Such a compelling post! While we strongly advocate for in-person communication, it appears that it's not a simple case of choosing one over the other.
Why I’m planning to invest millions into communes, outdoor activities, community businesses and digital detox’s. Let me explain… 🤖 In a world dominated by AI, advanced technology, and relentless digital optimisation, we're on the brink of a significant societal counter-movement. As our lives become increasingly intertwined with screens and algorithms, at Flight Fund Fund we believe a powerful counter-movement is already taking place: the desire to disconnect, reconnect with nature, build real-world community and embrace a more human-centric way of living. Throughout history, polar opposites become popular together! 💻 When digital music revolutionised the music industry, vinyl records made an unexpected comeback. 🍔 As fast food chains proliferated, the slow food movement emerged, emphasising local, sustainable, and carefully prepared real food. 👗When fast fashion took hold the slow fashion industry emerged offering ethically made, sustainable long-lasting clothing like Patagonia and Everlane. Now, we're witnessing the early signs of a similar phenomenon because of algorithms and AI. Accordingly, some of the most exciting businesses I’m looking at for investment right now are either building AI and algorithms…. or they’re building the exact opposite - communes, nature retreats, IRL community, digital detoxes and solutions that combat ioslation and loneliness. I see the future as a juxtaposition between high-tech optimisation and a return to simpler, more connected ways of living, so I’m betting on both. This is not a contradiction. This, I believe, will be the reality of all of our lives (providing you don’t go off-grid completely). We will deeply embed AI into our everyday lives (like we did with the internet), but we’ll also have an increased desire to get away from it all. Businesses that are building the counter-movement are incredibly well placed right now. To be clear, AI & Technology is not the enemy - it will improve our lives, health and society for the better in many profound ways. And, humans are not going to abandon their innate desire for connection, purpose, nature and community, regardless of how smart our computers get. What do you think? Are we on the cusp of a new societal counter trend? Are you seeing it already? What are you favourite companies that are building in the loneliness, anti-digital, pro-connection, pro-community space?