In this thought-provoking discussion, Jerm, Mike, and Charles turned their attention to the World Economic Forum and its place in the global power structure. The three shared a healthy dose of scepticism about the WEF’s actual influence, suggesting that its high-profile, public-facing approach might actually be something of a smokescreen, drawing attention away from other organisations that wield real power behind the scenes. They pondered whether the WEF’s visibility might be inversely related to its true impact, with less conspicuous entities potentially pulling the strings that really matter.
The conversation naturally evolved into broader territory, examining how artificial intelligence and technology are reshaping society in ways that aren’t always obvious. Mike and Charles emphasised the critical importance of preserving human agency in an increasingly automated world, whilst questioning whether our growing appetite for convenience might be leading us down a path we haven’t fully considered.
They seemed particularly concerned about how easily we’re willing to trade autonomy for ease, and whether the culture of convenience that technology promotes might ultimately undermine our ability to think and act independently.