​Tethics & Chill is back in town for an in-person evening to cap off the tech socialite fever dream that is Austin in March.

​Join us on March 31 to discuss the core foundational ideas driving the agentic tech movement, the work of ex/ante, and the entrepreneurs in our orbit — guided by two exceptional thinkers:

• ​Brendan McCord founded and chairs the Cosmos Institute, an academy for philosopher-builders, and co-delivers an AI and philosophy graduate seminar at Oxford University. Previously, he founded two AI startups and the first applied AI organization for the US Department of Defense.

• ​Luke Drago designed and led the governance and economics verticals at BlueDot Impact, an AI learning platform and community that emerged out of the University of Cambridge. Luke also co-authored AI 2030 with Encode and and regularly publishes insights about AI's societal impact via his Substack.

​IMPORTANT NOTE: Unlike the usual tech meetup, this will be a closed-container event, so please plan to arrive on time. This enables guests to "land" together and enjoy a shared experience, while also minimizing disruptions for our speakers. Just tell yourself you're going to The The-a-tah 🎭 ...lights dim, doors close, and curtains open at 6:45 sharp!

​The Conversation

​At Tethics & Chill, we're accustomed to examining how emerging tech intersects with a genuinely agentic and sovereign human experience. Yet, we rarely pause to question what that human experience demands from us:

• ​Do we even need to preserve our autonomy if we can put so much on autopilot?

• ​How is autonomy connected to our capacity to deliberate, make decisions, and participate in society?

• ​Is there a distinction between autonomy and agency in user interactions?

• ​Do we need either, both, or something else entirely to thrive alongside technology?

​Join us as we delve into topics including:

• ​How cognitive off-loading to AI systems might diminish our capacity for self-governance

• ​The declining incentives for powerful actors to invest in human potential (the "intelligence curse")

• ​The relationship between centralization, autonomy, and agency

• ​Strategies to safeguard autonomy as AI becomes more capable and mediates more of our lives

• ​Essential design principles for living well with technology

​Join your fellow curious-folk to trace the philosophical roots of agency and autonomy in our AI-mediated future.

​Agenda

• ​Arrivals: 6-6:45 pm

• ​Doors close (for real!): 6:45 pm

• ​🪄 Surprise entertainment 🪄 (the "chill" part of Tethics & Chill): 6:45-7 pm

• ​Feature presentation: 7-8 pm

• ​Mingle: 8-9 pm

​The Fine Print

​If you've attended previous Tethics events, you know we charge only to offset the costs of food, so you can indulge in the intellectual challenge of our main presentation without the intrusive thoughts of your hangries! The space is donated, the speakers fly themselves in, and it's a real community-driven affair. Thus:

• ​$35 gets you entrance and passed foods

• ​Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar

• ​First 15 RSVPs get a free drink ticket ❤️

• ​Please plan for childcare, as this is a bar 👼

​See you there, and keep it Tethical in the meantime!

​- Anastasia