In this edition of the Near Future Laboratory newsletter, I reflect on my trial experience with the Limitless AI Pendant—a wearable device that records daily conversations and offers algorithmically generated summaries. My skepticism kicks in when its suggestions reveal a productivity-obsessed worldview, missing the point of open-ended ideation sessions and even mistaking movie dialogue for real-life actions (congratulations to me on the Catalina Wine Mixer, apparently). This leads to musings on the weird, absurd implications of future AI...

In this week’s Near Future Laboratory newsletter, I serve up four tightly packed items: a recap of the Side Projects edition of Office Hours, a free public workshop at the LA Design Festival, a primer on the strategic function of design fiction artifacts, and a new dispatch from an AI-saturated future. I reflect on how side projects aren’t just creative distractions—they’re critical fuel for meaningful engagement. I invite readers to a hands-on design futures workshop in DTLA, offer...

This week's newsletter is a delightful exploration of what it means to be human. I dive into the realms of creativity, absurdity, and the spaces between logic and chaos. It's an ode to the value of side projects in fostering innovation, and why we should give ourselves permission to indulge in things that don't necessarily make sense.

This newsletter explores the intersection of aging, purpose, and design, highlighting a workshop focused on reimagining longevity beyond simply extending lifespan. It delves into the importance of creative thinking – particularly the role of artists – in navigating an increasingly AI-driven future, examines emerging technologies like SmolVLM, and investigates unsettling trends in publishing like “shitpublishing.” The newsletter also touches upon the need for successor aesthetics to cyberpunk and advocates for integrating creative energy into organizations through workshops and...

This newsletter from Near Future Laboratory explores the shift in creative leadership needed amidst rapid technological change, particularly with AI. It advocates for embracing speculation and “compass-like” thinking over traditional mapping approaches, highlighting tangible prototypes as tools for navigating an uncertain future. The newsletter also features links to resources on futures games, a discussion about AI’s impact on software development jobs, a demonstration of a new AI completion mode in Ghostwriter, a recap of design fiction conversations, and...

The Near Future Laboratory newsletter explores the evolving role of AI through research, prototyping, and speculative design fiction. It highlights a new "Artificial Intelligence Designed Fictions Research Studio," focusing on rapid ideation and creating tangible prototypes to envision potential AI-influenced futures. The newsletter also gets into themes of aging, exploring longevity beyond mere lifespan extension, and examines the impact of AI adoption within the design community, alongside reflections on creative writing, collaboration with AI, and the importance of...