TL;DR: Today we’re announcing our annual conference, Thesis, on November 5, 2026, at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. Thesis brings together leaders from frontier AI labs, builders from around the internet, and operators applying AI inside real companies to answer one question: What does great human work look like after automation?
Most people are scared of AI right now. They’re afraid it’s going to automate our jobs, atrophy our brains, and steal our data.
Yet there is a small group of humans from around the world who see a different future with AI. They are people using AI tools to take on more ambitious, more creative, and more interesting human work. But they’re scattered across companies and industries, with few opportunities to learn from each other.
We want to get them all in one place.
That’s why we’re launching our first annual conference Thesis, on November 5, 2026, at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. Thesis is a small, intimate event and we’re accepting attendees by application. It will also be livestreamed for free for anyone who can’t be there in person.
What is Thesis?
Thesis is a one-day gathering for the people inventing the future of work with AI.
We’re bringing together leaders from frontier AI labs, builders creating new tools and ways of working, and operators applying AI inside companies across industries. We’ll ask everyone to call their shot: Tell us what great human work looks like after automation.
It will be a conference filled with people who can see the future because they’re already living in it.
Who will be there
Our first speakers include:
- Ivan Zhao—founder and CEO, Notion
- Andrew Ambrosino—member of technical staff, Codex, OpenAI
- Cat de Jong—head of applied AI, Anthropic
- Nick Thompson—CEO, the Atlantic
- Josh Miller—CEO and cofounder, The Browser Company
- Cristobal Valenzuela—co-CEO and cofounder, Runway
- Lauren Reeder—partner, Sequoia
- Sahil Lavingia—founder, Gumroad
- Natalie Fratto—founder and creator, Charts & Crafts
- Allie Garfinkle—senior writer and editor, Fortune
- Kane Kallaway—founder, Wavy Labs
- Nat Eliason—head of Founders School, Alpha School
- Riley Brown—cofounder, Vibecode
- Kate Lee—editor in chief, Every
- Katie Parrott—staff writer, Every
- Kieran Klaassen—general manager of Cora, Every
We’ll announce more speakers soon.
The day will feature talks, demonstrations, working sessions, office hours, and small-group conversations. You’ll see how people are actually working with AI—not just what they think might happen next.
And, of course, you can bring your agent.
Why New York
New York is where the AI wave hits the beach: It’s where new model capabilities meet real-world work. Because of this, it’s the best place in the world to see what happens when frontier technology leaves the lab and enters everyday life.
That’s why we’re holding Thesis at Pioneer Works, a cultural center in Red Hook dedicated to blending art, science, music, and technology.
It’s the perfect setting for an intimate, cross-disciplinary gathering.
Join us
Thesis is happening on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Space is limited. If you are building with AI, applying it inside an organization, or trying to understand what great human work becomes when intelligence is abundant, we want you there.
Human work has a bright future after automation. If you believe that, you should join us at Thesis.
Dan Shipper is the cofounder and CEO of Every, where he writes the Chain of Thought column and hosts the podcast AI & I. You can follow him on X at @danshipper and on LinkedIn.
