Two recent experiences brought me here.
Not long ago I was part of the team facilitating a board offsite for one of Australia's largest and oldest organisations. Of course, AI was high on the agenda, and the two-day event included two guest appearances from futurists explaining the technology and laying out variants along the spectrum from utopian to dystopian.
What struck me was that during the break after one of these sessions, a couple of the participants were visibly shaken by what they had heard. They were so overwhelmed — in that moment, primarily for their children and what it would mean for them. And these same people, in their roles as board members and executives, carry not only the weight of their children's future and wellbeing, but also the responsibility of guiding the strategy of an organisation with thousands of employees, whose livelihoods depend on their decisions.
Another, more personal experience emerged through the process of writing an article for the Vibrance newsletter. I came to the realisation that there is no one else we can ask, no other adults in the room, who are going to navigate this pivotal moment in history. It is going to be us.
What gives me pause is that there are so many facets to this unfolding situation, and that makes it challenging for any one person to have a rounded perspective. I don't think one can have a proper conversation about AI without having a basic understanding of the technology and what makes it different, even if that isn't the most important part. But then there are all the other layers — macroeconomics, jobs, human meaning, sovereign risk, etc. The point isn't about becoming an expert in all or any of these areas, but it's hard to have a conversation big enough to hold the magnitude of this unfolding change without at least a base level of shared understanding.
NewThreshold is an attempt to support us on this journey. At this early stage, I describe it as being intended to feel something akin to a facilitated “book club” that brings together people who are willing to do the work of reading some articles, doing the deep personal reflection, and then coming together in dialogue to both listen and share. The goal isn't to solve anything or to find the answer. But rather through the experience, hopefully we will each understand what is important to us, and what role we need to play in stewarding the emerging future.
I personally stand at this threshold both excited and nervous. I have always loved technology, and I am energised by bringing people together. I hope you will join us.
Pete Cohen
Melbourne, May 2026