Cities, according to Edward Glaeser, have a similar effect: access to more people makes people more creative. Sounds like you might like the book. One could argue, as I would, that 'conversation' is a term that is best loosely applied. When you enter, for example, the Sydney Opera House, to what extent are you having a conversation with its architect? Perhaps some impression or semblance of meaning really gives you an idea about acoustics, geometry or patters in general. I don't think that all projects lead to positive change; there are definitely some mad scientists out there.
You make an excellent point. Indeed, let's remember that we can potentially be in many human & non-human-stimulus "conversations"...and we probably are, in our minds, as we move in various ways through digital and non-digital environments. We can bring these thoughts from the recesses of our minds up into the light of conversation -- and perhaps get a response from a human at hand (real world or digitally) (and sometimes action, and sometimes change).
That's an important distinction to make. Positive change is not guaranteed, even with the best of intentions.