9 & 10 October | The Social Hub Amsterdam City
Amidst rapid technologisation, polarisation, the climate crisis, and burnout, it can be easy to sink into apathy and despair. But now is the time to gather and find agency, to do something: We need to transform society’s social fabric. How? By listening, nurturing, and repairing our human connections, and shifting from transactions to genuine relationships.
https://society5festival2024.event-hva.nl. (Website now offline after the event)
In a World Dominated by AI and Rapid Technological Shifts, Neurodivergence ‘Matters’ More Than Ever
By Jonathan Evans and Renée Tentori
Playroom
Join us for an engaging 75-minute session exploring neurodivergent representation and identity in an AI-driven world. Facilitated by neurodivergent educators Jonathan Evans and Renée Tentori, this discussion will address the impact of AI and technological shifts on neurodivergent individuals and communities. Through facilitated small group discussions, interactive AI tools, and sensory-friendly breaks, participants will examine both the neuro-inclusive potential and risks of AI, such as algorithmic bias and digital divides.
This session promotes a neuro-inclusive, multimodal approach, inviting all neurotypes to contribute to the conversation on redefining “normal” in our rapidly evolving society. As an active audience you will be contributing to an emerging research field and agenda that moves away from what Dr Robert Chapman has termed an “Empire of Normality” to that of societal transformation.
Society 5.0 Festival Schedule
By the time I have written this blog post, the festival website is no longer online – however here’s a copy of the print schedule I took with me.
Design Embassy of Digital Futures: finding a balance when algorithms grant superpowers
This session I attended was described on the programme as below:
When talking about digital futures, often the downsides come up first: How polarisation thrives on social media and how our youth suffers from mental illness due to their online world. However, on the other hand, in digital futures not that far away, you can get access to superpowers; A doctor making a fast and reliable diagnosis, a farmer growing crops without pesticides, or a policeman sending a fine the moment you break a rule. Every superpower has a downside. Every algorithm is meant to create a superpower. Join the discussion on how we can find a balance.
The embassy of digital futures, part of worlddesignembassies.com explores how society shapes the digital transformation.
I really enjoyed this small group discussion.
Other sessions
There were many other very interesting sessions, sadly I couldn’t visit many, but am listing some below as an insight:
- Civic Society: Increasing citizen’s agency
- Publieke Pioniers: How can AI sustain us?
- Rewinding the internet: an ethics of listening
- Game On: A megagame for AI Ethics
- Transforming the neighbourhood fabric with Hoodbots
- Artivism: can we make social change with art?
- How to Time-travel: talking and listening to our future selves to live better and work together on what really matters
- Addressing mental health through (social) media
- I am a Robot and I need therapy
- The future of social
- Better connected by design: where capabilities meet context
- Design for Collective Decision Making
- Measuring democracy in dynamic digital media
- Next reality: a shared vision for the future
- The Lonely society: how do we find each other again?
- Caring & Repairing X Keeping it Local Fisherman Sweaters
- How to make a podwalk?
- Assist your AI
- Step into their shoes: An exploration into VR and gender
- Jazz improvisation – bounded creativity and positive ethics
Smart Phone Orchestra
The festival ended with a smart phone orchestra.
Society 5.0 in 2025?
The Society 5.0 Festival should be back in Amsterdam in 2025….I’ll aim to update this post with a link once I have further details. Meanwhile you’re welcome to reach out to me on LinkedIn if you’d like to ask anything
The Social Hub Connectivity Dinner
Some of us were invited to continue the day with a delicious dinner at The Social Hub.
Zestee 