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ESWhat Happened
Our final K-Lab of 2025 was as impactful as it was thought-provoking. Back in December, we gathered online to discuss the concept of—Disruption. What it is, how it happens, how it’s unfolding presently in our lives. I learned a lot from our group and considered the topic from angles I wouldn’t have thought about on my own.
Diverse Thinkers
Our valued participants, who tuned in from across the world, all had important thoughts to add to the conversation. For example, below you’ll the work of three different participants working together to flesh out an understanding of how the internet collapses distance and gatekeeping world-wide.
Since everyone is encouraged to embrace their agency and actively participate, we got to experience what each person brought to the conversation. In addition to joining the conversation live, people can choose to participate asynchronously. Meaning you can contribute ideas on your own time!
Disruptions Throughout History
On the topic of Disruption, here are some significant events over human-history that changed the direction of the world:
1440: Gutenberg invents the Printing Press and completely changes our ability to share information
1760: The Industrial Revolution begins and the increase in manufacturing creates a level of material abundance never before seen in human history
1970s: The invention of the Personal Computer. A significant feature being advanced word processing capabilities–before the PC people relied on type-writers
1983: Invention of the Internet! Talk about disruption. As you’re well-aware this technology which turned modern life of its head by providing the individual and with access unprecedented to information Late 1990s: The Internet is common amongst households following the release of Windows 95
2010s: Smartphones are commonplace. Calculator, navigation tool, mobile phone, and flashlight, these are just some of the tools we now have at our fingertips.
This brings to mind the disruptions that we are currently living through:
2026: Both the internet and artificial intelligence play a central role in our society both socially and economically. This has benefits and challenges:
The Benefits:
- Ease of access to information
- A globally connected population
- Increased ability to reach people (phone, text, video call)
- Increased productivity
The Challenges:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Internet addiction
- Information overload / paralysis
- Increased awareness leading to a feeling of powerlessness
Living Through Disruption
Living through disruption, although not a new experience in human history, is destabilizing and creates a feeling of uncertainty and apprehension. With the increasing sophistication of Artificial Intelligence these feelings are palpable. It’s as though we’re on the edge of our seats waiting to see what will happen. Will AI become an era-defining disruption? It seems very possible. And perhaps AI isn’t the only technology that will send waves through our day-to-day lives. Perhaps there are elements of today’s society that we’re not consciously recognizing as massively disruptive—things we will only be able to identify in hindsight. But that’s enough speculation for now, I’ll wait for the next K-Lab to expand on these ideas.
K-Lab as Disruption
Information overload can paralyze and leave us in a state of hopelessness. During a time when isolation, confusion and powerlessness are commonplace—the Knowledge Lab creates a disruption by providing a means of connection.
By encouraging presence, open-mindedness and non-judgement, a K-Lab facilitates the shift from passive consumption to active construction. There is no prerequisite knowledge or specific expertise required— all voices are welcome and valued.
In fact, by sharing the mental load of considering these big topics, we’re taking away the pressure and instead creating a spacious environment where there are no bad ideas.
If you would like to stay tuned for details about our next K-Lab, sign up here. We would love for you to join us.
Until next time!
-the Team at AIA