New World Same Humans
New World Same Humans is a newsletter on trends, technology, and society. And a community for those on a mission to build a better shared future.
The newsletter is the core of my work. It’s where I get to shape, test, and iterate my thinking on where we’re at now, where we’re heading next, and what it all means.
Every Wednesday, subscribers get a new instalment of New Week, my first draft thinking on this week’s happening in trends, technology, and our shared future.
And in long form monthly essays I dive deeper into the big questions that underpin my work. What is the nature of technological modernity? What is the nature of a human being, and the human collective? What new forms of human life are possible, and desirable?
Subscribers also get access to the Slack group. A podcast, featuring conversations with the leading thinkers and builders, is coming soon.
We started out as a small tribe back in January 2020. Now, we've grown to encompass 22,000+ founders, insight professionals, strategists, designers, futurists, marketers, academics, policy makers and more. Join us!
What readers say
I find New World Same Humans to be essential reading every week. David’s anchor theme – how humans are affected by changes in the world, especially tech – is of central importance to our times and how we should think.
Mark Curtis, Co-Founder, Fjord, Head of Thought Leadership Accenture Song.
My favourite weekend reading. Challenging and provocative, inviting us into a deeper conversation about issues at the heart of business and government. I always come away with ideas that I'm playing with for the rest of the week.
Anjali Puri, Global Director, Qualitative Offer and Experise, Kantar.
David Mattin is the best writer among all futurists and trendspotters globally. I've waded through countless newsletters and blogs looking for insights to share with my clients, so I know what I’m talking about. Irresistable, and professionally invaluable.
New Week #85
This week, crypto pioneer Vitalik Buterin imagines a world transformed by decentralization. Also, new research suggests climate change is happening even faster than we thought. And Japanese toymakers Tomy reimagine the bedtime story, with a little help from AI.
Go here to read on…
Essay: Our Coming Robot Utopia
Alphabet's new robot will tidy your kitchen. But will it liberate us, or keep us prisoner?
Consider two tasks, and their evolution across six decades. The first task is to name the capital of Tanzania; the second is to make a cup of tea.
So, a thought experiment: it’s 1961, and you’ve forgotten the name of the Tanzanian capital. You have that old World Atlas lying around the house somewhere; where is it? You search your bookshelves for a few minutes, and then remember that the dog ate your World Atlas. Now what? Maybe call someone?
Go here to read on…
Essay: The Four Futures Framework
The Four Futures framework can help you plan for what's next. It might even change your life.
This week I want to share with you a framework for thinking about the future. I hope it can help bring clarity to your thinking on where you’re at – as an organisation, business, or individual – and where you should head next.
This framework is by Professor James Dator, one of the fathers of futures studies in the US. It’s widely considered his most important contribution to the field. Dator first developed this framework in the 1970s, and it has formed the basis of much of his life’s work since then.
Go here to read on…