An insightful and inspiring analysis of our collective response to the rapid rise of AI; and the role of open, participatory government for managing complex systems (like societies and economies) that can successfully adapt to change.

I really enjoyed your review of Future Shock and re-examination of Alvin Toffler's "strategies for survival", to consider what democracy could look like — and needs to look like — in a digital society.

I think there's still a long way to go, before public services are run in a way that is participatory and iterative by default. However, I love the idea of a jury service model to engage and stimulate diverse views on the future we want and how to get there. It seems like a practical and workable place to start.

I was especially intrigued by the suggestion that we suffer from a lack of utopian ideas and visions of possible futures - and that Toffler described the necessary democratic reforms as "new information systems".

In an environment of information abundance, we've become rampant information consumers and creators. We talk a lot about collaboration, but I think we've forgotten the importance of contemplation – and I feel that's a really important component for "imagination infrastructures". Although they might start with a flash of inspiration, imagined scenarios and solutions take time to fully materialise.

Thanks for the link to Cassie Robinson's work – I was definitely glad to see Archives get a mention! The idea of drawing on wisdom and imagination, again and again over time, seems particularly appropriate for your review of Future Shock, highlighting how timely and relevant these strategies are today – more than 50 years after they were first proposed.