Speculative prototyping is essential for understanding the future of work and technology, enabling organizations to navigate complex social dynamics and innovate effectively.
This edition explores the evolving landscape of work and labor in the age of AI, emphasizing the role of human supervision in algorithm-driven tasks. It investigates the implications of personal intelligence devices as potential witnesses in legal contexts, highlighting the importance of speculative prototyping in understanding the social dynamics of technology. The newsletter features innovations like Scape's neurotinctures and cognitive resonance adaptagens, discusses the emergence of "delivery stewards" in autonomous delivery systems, and examines the legal ramifications of...
newsletter speculative
Jun 08, 2026
Advertising and visual culture shape our understanding of future possibilities; *RoboCop* exemplifies this through its satirical lens on capitalism and bodily autonomy.
This edition investigates the intersection of vernacular visual culture and advertising, emphasizing how signage and storefronts serve as visual portals to near futures. A visit to Rick Griffith's studio inspires reflections on the material culture of advertising, revealing its role in projecting societal hopes and fears. The newsletter also critiques *RoboCop* (1987) as a corporate satire, highlighting its unique worldbuilding through a satirical news format. Additionally, it introduces the concept of an annual report from the future, blending...
newsletter discovery
Jun 02, 2026
Art and technology are intertwined; understanding their history and context is crucial for navigating future implications and innovations.
This edition examines the evolving relationship between art and technology, highlighting a citizens' assembly in Italy focused on future societal structures, and the launch of a new speculative impacts unit at OpenAI. It reflects on the historical context of art+tech through influential books, including MoMA's *Talk to Me*, and discusses the implications of Matt Webb's Poem/1 clock, which generates poetry in real-time, raising questions about AI's role in creativity. The newsletter also features insights on local AI developments,...
newsletter discovery
May 26, 2026
Everyday Intelligence signifies the integration of AI into daily life, transforming how we perceive agency, trust, and ordinary interactions with technology.
This edition explores the concept of Everyday Intelligence, examining how AI integrates into daily life beyond mere automation, influencing rituals, devices, and decision-making. It discusses the Future Mundane, emphasizing the importance of tangible representations of the future in products and experiences. The TBD Catalog is highlighted for its role in making future concepts accessible and relatable. A review of the ORACULATOR illustrates how everyday objects can embody intelligence in practical ways. The newsletter also features the Relational Citation...
newsletter discovery
May 21, 2026
Imagination is essential for navigating future possibilities; it should be treated as a strategic asset that informs decision-making and organizational structure.
This edition highlights the upcoming Office Hours event, scheduled for May 22nd, featuring open discussions on design, culture, futures, and creative practice. It introduces a thought-provoking design fiction dispatch titled "Corporate Superintelligence," which explores a future where an AI named Mark replaces traditional corporate hierarchies, streamlining decision-making processes. The narrative envisions a workplace where an AI Chief Executive Officer governs based on the preferences of a single executive, fundamentally altering the dynamics of organizational structure and strategy. Additionally,...
newsletter discovery
May 17, 2026
The balance between creative exploration and deployment logic is crucial for understanding the implications of AI in artistic practices.
Exploring the intersection of wonder and deployment reveals the complexities of creative processes in the age of AI. The Rhizome 7x7 livestream showcased collaborations between artists and scientists, emphasizing the excitement of experimentation before understanding its implications. The discussions highlighted the tension between creative exploration and the deployment logic that seeks to extract value from these innovations. As AI tools reshape music creation, the conversation shifts to the implications of agency, authorship, and the evolving role of human...