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Adamastor Weekly

Week 35

On AI and the Art of Being Human

CR

Carlos Resende

Expert Evaluator at the European Commission and Co-founder of Founder Institute Portugal.

6 min read

Last week I had the privilege of attending a book presentation hosted by Ground Capital, featuring AI and the Art of Being Human: A Practical Guide to Thriving with AI While Rediscovering Yourself in the Process by Andrew D. Maynard and Jeffrey D. Abbott.

Speaking with Jeffrey Abbott was a magnificent opportunity. His clarity, warmth, and depth of insight brought the book’s themes to life in a way that felt both urgent and timeless, an invitation to pause, reflect, and reframe our relationship with technology.

By the time you read these lines, I’ll likely be en route to Techstars Startup Week in Guimarães, book in hand, hopefully halfway through. From what I’ve read so far, this is not a book about AI as a tool or a threat, it’s a mirror. It asks not only what AI can do, but what it reveals about us: our values, our fears, our creativity, and our capacity for empathy. It’s a call to introspection for anyone who follows the evolution of AI with admiration, curiosity and concern.

What struck me most was how closely this work resonates with the mission of Portugal’s Center for Responsible AI. Both advocate for a human-centered approach to technology one that prioritizes ethical reflection, social responsibility, and the rediscovery of what it means to be human in an increasingly automated world. The Center is a major national initiative, bringing together startups, research institutions, legal scholars, and industrial partners to build AI that is fair, explainable, sustainable, and trustworthy. Their goal isn’t just technical excellence, it’s moral anchoring.

In this sense, the book’s emphasis on self-knowledge and relational grounding speaks directly to the Adamastor spirit, that uniquely Portuguese blend of audacious exploration and deep moral consideration that the Center for Responsible AI is trying to advance in Portugal and across Europe.

In a time when the pace of innovation often outrun our ability to make sense of it, AI and the Art of Being Human offers a compass. It reminds us that thriving with AI isn’t just about adapting to change, it’s about reclaiming our agency, our imagination, and our shared humanity.

In short, so what does this mean for us, here, now?

It means embracing a Portuguese context that pairs technical audacity with moral care. It means recognizing that the terrain on which this book stakes its claim, the convergence between introspective human flourishing and rigorous responsible AI practice is fertile ground. And it means carrying forward a few reflections:

  • Why introspection matters, not as a retreat from technology, but as an anchor within it

  • The human-tech bridge, and how tools like these can be woven into professional, civic, and creative practices

  • Local resonance, global ambition, how Portuguese initiatives like the Center for Responsible AI are contributing models and protocols that ripple outward

Let’s keep asking questions. Let’s keep listening. And above all, let’s keep being human.

* at the moment I’m writing I take acknowledge of the new Economic Nobel Prize (paper on our 'Read’ section). This year’s prize was awarded to the work on innovation-led growth and the theory of creative destruction. Their research shows some very interesting conclusions: Innovation is the engine of sustained economic growth, not just capital or labor; Entrepreneurs play a central role in introducing new technologies and disrupting outdated ones; Creative destruction (where new firms replace old ones) is essential for long-term progress; and Science and technology must interact with practical knowledge and a society open to change.

Portugal has done fantastic work building a vibrant startup ecosystem, particularly in Lisbon and Porto. But the Nobel findings throw a stark light on why entrepreneurship isn’t a niche policy, it must be the absolute core of our national economic strategy. This isn’t just a short-term trend; it’s the fundamental long-term strategic path for our country.

For all these reasons and more, it truly pained me to see this entire discussion the attack on this crucial industry, used as a political weapon in the recently concluded elections. We’re talking about the engine of Portugal’s future prosperity. The national interest, driven by innovation and growth, must supersede ideological disputes and short-sighted political squabbles. We have a chance to lead here, and we can’t afford to let that opportunity get dragged down into the mud.

I’ll absolutely be diving deeper into this theme in future editions. This conversation is just beginning.

  • 🌍 Portuguese Diaspora in UK: there will be a Dinner of Portuguese in Tech in London this Wednesday, all the info here

  • 🎟️ Startup Weekend Viseu takes place this weekend Secure your seat here

  • 🎟️ Productized Conference 2025 gathers thought leaders on Product Thinking, Product Management, and User Experience pros on October 15, 16 and 17. Last tickets here

  • 🎟️ Porto tech is back for its 3rd edition! the city is hosting a series of tech and entrepreneurial events, including workshops, conferences, meetups, and others, highlighting the global ecosystem that thrives in Porto. Just head over to portotech.scaleupporto.pt to find out more!

  • 🔔 Founders, students, builders: this one’s for you The applications for SantanderX 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 are still open. Up to €30,000 in prizes. Last days to apply

Don’t miss it!

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✍ Quote of the week

We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely

E. O . Wilson

Week highlights go to:

Congrats

  • 👏 Elisa Tarzia, Cofounder & VP at 351 Portuguese Startup Association, has been named one of Sifted’s 100 Women in Tech in Europe 2025

  • 👏 Feedzai becomes a $2B+ unicorn and won the “AI in Fintech” award FinTech Magazine

  • 👏 Casa do Impacto celebrates its 7th anniversary this Thursday

  • 👏 Lisbon ranks among the top 10 European cities that attracted the most VC capital for Defense

  • 👏 EDP & Galp named among a list of 50 European corporates which are actively partnering with startups to drive growth, innovation, and global impact

  • 👏 sheerMe and Bloq.it listed at Sifted 250 – The fastest-growing European startups in 2025

  • 👏 ACTIF platform, dedicated to physical and cognitive stimulation for seniors is now 100% free for Institutions and Professionals

  • 👏 Future STEMers - “O Futuro por Nós”; Junicoders; Barrinho Transportes; Associação EdRuptiva; Green Tasty, the winners of Women Shaping Tech Awards

Something to read, listen and watch

💡Looking for your next spark of inspiration or connection? Discover what’s happening in the ecosystem—check out the Adamastor Events Calendar and find the perfect event that fits your goals, your vibe, and your stage. From founder meetups to investor talks, there’s something for everyone.

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