9) Wow! or Yeow?! 2026: tomorrow;
10) My conversation with James of Ârc.
And don't miss the preamble to the newsletter:
6 reasons why it's never been harder to predict the future, and 7 profound trends that, nevertheless, seem likely to continue.
londonfuturists.com/2026/01/29/s...

4) Participatory and Deliberative Democracy in the Digital Age: Thu 5th Feb;
5) Learning With Machines: Sat 7th Feb;
6) What We Must Never Give Away to AI: Tue 10th Feb;
7) Freaky Futures and Fabulous Futures: Fri 13th Feb;
8) My conversation with Ezra Chapman;
(continued)

Our panellists will be reflecting on their own experiences over the last 12 months, and offering advice for wiser use of AI systems in a range of important life tasks. For more details, and to register to attend this live London Futurists webinar, see www.meetup.com/london-futur...

When we use AI, how can we handle the chaos of too much information, the distractions of superficiality, the vulnerabilities of expediency, the treachery of hype, the deceit of hallucinations, and the shrivelling of human capability in the wake of abdication of responsibility?

Ahead of the two events, here are some ideas to start the freaky/fabulous conversation rolling. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own ideas too. After all, to improve our preparedness for future shocks, we need the insight and wisdom from multiple different perspectives!

The Discord Swarm is open to all members and friends of London Futurists members worldwide, and no RSVP is required. For the joining instructions, see the abovementioned meetup page

PS Although the in-the-pub gathering on 13th February has no remote access, some of us will be previewing potential lines of "freaky futures and fabulous futures" discussion at an online Discord Swarm event at 7:30pm UK time on Wednesday 28th January.

And we'll consider scenarios in which several of these freaky/fabulous changes interact - that's when the really mind-boggling timelines emerge. For more details, and to RSVP to attend, see www.meetup.com/london-futur...

Beyond simply debating the plausibility and desirability of various possible radical near-term changes in human experience, we'll also be collectively exploring what options we may have to influence which of these futures come into reality, and in what form.

The session is expected cover the entire FDA landscape, from drugs, devices, digital technology, and vaccines to food and nutritional products.

With all the firepower lined up as panellists, it should be an excellent event!

It was striking that both Demis and Dario wish that the timelines to AGI could be longer than currently seems likely. Demis remarked: "The technical risk problem is... tractable... if we have the time". The condition is very important

"Endless debates on lifespan vs. healthspan just give people without new ideas a platform to speak" - indeed

Watch the entire conversation, with its many autobiographical insights, and lessons that can be learned from the rise and fall of Symbian smartphones, here on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wAT...

Matt O'Neill and I will be facilitating an online interactive conversation on that subject on 10th February. More details at www.meetup.com/london-futur...