Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Presents: Who Owns the Future?

The future is being automated. But who gets to own it?

As AI becomes more powerful, decisions about technology, infrastructure and democracy are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few organisations.

What if we could build something different?

Join Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for an evening exploring how local AI, community-owned computing and decentralised systems could put power back into people's hands.

Not just another panel about the future. An opportunity to meet the people building alternatives — and see some of the technology working.

What to expect - Live technology demonstrations — emerging tools and real-world applications. - Local and conversational AI — exploring AI that people and communities can control. - Community compute — new approaches to shared infrastructure and ownership. - Decentralised democracy — how technology might enable more meaningful participation and collective decision-making. - Conversations and connections — meet builders, thinkers, technologists and curious people over food and drinks.

The bigger question

If automation changes how society works, who should benefit?

The companies that own the machines? Or the people whose lives they transform?

We think that's a question worth exploring together.

Come curious. Bring ideas. Help build what's next.

No specialist technical knowledge required. Just an interest in the future and who gets to shape it.

Draft note: Event time is provisional (6:30–9:30 pm) and subject to confirmation.