Augmented Society Network

Written By Zoe Camper, Las Vegas Welcome to The RSA’s Augmented Society thematic network. When you have time to look up from your hectic life to see what technology has changed, it might be too late.  You will be living a life controlled by data driven systems that match you and your activities with the actions and wants of a prevailing dominant tribe. Everything you see, hear, touch or taste will have been augmented. Will you fit in? Will you be an outcast?  At CES in Las Vegas this year Ginni Rometty, current chair, president, and CEO of IBM, said that only 1% of the data that is possible to collect has been collected, that is an incredible thing to consider.  We are having to adjust the scale that we use to imagine the world in 5 years’ time to the one Ginni is seeing. It is disturbing, hard to digest in terms of impact and I am compelled to explore and question what that future holds for society as a whole. Society has undergone many step changes but this is different

Some might ask why this is important to me. The thing is, it's important to all of us, but not everyone is in a position to truly consider implications that go far beyond their day-to-day lives. This Network seemed to be an amazing opportunity to make a difference... Following numerous interactions and great conversations about society’s future augmented by technology at conferences and meetings around the world, three things have become increasingly clear: What the future holds in terms of AI, XR, Blockchain, Robotics, and any other buzzwords (that may or may not have yet been coined) is extremely exciting and energizing. We are very much still in the “Wild West” phase where everything goes and, perhaps, too much is focused on minutiae rather than the bigger picture. As a society, we don’t yet know what we’re truly dealing with and are not putting enough resources into discourse and discovery of the possibilities and concerns as the

What is this? This is an RSA Thematic Network founded in 2019 by two RSA Fellows with a passion for humankind. We are concerned and excited about the impact technology is having on society and will continue to have in the coming weeks, decades and centuries. We bring insight, news and transparency to complex subject areas helping make sense of topics that include: The future of work, Ethical AI, Augmented society, and the quest for Superintelligence. This is a collaborative platform for discussion and a safe place for powerful thinking and dialog for fellows and non-fellows alike. Why would I read it? Regular insight created by those involved in areas you care deeply about and want to affect change in. Collaborative story-telling that will inform and shine a light on complex topics. This is a knowledge sharing space to enable conversation and creation.  This will be shaped by your  passion and mutual interest in our collective experiences of an augmented society. How d