • Print-on-Demand Novel: Publish Darwin's Edge as a novel available via print-on-demand, broadening its reach and accessibility.

  • Netflix or Amazon Series: Pitch Darwin's Edge as a script for a streaming series, enriched with compelling UU-themed sermons and reflections on AI and human values.

Sermons and Ministerial Reflections

To ground the project in UU principles, we will invite ministers and theologians to contribute sermons and essays exploring the relationship between AI and human values. Published on AI and the Human, these reflections will be interwoven into our storytelling efforts, providing spiritual depth and ethical context for the broader conversation. By featuring these pieces in conjunction with Darwin’s Edge and related content, we’ll demonstrate the relevance of UU thought to pressing contemporary issues.

Conclusion

Smartacus is more than a project—it’s a platform for UU Saratoga to showcase its leadership at the intersection of faith, ethics, and innovation. By weaving together storytelling, community engagement, and forward-thinking dialogue, we will create a lasting impact that extends far beyond Saratoga. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire action, spark imagination, and build a legacy that will shape both our congregation’s future and the broader UU movement for years to come.