NEWS

Resident applications are live

The application form is now live and our first new residents are already starting to move in! 🥳

Do you know someone who would fit the program? Here’s what we’re looking for

Send them the link or apply yourself today 👇

Renovations are full speed ahead

The renovations are full speed ahead and during spring we will have capacity to welcome a handful of carefully selected residents each month. Have a look at our first apartments here!

Visual identity/design help needed + new name?

We’re looking for a senior visual brand designer to support the creation of a visual identity for the project. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any strong recommendations, or if you’d like to help yourself.

Help us brainstorm alternative names for the project! Give us your 3 best ideas HERE. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

The first gatherings and events have already started taking place in the beautiful space out here at Lakefront and there is so much more to come.

For the spring we are planning intimate gatherings, concerts, wellness events, lightning talks, open brave stage events, speakers, master classes, and more!

On Feb 16th we will have our first (of hopefully many) Lakefront Lightning Talks. More info 👇

FROM THE MINDS OF OUR CHANGEMAKERS

Sebnem Erener is the latest resident at Lakefront, dedicated to helping the world steer towards a development of ethical use and awareness around AI. Originally from Turkey, Sebnem is today the Head of AI Legal Regulatory Ethics at Klarna. She advocates for life-centric deployment of AI and the protection of human rights, democracy and ethical principles in the digital age.

What does “AI Legal Regulatory Ethics” mean, what do you do?

I work at the crossroads of law, tech, business, and ethics, making sure AI systems are as responsible as they are revolutionary. Think of me as a legal architect for the future - helping companies navigate complex regulations while embedding values like human autonomy, fairness, explainability, transparency, and harm prevention into their AI systems. It’s a mix of philosophy, pragmatism, creativity, and innovation, balancing the need to push boundaries with the responsibility to protect people and the planet. It’s about designing a future where technology doesn’t just work - it works for everyone.

What is your view on how AI and its development should be regulated?

First off, let’s clear up a common myth—it’s not “AI” as a whole that’s regulated. AI is a field of technology, not a single thing you can control with laws. What gets regulated are specific AI systems, especially those with risks tied to autonomy, decision-making, or adaptability - kind of like how we regulate pharmaceuticals or financial products because of their impact. AI regulation isn’t about killing innovation; it’s about stopping the tech equivalent of a runaway train. The best approach combines a universal rulebook - principles like fairness and transparency - with industry-specific guidelines for sectors like healthcare or finance. We need a system that’s flexible enough to evolve with the tech but firm enough to rein in the risks. If we get this right, AI can change the world without breaking it. My main suggestion to anyone in this conversation would be to think with "nuances", and avoid taking pro/against sides.

What resources can help us understand AI’s potential to reshape humanity—and how we ensure it does so ethically?

You should definitely follow the talks and events happening at Lakefront during fall 2025 - world-leading AI researchers, scientists, philosophers, and entrepreneurs will gather here to create prototypes of the AI futures we prefer and desire. You can also follow me on social media, where I share insights from my work and conversations with leading thinkers during residencies and conferences.

For further reading, here are a few great starting points:

• Human Compatible by Stuart Russell

• The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman

• AI Ethics by Mark Coeckelbergh

• Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI (European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on AI)

• The “Technology and the Human” section of Noema Magazine

• Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford

• The Stack by Benjamin Bratton

That’s it for now!

Hope to see you soon out here!

/The Project Lakefront initiators