Matt Haikin, Possible Now Stitching Fellow (UK)

For me, Possible Now is as much about exploring exciting new potential as it is finding ways to resist what is “Probable Now” if we don’t find ways to influence the way things are developing. And with my background in tech and digital development, AI is clearly the frontline for this tension.

AI is transforming business and society faster than we know how to respond. The opportunities and potential benefits are huge, as are the risks of harm and of simply being left out of the conversation entirely.

In the lead up to the Summit, I will be exploring how the #ShiftThePower community can engage with AI – safely, responsibly, to use it to further our mission, while mitigating or minimizing negative impacts and, of course, underpinning it all, exploring whether we can realistically have any influence over shaping the way the technology itself is developing. This may be through seeking to influence the tech giants but, far more likely, will be through using and supporting locally-led alternative AI tools and models.

My fellow Possible Now Stitching Fellow Facundo Ibarlucia and I will be convening a series of conversations to surface reflections and lived experience from across the network to feed into a planned AI Lab at Kathmandu Summit, which I am very excited about.

Want to join the conversations? Read more here and sign up here!