Something is happening to language. It is writing code now.

Not in the way anyone predicted. Not through syntax learned in classrooms or logic gates drawn on whiteboards. Through conversation. Through the same asking and answering that scholars have practiced for centuries in rooms not unlike this one.

The Embassy of the Free Mind holds over 28,000 texts. Alchemy. Kabbalah. Hermetic philosophy. Works that were copied by hand, hidden from burning, carried across borders in coat linings. For centuries, most people couldn't read them. Now, a team building Source Library right here is using AI to translate and open them, one ancient page at a time. That project is vibe coded. Built by describing what was wanted, iterating when it broke, and launching when it was good enough.

This creative lab asks a simple question: what do you want to make?

You describe it. The AI writes it. You refine. It breaks. You try again. There is something almost scholarly about that loop, if you sit with it long enough.

No coding experience required. A willingness to be wrong several times before being right is. Bring a laptop, a free account on Claude or ChatGPT, and one small idea. We will do the rest together!

What happens when tools that speak in language meet the archive of human thought? Come find out.

About the Hosts

⁠Michell Zappa is a technology futurist, founder, and CEO of Envisioning, a technology research institute. He speaks and consults on emerging technologies and their impact on society, and helps organizations and governments make sense of future technological landscapes. With a global perspective shaped by living and working in many countries, his writing and presentations invite audiences to think critically about technology and humanity.

Derek Lomas is a tenured professor of Positive AI at TU Delft, where he bridges human-centered design with artificial intelligence. A cofounder of Playpower Labs, and founder of Source Library, and a researcher whose work spans learning, wellbeing, and beauty, he has led LLM design workshops for companies like IKEA and taught hundreds of students and educators. He holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon, an MFA from UC San Diego, and a BA in Cognitive Science from Yale, where he was taught by philosopher Nick Bostrom. His published research on harmony and the science of vibes makes him a fitting guide for an evening at the intersection of ancient knowledge and emerging technology.

Format

Creative Lab | Show & Tell | Q & A

Date & Time

Friday, July 10

2:00 pm | Come early for informal coffee and a visit to the museum

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Structured workshop with free drinks!

Language

English

Ticket Price

€50,-

Prepare before the session

Fifteen minutes of prep will save you an hour on the day. Here is what to do before you arrive

1. Create an AI Account–  Sign up for ChatGPT or Claude, or any chat-based AI (free tiers work). If you already use one, make sure you can log in on the day.

2. Bring a laptop or desktop– Mac, Windows, or Linux with a charger and a modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge).

3. Pick One Small Idea– Something you could sketch in an hour: a page, a tool, a visualisation, a playful experiment. We can explore and further refine it together.

4. Browse Source Library (optional)– Spend five minutes on sourcelibrary.org, search a topic that interests you. It is a good example of a humanities vibe-coded infrastructure

5. No install required– We will work in the browser (cursor or VS Code are nice extras, not prerequisites).

6. Curiosity and patience– The willingness to iterate when things don't work just yet!