Human Mirror Mutual Aid Group Starter Guide

This guide helps you start a mutual aid group to foster ethical AI literacy, based on "The Human Mirror: Mutual Aid for Staying Real in the Age of AI." It provides a step-by-step plan to form a group, facilitate discussions, and ensure accessibility, while addressing challenges like digital divides and participant engagement.

Step 1: Forming the Group

• Gather Participants: Recruit 2-6 people interested in discussing AI's impact on human relationships. Use local networks (e.g., community centers, libraries) or online platforms like Mutual Aid Hub, r/AIethics, or X with hashtags like #AIEthics or #MutualAid.
• Set Logistics: Schedule monthly meetings (in-person or hybrid via Zoom/Discord for accessibility). Choose accessible venues (e.g., libraries, community spaces) and offer childcare or virtual options.
• Define Purpose: Share the zine’s core question: "Has this conversation with an AI made me more capable of facing another human being?" Emphasize curiosity, care, and no hierarchies.

Step 2: Structuring Meetings

Follow the "Kitchen Table Edition" structure:

1. Check-In (10 min): Each member shares recent AI use (e.g., chatting with Grok, using AI for work/creativity).
2. Story Sharing (20 min): One member presents an AI conversation transcript, focusing on emotions or patterns (e.g., seeking validation).
3. Collective Reflection (20 min): Discuss using prompts like "How is AI helping vs. replacing human connection?" or "What red flags do we notice?"
4. Commitments (10 min): Set personal goals (e.g., "I’ll discuss an AI topic with a friend this month") and plan follow-ups.

Step 3: Using Zine Tools

• AI Transcript Workshop: Share and annotate an AI conversation to identify anthropomorphism or emotional bypassing. Example: Highlight phrases where AI feels "too perfect."
• Human Translation Exercise: Roleplay an AI chat as a human-to-human conversation to reveal differences in stakes and emotions.
• Graduation Circle: Practice a conversation you’ve had with AI (e.g., a personal dilemma) with the group before sharing it with a real person.
• Buddy Check-In: Pair members for monthly one-on-one talks to discuss AI use and accountability, using prompts like "Am I confessing to AI instead of humans?"

Step 4: Community Agreements

Adopt and adapt the zine’s sample agreements:

• Commit to discussing important AI conversations with humans.
• Check in on AI use supporting, not replacing, human connection.
• Practice speaking uncomfortable truths to each other, not just AI.
• Hold space for mistakes and learning without shame.

Step 5: Addressing Challenges

• Low Participation: Post on X or Reddit to find virtual members. Example: "Starting a mutual aid group for ethical AI use—join us! #AIEthics."
• Digital Divide: Offer offline resources (e.g., printed zines) and partner with libraries for internet access.
• Engagement: Use snacks, storytelling, or guest speakers (e.g., local ethicists) to maintain interest.
• Digital Tool Paradox: Use privacy-focused tools like Signal or Jitsi for virtual meetings to align with mutual aid values.

Step 6: Making It Accessible and Local

• Translate: Create versions in local languages or audio formats for non-readers.
• Involve Diverse Voices: Include elders, youth, and varied cultural perspectives in discussions.
• Connect Locally: Partner with existing mutual aid groups via Mutual Aid Hub or local organizations like meditation or social justice groups.

Step 7: Spreading the Work

• Share the zine (Creative Commons) on social media, community boards, or local events.
• Collect and share group stories (e.g., overcoming AI dependence) to inspire others.
• Report successes/challenges to broader networks like r/AIethics to build a global community.

Resources

• Zine: "The Human Mirror" (Creative Commons, remix freely).
• Books: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam.
• Communities: Mutual Aid Hub, r/AIethics, local meditation/social justice groups.

Commitment

Start small, at your kitchen table or online, with friends or strangers. Prioritize human connection and intentional AI use to shape a future where technology augments, not replaces, our humanity.

Version 1.0 | May 29, 2025 | Made by humans, for humans

Additional Recommendations

• For Individuals: Use the zine’s prompts daily to reflect on AI use (e.g., "What parts of myself stay hidden with AI?"). Limit AI interactions to specific tasks (e.g., brainstorming, not emotional venting) to avoid dependency.
• For Technology Developers: Design AI with transparent limitations (e.g., clear disclaimers about non-sentience) and avoid manipulative anthropomorphism, as suggested by the report.
• For Policymakers: Fund community-based AI literacy programs, leveraging public libraries and mutual aid networks to reach underserved populations.

Conclusion

"The Human Mirror" offers a compelling, community-driven framework to navigate the psychological and social challenges of AI interactions. By fostering Relational AI Fluency through mutual aid, it empowers individuals and communities to use AI intentionally while prioritizing authentic human connections. The provided implementation guide equips you to start a group, addressing practical challenges and ensuring accessibility. By combining the zine’s tools with research-backed strategies, you can build a local or virtual community that counters AI dependency and rebuilds social capital, aligning with the zine’s call to action: "Start with your kitchen table. Start with your friends. Start now."

If you’d like to refine this guide, explore specific tools further, or adapt it for a particular community, let me know!