About us
This group is for people who are interested in the future and maybe want to help shape it.
The acceleration of technology means that the near future may bring radical changes to all of us. Major developments in technologies like anti-aging, nanotech, genetics, computing, robotics, and geo-engineering are going to make the next few years very exciting - and possibly also very dangerous. We could gain god-like powers - but we might also lose sight of our humanity, and destroy everything that we used to hold dear.
What's your view? Are things improving? Too slowly or too quickly? Are we are entering a new golden age? Or is the potential "Technological Singularity" something to fear? What does it mean to talk about "Human 2.0" and "Humanity+"? Or perhaps you view such talk as techno-hype? Maybe you just like the practical side of technology and want to find out more about possible paradigm shifts?
Anybody is welcome to this group - you don't have to be a Techno Geek or work for some futuristic company to be in our group. The future applies to us all!
Come join in the debate - have your opinions voiced and maybe make some interesting new friends.
All we ask is that members treat each other with the respect they would want for themselves. Our group has members of many ages and backrounds. We have many different perspectives on what the future may bring and like to share different ideas with each other. We approach the future with a open mind and sense of humility. Our group mission is to introduce you to some of the ideas, advancements and people who are making our future happen today.
If you have a subject you would like us to discuss at a meetup just drop us a line.
Note: Videos of some of the previous meetings are available on our YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/user/LondonFuturists/ and here: (Older Archive).
Upcoming events
1
Strengthening the spiral of technoprogressive trust
Ye Olde Cock Taverne (Holborn), 22 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1AA, London, GBWhich aspects of the technoprogressive programme are the most distinctive and urgent? Which new legislative policies most deserve to be championed? What strategy should we follow, to increase the chance of strengthening a growing community of trust, that in turn causes significant real-world change? How should the programme be branded? Which bridges with potential allies should be prioritised? Which blindspots may we be overlooking? And what are the landmines that could derail the positive progress we anticipate?
These are examples of questions likely to be discussed in this gathering of the extended London Futurists community in Ye Olde Cock Tavern in Fleet Street, from 6pm onward on Thursday 22nd October.
This meeting is a follow-up to the two-day event that was held on 19-20 September, The Technoprogressive Opportunity, but people who couldn't attend that will be welcome - as will newcomers.
== Provocateurs and catalysts ==
The following have kindly agreed to present some ideas to frame sections of this meeting:
Nick Walker, a medical doctor with a PhD in AI, who is Chief Science Officer of the AI-driven invention company Iprova:
- Nick will share a short viewpoint on why AI won't kill us all, why AI won't steal our jobs and why current AI is not conscious and why that is a good thing. He'll also provide an assessment of what has been called "the new Luddites".
Hardeep Kaur, Creative Director of Per Se Studio, a strategic storytelling studio, and Founding Steward of Age of the Steward, a knowledge commons platform for a wiser, care oriented, planetary culture:
- What if long-term care and responsibility were the starting point for how we build, govern and decide? What changes in our institutions, technologies and policies when stewardship becomes the way we orient our work?
Isabel Serval, Founder at Traversing Futures, and lead at Signal Club - a long-term governance and futures thinking community:
- Nobody's having kids. So what? Emerging awareness of birth rate decline and subsequent long-term population decline tends to be followed by panic, and treated like a bad thing by default. But only a few years ago the world was panicking about overpopulation. Let's challenge assumptions and judgements when looking at a fictional scenario for the demographic future of London.
== Schedule ==
5:30pm: The room is available for early get-togethers
6pm-6:15pm: A chance for everyone to order drinks and socialise
6:15pm: Pre-ordered food will be served (don't be late for this!)
6:20pm (approx): In parallel, we'll encourage everyone to introduce themselves to the group, and to briefly share what's on their mind relevant to the themes of the event
6:40pm (approx): A mix of formal and informal conversations, including breaks to visit the bar
8:30pm: Optional informal networking continues== This meeting is free to attend, but... ==
There's no charge to register or attend, but the pub will expect everyone to order at least one drink, and at least some of us to order some food to eat.
== Food pre-orders ==
The kitchen at the venue has limited capacity and can become busy. The venue therefore asks that attendees at this meeting who wish to eat should fill in this Form in advance (by 6pm on Thursday 15th October, at the latest - that is, one week in advance).
Food ordered in this way will be brought to you at 6:15pm.
If you place any food orders manually at the bar, on the evening, you may be told there will be a long wait.== No remote access, sorry ==
Note that this is an in-person meeting, and there will be no remote access, sorry
== If you change your mind about attending ==
If you register to attend but later change your mind, for whatever reason, please update your status to "Not coming", to assist the organisers in planning the event.
== Another way to register ==
As an experiment, registration for this event is available both here on Meetup and on this Luma page.
(This will provide an opportunity to compare the two platforms.)
11 attendees
Past events
356
