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IxDF: Sustainability, Permacomputing, and AI Ethics

Hosted by IxDF Irvine (California)
May 3rd, 2025
10:00am - 11:30am (UTC -07:00)
Wall Writers Coffee, 7755 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, California
6 IxDF Members (and some non-members) are attending
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Meetup Details

Hi IxDF Irvine (California),

As technology accelerates at a rate beyond predictability we find ourselves on a precipice. Too often, “fast tech” doesn’t consider important ethical areas. We build AI, promising AGI without considering the ethics. We advance tech without considering how this push for “newness” can displace disadvantaged and displaced humans, broadening the gap between “haves and have-nots”. We continue the churn of manufacturing without considering its impact upon our Earthly home and the beautiful life that depends upon it.

As such, I’d like to propose we come together over coffee (or tea!) and have an informal chat around some of these subjects. If nothing else, we can share ideas and find like-minds to network with, or, in the case of our struggling environment, commiserate with.

If you love design and you love the environment and nature - this meetup is for you. 🌿

Meetup Conversation

Christopher R. Baldock

Hi all! Please use this conversation thread to discuss IxDF: Sustainability, Permacomputing, and AI Ethics held on May 4, 2025. Feel free to ask questions about the place, date and time, agenda of the meeting, or anything else. I’ll be coming up with a loose agenda in due course, and will post this in good time prior to the meetup. The goal is to spark conversation, and hopefully leave us all with some new inspiration!

Christopher R. Baldock

Our meetup is finally upcoming this Saturday! I'm really looking forward to meeting some like-minds, and being able to discuss some very important topics together.

Primarily, this will be a casual, relaxed space for open communication, sharing of ideas, and having a nice sip of tea or coffee together! Feel free to bring along any projects you'd like to share, or any relevant books or other materials you've been recently enjoying and finding inspiring.

As promised, here follows a rough outline of talking points we can approach. We may not get to everything, but it gives us a structure for conversation and exploration. I will be prepared with books, site examples, and other materials to give details and context where needed.

———

Meet-up talking points

  • Introductions, greetings

Designing for sustainability:

  • Reframing what it means to be a UX designer.

  • Linear vs. circular design: what we can learn from bananas.

  • Keurig - my linear nightmare & open discussion.

  • Jute - A solution for packing?

  • Designing for whole systems.

  • Products as services - Pros & cons?

  • Designers as leaders - Advocating for our Earth while making sustainability profitable.

Permacomputing:

  • What is it and why does it matter?

  • Siliconization, technocultural inequality, and algorithmic monoculture.

  • Case study: Rek & Devine sailing on the Pino.

  • Dumb-phones and digital minimalism.

  • A low-tech web: How to build for sustainability.

  • Makers & Solarpunks: Examples of solar and grid aware websites.

AI Ethics:

  • Environmental considerations: Energy, renewability, sustainability.

  • Human considerations: Creativity, ability, and learning via our mistakes

  • AI considerations: Motivation, meaning, and scaleability of AGI and ASI systems.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or requirements. I’m really excited to meet you all and begin this vital discussion. Moreso, discovering ways to integrate these ideas into our work is going to be the greatest challenge to solve together.

Chat soon! 🌿

Christopher R. Baldock

Just a quick, final note for those able to attend our meet-up tomorrow morning.

I will be arriving early to secure us a spot. To make it easy to find our little nook, look out for the IxDF sign, which will be displayed on the table.

Wishing you all a great Friday, looking forward to our gathering tomorrow. 🌿

Please log in or join us to post comments in the conversation.

Local Leaders of IxDF Irvine (California)

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