Beyond Foresight-as-Usual

Since 2008, London Futurists have been meeting to compare and contrast ideas about possible profound disruptions ahead.

On Monday 15th December, we'll be bringing these discussions bang up-to-date, as we collectively consider what the events in 2025 may prefigure as potential larger opportunities and risks in the next few years.

We'll be gathering in Ye Olde Cock Tavern in Fleet Street, for a special pre-Christmas set of reflections with the theme "Beyond Foresight-as-Usual".

Because the venue has many other demands on its space at this time of year, they are asking us on this occasion to submit our food orders in advance. Therefore, anyone who RSVPs Yes to attend is asked to review the menu options here and to enter their order in advance in this Google Form - by 8th December.

== Schedule ==

5:30pm: The room is available, for early get-togethers
6pm-6:45pm: Food is served and eaten; informal conversations
6:45pm-8:30pm: Interactive scenario planning and review, interspersed with opportunities to visit the bar
8:30pm: Informal networking

== Interactive scenarios for 2030 ==

Rohit Talwar, Global Futurist and CEO of Fast Future, will be leading us on a joint interactive exercise as we consider scenarios for 2030 along two primary axes of uncertainty:

• AI Adoption: AI offering tools that benefit all humanity, vs. AI increasingly controlling lives, businesses, governments, and the economy
• Geopolitical landscape: Increasing cohesion with stronger global institutions, vs. Multipolar fragmentation and failing institutions

Other factors that may feature in various scenarios that different groups can decide to explore include:

• China-ascendant vs. US-dominant
• India changes everything vs. Europe changes everything
• Religions revive vs. secularism rises
• Universal Generous Income vs. unprecedented inequality
• Cryptocurrencies take over vs. Cryptobubble deflates
• Climate chaos vs. transition to green economy
• Human relationships wither vs. Humanity rediscovers human uniqueness
• Rejuvenation for all vs. Two-tier health system
• "1984" (frightened into acquiescence) vs. "Brave New World" (distracted into acquiescence)
• Democracy vs. Oligarchy
• Cyber-hackers uncontrollable vs. Privacy and security preserved

== RSVP please ==

Registrations are capped at 40 people.

First-time attendees are welcome.

There's no charge to register or attend, but the pub will expect everyone to order at least one drink, and the majority of attendees to pre-order some food to eat.

All being well, all plates will be set aside by 6:45pm to allow everyone to concentrate on the main discussion!

== More about the venue ==

Ye Olde Cock Tavern, 22 Fleet Street, Holborn, London, EC4Y 1AA

See https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/ye-olde-cock-tavern

We'll be meeting in the room at the top of the stairs, though drinks should be ordered from the bar on the ground floor.

** Note that this is an in-person meeting, and there will be no remote access, sorry **