Recent Discussion Forum Topics

  • This months topic is:
    How Can Government prevent AI undermining...  more
  • Our topic for February is 'Long-term thinking in Government -...  more
  • Our topic and agenda for January discussions is :
    The Election...  more
  • What impact will Reform UK have on the 2024 general...  more
  • The Misinformation Society – Fact or fiction?
    Objective...  more
View All

Give it some thought!





Welcome to Probably42

New to the site?

 

Probably42 is all about developing ideas, both face-to-face and online and is open to anyone who values balanced and considered discussion to participate and contribute.


Our flagship output is our short Manifesto of Ideas for Society in an Artificial Intelligence Future. This is supported by 25 'Considered Proposals'. These contain some 400 ideas overall. 


Our discussions focus on the big political issues and opportunities of our time in the UK. Our aim is to influence decision-makers by contributing pragmatic ideas for improving society.

We are an Independent UK Think Tank operating an Ideas Factory nationwide. Probably42 is not aligned to any political party and is made up of ordinary people, with varied business, science, technology, arts, media and education backgrounds across private and public sector.

 
See About Probably42 to find out more. 
 
You can sign up for our free occasional newsletter which will alert you to topics being discussed and some of the key ideas being generated.

You can see certain things without being a member and signing in, but do become a member so you can see all the ideas and be able to comment on them or add your own. It's free and you can delete your membership at any time should you want to.

BECOME A MEMBER

 

 

Announcements

Recent Discussion Posts

  • This months topic is:
    How Can Government prevent AI undermining...  more
  • Our discussion output on the topic is now available...  more
  • Our topic for February is 'Long-term thinking in Government -...  more
  • The discussion output on this topic together with...  more
  • Our topic and agenda for January discussions is :
    The Election...  more
View All

Probably42 in Brief

Probably42 is an Independent UK Think Tank and Ideas Factory operating nationwide both online and offline.

 

It sits within the Knowledge Skills and Experience Foundation.

 

Our discussions focus on the top big political issues and opportunities of our time in the UK. We generate transformative and pragmatic political ideas through a Knowledge Network of ordinary people engaging in well-balanced political debate, harnessing everyone’s Knowledge, Skills and Experience.

 

Our Manifesto of Ideas focuses on 10 top strategies and political policies with a particular emphasis on ‘Artificial Intelligence impact on Society’, and ‘Digital Democracy’. The impact of AI on society and particularly the work disruption aspect, will be totally pervasive over the next 20 years. Digital Democracy can enable us to be better informed, better consulted and better represented.

 

Our aim is to be part of that Digital Democracy (or e-democracy) in the UK, by encouraging political debate and discussion groups online and via video-conferencing to address the big political issues in society now and in the future.

 

Probably42 is a very different Think Tank. It is open to anyone who values balanced and considered discussion to participate and contribute with views from across the political spectrum. Our big ideas groups are very social groups with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of humour. We very much want to encourage participation by all age groups but if you are looking for retirement ideas and what to do in retirement, getting involved is a great retirement activity and by now you have plenty of Knowledge, Skills and Experience to offer. If you are interested in getting involved in politics in a small but interesting way, Probably42 is for you. You can get involved by commenting in our discussion forums, commenting on our ideas papers or joining one of our Ideas Groups.

 

Our big ideas groups strive to find solutions to the big political issues in the UK, which we believe will be acceptable to the majority of people in the UK. Underlying everything we do is a set of Values and Principles, which we call Principled Pragmatism. You’ll find an explanation of these Values and Principles in our document A Manifesto for Society in the Artificial Intelligence Future.  

 

Are you familiar with Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy? If so you will probably have realised that the 42 in our name is no accident. We can’t quite claim we are the answer to life, the universe and everything, just probably!   

 

Take a look at some of our key outputs:

Artificial Intelligence - Managing the Future

Transforming our Democracy and Political System for the 21st Century

Coronavirus situation as an opportunity

 

All our outputs are open source for use by anyone.

 

 

What's New

  • # Probably42
    # Probably42 created a new document:
    This document 'Long-term thinking in Government - Making it Happen' version 1.0 is a Considered Proposal born out of our Probably42 discussion meetings on the subject. 
    • Feb 22
  • # Probably42
    # Probably42 created a new document:
    This is the combined discussion output of our two Probably42 groups which identifies important areas that we are concerned will be neglected.
    • Jan 24
  • # Probably42
    # Probably42 created a new document:
    This document examines Reform UK's proposals, analyses these and draws conclusions about their likely impact on the election.
    • Jan 7
  • # Probably42
    # Probably42 created a new document:
    This document is the combined discussion output from two Probably42 Groups on the topic of 'The Misinformation Society - Fact or Fiction'.
    • December 4, 2023
  • # Probably42
    # Probably42 created a new document:
    This is the discussion output of Probably42 groups Deep Thought and Zero Gravity on the topic of Global Migration and its impacts.  
    • October 30, 2023
  • Kevin Johnson
    Kevin JohnsonDoug LITTLEJOHNS: Hello Doug, welcome to this thought provoking space. What a CV! In passing Tom Clancy just happens to probably be my favourite author!
    • March 16, 2023
    • Kevin Johnson
      Doug LITTLEJOHNS Hello Kevin. Such a pity he died so early but I have some great memories of late night discussions over his 'sipping whisky'. I look forward to meeting you online next week
      • March 16, 2023
  • Kevin Johnson
    Kevin Johnson likes Chris Barnes:
    • January 17, 2023
  • Chris Barnes
    Chris Barnes Happy New Year 2023 to all Probably42ers wherever you may be.
    • January 1, 2023
  • Doug LITTLEJOHNS
    Doug LITTLEJOHNS has added a new profile photo.
    • August 12, 2022
  • Keith Hill
    Keith HillDoug LITTLEJOHNS: Hi Doug, welcome to P42, great to have a member from the south west. Hope you'll be able join some of our on line meetings.

    Kind regards
    Keith
    • August 12, 2022
    • Keith Hill
      Doug LITTLEJOHNS Keith, Thank you for contact. Still very much a new boy and trying to reorganise my days to devote time to Probably42. When I have reordered my hectic life I will look into Zero Gravity. Doug
      • August 12, 2022
  • Doug LITTLEJOHNS
    Doug LITTLEJOHNS has just signed up. Say hello!
  • Chris Barnes
    Chris BarnesGeoff Osborne: Oh dear, this could be a good virtual meeting! (Couldn't find an interrobang).
    • October 2, 2021
    • - edited
  • Chris Barnes
    Chris BarnesGeoff Osborne: This doesn't bode well for tomorrow afternoon as it's just been photographed on the railings of St. John's in town!
    • October 1, 2021
  • Tony Clack
    Tony ClackBen Ralston: Ben, welcome to Probably42! Hope you find it interesting and enjoyable. I've just sent out the monthly newsletter, so hopefully you've received that. Let me know if not. All the best. Tony
    • March 11, 2021
  • Ben Ralston
    Ben Ralston has just signed up. Say hello!