AI, System Collapse and the Case for Decomputing with Dan McQuillan

Sunday May 17th 2026

Doors & drinks at 6pm; Talk starts 6.30pm

We're very sorry that due to a family emergency Dan has had to pull out. So, with much regret, we're having to cancel this event. If you've bought a ticket you will be refunded in full. Apologies for the inconvenience. We hope to see you at another event soon. 

Dan McQuillan, Senior Lecturer in Critical AI at Goldsmiths, University of London, and author of Resisting AI: An Anti-Fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence, will be at Kairos to set out a strategy for techno-refusal.

In this talk, followed by plenty of time for discussion, he will argue that AI isn't a powerful technology in the ways that are normally claimed -  but is nevertheless important as the focus for a lot of powerful forces.

He will show how the contradictions of AI shed light on the ruptures of the current historical moment, and how AI itself actually intensifies the nihilistic solutionism of those attempting to hold onto power under changing conditions.

Against this, he will make the case for 'decomputing' as an alternative technopolitics. Decomputing draws on the principles of degrowth as a necessary counter to AI's endless scaling, and promotes a goal of 'deautomatisation' as a means to extract ourselves from the machinic social relations which are amplified by technologies like AI.

Decomputing adopts and adapts Illich's ideas of 'tools for conviviality' as an approach to developing technical systems that enable autonomy and adaptivity, with the aim of infrastructuring the common good. He will draw on a range of sources and examples as ways to illustrate these ideas.

The evening will include a break for a one-pot vegan supper. Please note the earlier than usual start time.

Kairos, 84 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TG

Doors open at 6pm for drinks. Talk starts at 6.30pm. Supper at 7.30pm.

£15 Standard (includes Community Members); £10 Struggling financially; £10 Under 30s; £20 with Donation; £8 Frequent Visitor and Supporter Members. Food complimentary.

Before requesting a discounted ticket, please consider sincerely: Are you struggling to meet your basic needs? Would you have to make a genuine sacrifice to buy a full priced ticket? Do you have reduced earnings through a lifestyle choice or rather because you're dedicating your time to unpaid work relating to the climate and nature crises or as a result of structural inequality? If you're struggling to pay even the reduced price please contact us on events@kairos.london.

Please note that most of our events take place in our basement space and we do not have a lift so our venue is not fully accessible. Please get in touch if you have accessibility issues via events@kairos.london.

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