Protect serendipity from over-optimization

technique — attributed to James Lancaster

The most valuable moments at a conference are unscripted: a hallway conversation, a session someone attended on impulse, a debate that erupted on stage. AI tools that pre-schedule meetings and pre-map networking optimize for the predictable and erase what makes gatherings irreplaceable. Design margin into the program for what cannot be planned.

"Those moments of serendipity are difficult to design in advance."

serendipity, ai