Can’t explain AGAIN, how thrilled I was that SXSW finally landed in Europe this year at the SXSW London. Six days across Shoreditch. Over 20,000 people from 85 countries. And eight themes that say a lot about where business, tech, and culture are headed next.
No fluff here. Just the parts worth acting on.
1. AI moves from hype to co-worker
AI isn’t just automating tasks. Agentic AI means systems that act independently, set goals, and work alongside you. The winners will:
- Hand over low-value, repetitive tasks to AI
- Hire for “taste” and originality as the differentiator in a sea of sameness
- Combine STEM with creative talent in the same teams If you’re not building trust in AI across your workforce now, you’re already late.
2. Space enters your value chain
Space is no longer about astronauts and billionaires. It’s about:
- 24/7 space-based solar power feeding national grids
- Medicines made in microgravity
- Low-altitude airspace for flying taxis If you work in health, energy, or mobility, space is now part of your supply chain planning.
3. Collective individualism becomes the model
People want to act as collaborators, not consumers.
- Brand “audiences” are now co-creators
- Storytelling is a driver of action, not just marketing
- Equity in participation matters – who gets to create, shape, and decide? Ask yourself: how much of your business narrative are you willing to hand over to the people who care about it most?
4. Communities aren’t a side project
If you don’t show up for your communities, you’ll be forgotten.
- Loyalty comes from shared values and active participation, not quick wins
- Micro-communities (1,000 deeply engaged people) can be more valuable than millions of casual followers
- The future is niche and personal If you’re still chasing reach, you’re measuring the wrong thing.
5. Business with conscience is now the baseline
Geopolitics are unstable. Institutions have lost trust. The brands that last will:
- Build “story-living” into operations, not just campaigns
- Make impact a core part of the business model, not a CSR slide
- Choose responsibility over perfection and keep going Profit and purpose can grow together. But action beats aspiration every time.
6. Healthcare is shifting from lifespan to healthspan
The next decade is about living better, not just longer.
- 80% of ageing is lifestyle, not genetics – and it’s reversible
- Wearables will soon track digestion, stress, and more in real time
- AI is cutting drug discovery from years to weeks If you’re in health or wellness, design for real behaviour, not the “ideal” version of your user.
7. Experiences are now part of the cure for loneliness
Gen Z spends 1,000 fewer hours in person with others each year compared to older generations. Brands like Hinge and Formula 1 are using live, participatory experiences to build real-world connection. If your product or service can’t create relevance, community, and sensory engagement, you’ll struggle to keep attention.
8. Influence is about trust, not followers
We’re out of the follower-count era.
- Lo-fi, authentic content beats polished campaigns
- Creators are becoming executive producers
- Value-driven partnerships matter more than vanity metrics If your brand still treats influencers as a reach extension, you’re missing the shift to credibility and co-creation.
What this means for us?
- Stop waiting for trends to “settle” – by then, they’re someone else’s advantage
- Treat your communities, not your competitors, as the source of your next move
- Design for the humans in your system, not the hypotheticals in your pitch decks
The message was clear: Collisions between industries, disciplines, and communities are where the next decade gets built. If you’re not putting yourself in those collisions, you’re planning for a future you won’t be part of.
Moey writes here. 
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