NeighborMind: A Human-Centered Singularity Win at DevFest GemJam 🌍
TL;DR
At DevFest GemJam 2025, I joined the Company Pitch (Singularity) Track led by Christi Kapp — a futuristic challenge about designing AI that surpasses human intelligence without losing our humanity. My project, NeighborMind: AI for Empathy and Local Impact, won first place 🏆! The experience reminded me that empathy — not dominance — is what defines the true future of AI.
This year’s DevFest GemJam wasn’t your typical hackathon. I joined the Company Pitch (Singularity) Track, led by our GDG founder and DataPsy, Inc. CEO, Christi Kapp, who posed one bold question:
“How can we build a company that triggers the Singularity — the moment AI surpasses human intelligence — while preserving human dignity, creativity, and agency?”
No pressure, right? 😅
💡 What Was the Challenge About?
Christi’s vision for this track wasn’t just technical — it was philosophical. We were asked to design a business for Event Horizon Labs, a company responsible for shaping a human-centered Singularity. The kind of challenge that makes you question everything from ethics to economics.
This track encouraged participants to blend philosophy, design, and technology. It wasn’t just about writing code; it was about imagining a company that could actually trigger the Singularity.
We had to think about:
- Business models in a post-AI economy
- Governance systems that protect human rights
- The moral, emotional, and social impact of coexisting with intelligent machines
Christi called it “a bold new experiment in civilization design,” and she was right. And that’s where NeighborMind was born.
🌱 Introducing NeighborMind
NeighborMind started with a simple question: What if our neighborhoods could feel our needs before we even said them out loud?
In my hometown of Ocala, Florida, I’ve seen what happens when systems break — when food banks run out, or people can’t find help even when it’s nearby.
NeighborMind aims to fix that by using empathetic AI agents that listen, learn, and connect people to food, education, jobs, and emotional support. A decentralized network of empathetic AI agents “Neighbor Agents” is designed to listen, learn, and connect people with local resources like food assistance, education, mental health support, or volunteer programs.
Each city or region can host its own “Neighbor Node,” giving communities control while sharing anonymized empathy data globally and forming a living network that learns how to care.
How It Works
NeighborMind sustains itself through a freemium and partner model.
It’s free for individuals, and anyone can find local help or volunteer. Partners like nonprofits, city agencies, and schools can subscribe to advanced tools:
- 📊 Real-time community analytics
- 🔮 Predictive dashboards that spot food shortages before they happen
- 🫱🏽🫲🏼 Volunteer matching and sentiment tracking tools
An Open API that Developers can use to extend empathy algorithms. Each region runs its own Neighbor Node, ensuring data stays local, transparent, and communities stay in control.
These subscriptions fund the platform while keeping public access free.
“In Ocala, a coalition of food banks could subscribe together — paying just a small monthly fee to see where help is needed most and which families haven’t been reached.”
A community-driven platform that brings impact with empathy. ❤️
Built with Human Guardrails
One of the biggest challenges in this track was designing ethical safeguards.
NeighborMind is built around four core guardrails:
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🤝 Human-in-the-Loop – Every AI recommendation requires human confirmation.
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🌱 Dignity by Design – The system empowers, not replaces.
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💬 Empathy Metrics – We measure success through well-being, not clicks.
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🔍 Transparency Hub – Every decision is traceable and explainable.
These ensure AI remains an assistant to human compassion, not an authority over it. Making NeighborMind less of a product and more of a promise.
Scaling the Singularity
Every “Neighbor Node” learns empathy patterns unique to its community on what works, what doesn’t, and how people connect best.
Those lessons are shared across the network, forming what I like to call a “Global Empathy Graph.”
Imagine if one city’s AI learns how to improve literacy or reduce loneliness, and that insight instantly helps another city do the same.
That’s how we trigger the Singularity through empathy — not through domination, but through symbiosis.
- Humans bring the why: ethics, compassion, creativity.
- AI brings the how: speed, scale, and pattern recognition.
Together, they create a smarter, kinder world. 💫
🙏 The Moment of the Win
When Michael Rosario announced the winners and I heard my name called for the Company Pitch (Singularity) Track, I was speechless.
I wasn’t just proud of my project, I was proud of our entire GDG community.
This track reminded me why I love what I do and why innovation isn’t just about code. It’s about people, purpose, and progress.
Huge thanks to Christi Kapp for her visionary track, to Michael and the GDG Team for organizing such a meaningful event, and to everyone who built something extraordinary that weekend.
💖 Acknowledging the Other Winners
Congratulations to every winner and participant across all tracks. Your creativity and drive made this event memorable.
👉 See all Hackathon Winners here
🚀 Looking Ahead
NeighborMind started as a hackathon idea, but I believe it can grow into something real, a framework for AI that listens to humans first.
We’re entering a new age where empathy must be built into the systems we create. The future isn’t about machines replacing people. It’s about AI helping us remember what makes us human.
“The Singularity doesn’t have to mean losing control; it can mean gaining connection.”
Related resources
- 📑 Company Pitch Presentation Slides
- 📄 Business Document
- 💬 Q&A Notes
- ▶️ Watch my Presentation on YouTube
🤝 Let’s Connect
I love sharing, teaching, and learning with others:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/technologic
- Bluesky: @code-vista.bsky.social
- GDG CF Discord: Join our server
👉 Join our community at GDG Central Florida for workshops, meetups, and more!
"As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership" ~ Amit Ray, Spiritual Master, Author, and Pioneer of the Compassionate AI Movement
¡Hasta la próxima!
– Javi (Software Engineer & GDG Community Organizer)
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