Enlightenment Evening: How Progress Ends

​Join us on Thursday, 30th October for a discussion with Professor Carl-Benedikt Frey on the implementation of technology, innovation and progress studies.

​​​We’ll be discussing his new book, How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation and the Fate of Nations.

​​Are economic and technological progress historically inevitable? If you look at the arc of progress over the past millennium, you may think so. But behind all innovations have been agentive individuals and societies that implement technology, rightly and wrongly. Progress is not linear; periods of great technological innovation have frequently been precipitated by social unrest, war and revolution. How can we harness AI, automation, and progress for the greater good, whilst avoiding the mistakes made by societies that failed to do so?

​​​We’re delighted to be joined by Professor Carl-Benedikt Frey, the Dieter Schwarz Associate Professor of AI and Work at the Oxford Internet Institute. Also the Director of the Future of Work Programme at the Oxford Martin School, his previous work includes The Technology Trap (2019) and "The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerization". He is a leading thinker researching the socio-economic impacts of technological innovation.

​​​Doors open at 6pm for a sharp 6.30pm start. There will be a 20-minute address by Professor Frey followed by 15 minutes of Q&A.

​​​Housekeeping:
Date: Thursday, 30th October 2025
Time: 6:00-8:00pm (no earlier!)
Where: 23 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3DJ

​​​Refreshments provided 🍷