Influencers thinking about the big transitions
A dedicated space for voices who think about balanced growth, artificial intelligence, the singularity, peace, collaboration, innovation and transition: the signals they see coming, and the solutions and next steps they promote.
These frontiers are connected. AI changes work, work changes growth, growth shapes the transition, and none of it holds without peace and collaboration.
We give these seven frontiers their own space because the signals here are often early, disputed and easy to dismiss.
We especially welcome voices that connect two or more frontiers, and voices from communities that are rarely asked. Every contribution can be a signal, a solution, or both.
Balanced growth
Prosperity that stays within planetary limits and reaches more people: wellbeing economies, new measures of progress, sufficiency, and the open debate between green growth and post-growth.
Signals we listen for
- New measures of progress adopted by cities, regions or companies
- Shifts in how people value time, health and community over income
- Tension between growth targets and ecological limits
- Regions or groups left behind by current growth models
Solutions we look for
- Wellbeing budgets and progress dashboards
- Circular, regenerative and sharing business models
- Fair-distribution mechanisms that work in practice
- Policies that make "enough" attractive
Questions on the horizon
- How do we measure progress so it includes people and planet?
- What does a good life look like with less material throughput?
- Who pays for, and who benefits from, a different growth path?
Voices we hope to hear: economists, mayors, business leaders, labour and consumer advocates.
Artificial intelligence
How AI changes work, learning, creativity, public services and power, and how people keep meaningful control over the decisions that matter.
Signals we listen for
- Changes in how people learn, work and create with AI
- Gaps in access between regions, sectors and generations
- Trust incidents: errors, manipulation and misuse
- Communities shaping AI for their own needs
Solutions we look for
- Clear human roles, review points and override rules
- AI literacy for all ages
- Open or locally owned AI for the public interest
- Governance that keeps pace with deployment
Questions on the horizon
- Which decisions should always stay with a person?
- How do we share the gains of AI fairly?
- Which skills will matter most in ten years?
Voices we hope to hear: educators, technologists, union leaders, journalists and ethicists. Related in the family: Sumnetics, human–AI workflow audits for teams.
Singularity
Scenarios of rapidly accelerating technology, including advanced AI, human augmentation and longevity, and what they could mean for identity, meaning and governance.
Signals we listen for
- Claims and evidence about the pace of AI capability
- Breakthroughs in augmentation, biotech and longevity
- Changing ideas of what it means to be human
- Public reactions: hope, fear and indifference
Solutions we look for
- Ways to prepare institutions for very fast change
- Ethical guardrails agreed across borders
- Narratives of meaning and purpose beyond work
- Public deliberation on transformative technologies
Questions on the horizon
- How do societies stay in the loop when change accelerates?
- What should remain uniquely human, by choice?
- Who decides which futures are worth building?
Voices we hope to hear: scientists, philosophers, futurists, artists, and spiritual and youth leaders.
Peace
Preventing conflict and building cohesion in a time of polarisation, disinformation and resource stress, both locally and globally.
Signals we listen for
- Rising or easing tensions in communities and online
- New forms of reconciliation and dialogue
- Information manipulation and its local effects
- Resource and climate pressures that may fuel conflict
Solutions we look for
- Dialogue methods that work across divides
- Fast, trusted local verification of information
- Early warning and mediation by community leaders
- Shared projects that build trust before opinions
Questions on the horizon
- What makes a community resilient to polarisation?
- How can technology help to calm tensions rather than inflame them?
- What does peace require in a changing climate?
Voices we hope to hear: mediators, journalists, faith and youth leaders, and diaspora communities.
Collaboration
New ways for people, organisations and countries to work together: commons, alliances, collective intelligence and shared ambitions.
Signals we listen for
- Cross-sector alliances forming around shared goals
- Digital and natural commons under pressure, or thriving
- Citizens asking for a bigger role in decisions
- Breakdowns of cooperation, and what fills the gap
Solutions we look for
- Models for funding and looking after commons
- Citizens' assemblies and participatory budgets with follow-up
- Open-source and open-science collaboration
- Ways to combine individual aspirations into shared ambitions
Questions on the horizon
- What makes collaboration last after the first meeting?
- How do we share credit, data and risk fairly?
- Where could the public goals of different organisations meet?
Voices we hope to hear: network builders, cooperatives, NGO leaders, open-source communities and diplomats. Related in the family: Aspiration Platform, where public goals could meet.
Innovation
Technical, social and frugal innovation that solves real problems, from deep technology to neighbourhood initiatives.
Signals we listen for
- Grassroots and frugal innovations spreading between regions
- Breakthroughs in energy, health, materials and food
- New funding and ownership models for innovation
- Barriers that keep good ideas from scaling
Solutions we look for
- Innovations ready to be copied or adapted elsewhere
- Open designs and shared knowledge
- Mission-oriented programmes with clear goals
- Ways to involve users and communities from the start
Questions on the horizon
- Which proven solutions are waiting to be scaled?
- How do we judge innovation by its effect on people and planet?
- What would make it easier to copy what works?
Voices we hope to hear: entrepreneurs, makers, researchers, investors and public innovators.
Transition
The shift of energy, food, mobility, housing and work towards sustainability, and making it fair for everyone affected.
Signals we listen for
- Regions and sectors moving faster or slower than expected
- Workers and communities affected by change
- New habits in energy, food and mobility
- Climate impacts that force adaptation
Solutions we look for
- Just-transition approaches with real income security
- Skills pathways for the jobs the transition needs
- Local energy, food and housing solutions
- Plans for climate adaptation and relocation
Questions on the horizon
- How do we make the transition fair as well as fast?
- Which communities need support first?
- What will a good everyday life look like in 2040?
Voices we hope to hear: union leaders, farmers, mayors, engineers and climate scientists.
Thinking at one of these frontiers?
Share what you see coming, or promote what you believe could help. Contributions that connect several frontiers are especially welcome.