Lots of great ideas here, thanks for putting this together. I am an AI engineer and run a consulting firm, working with US-based pro-development think tanks, as well as on my own projects very much aligned with progress agenda. What's the best way to get involved? So far, I've been to a couple of LFG events, really enjoyed them.
Your article describes the dilemma most Western societies are facing: our institutions are eroding. Pressure surfaces in different ways; institutions react to the pressure, but it has no impact — so they double down, and still, nothing changes.
What’s the answer? Hit the problem harder with more money.
We suspect it won’t help, but we have no idea what else could be done — except you say you do: we need to upgrade our tech stack.
I principally agree with that.
But asking “how do we get this done?” is the wrong question.
Why? Because we can’t do this meaningfully — and your own article presents the evidence for this ‘insight’:
You mention that there is broad consensus around the statement that “if we could improve policy, things would be better.”
I would paraphrase that as:
“Because we don’t know how to improve current policy, things will stay as bad as they are.”
You mention wicked problems and how technology could solve them.
That might be true — but it would also require discarding the frameworks that define wicked problems in the first place, which date back to the 1970s and left us no solution but excuses.
And that’s already the core problem:
We hire thousands of new staff in NHS hospitals — and they treat fewer patients.
We give NHS billions to digitize — and it creates more paperwork, and asks for even more money.
It’s a common dynamic.
Unless we understand why our institutions reward performative competence — and learn to mitigate it — I don’t think the benefits of any technology can be realized.
Conception X!
Lots of great ideas here, thanks for putting this together. I am an AI engineer and run a consulting firm, working with US-based pro-development think tanks, as well as on my own projects very much aligned with progress agenda. What's the best way to get involved? So far, I've been to a couple of LFG events, really enjoyed them.
🔥
Your article describes the dilemma most Western societies are facing: our institutions are eroding. Pressure surfaces in different ways; institutions react to the pressure, but it has no impact — so they double down, and still, nothing changes.
What’s the answer? Hit the problem harder with more money.
We suspect it won’t help, but we have no idea what else could be done — except you say you do: we need to upgrade our tech stack.
I principally agree with that.
But asking “how do we get this done?” is the wrong question.
Why? Because we can’t do this meaningfully — and your own article presents the evidence for this ‘insight’:
You mention that there is broad consensus around the statement that “if we could improve policy, things would be better.”
I would paraphrase that as:
“Because we don’t know how to improve current policy, things will stay as bad as they are.”
You mention wicked problems and how technology could solve them.
That might be true — but it would also require discarding the frameworks that define wicked problems in the first place, which date back to the 1970s and left us no solution but excuses.
And that’s already the core problem:
We hire thousands of new staff in NHS hospitals — and they treat fewer patients.
We give NHS billions to digitize — and it creates more paperwork, and asks for even more money.
It’s a common dynamic.
Unless we understand why our institutions reward performative competence — and learn to mitigate it — I don’t think the benefits of any technology can be realized.
Great summary - keep fighting the good fight
dont forget ya boy
How could we forget - damn. Amended
I couldn't make it to the event last night due to lack of space, but thank you for building this - it's really inspiring. I am in.
Thanks - hope to see you at a future event!
The Centre for British Progress link goes to The Tony Blair Institute
Love the article 🙏
Great read and awesome initiative, keen to see how this progresses!
Very very good stuff in here.
good spot - have changed!