Would you believe me if told you I was emotionally involved with my calculator? Beguiled by my beloved Casio, or swept off my feet by a Texan Instrument?

I’m none of these things, of course. But the subject of falling in love with machines, in this case AIs, (quelle surprise), was one of the many topics that captured my attention up at Kenwood last weekend.

It was HowTheLightGetsIn festival founder and philosopher Hilary Lawson who insisted that we must consider our Claudes, GPTs and Geminis as nothing more than ‘word calculators’.

In his view, while they may impress us by quickly assembling vast amounts of information into a conversational pattern, this is not remotely ‘intelligence’ of the human, or even animal kind.

Anthropomorphising AI tools is the real problem, as it leads to a lot of the more sensationalist headlines, and to people forming odd attachments with these machines, as surrogate therapists, cyber-gurus or pseudo-lovers.

If you wouldn’t fall for your calculator, you shouldn’t therefore end up besotted by Grok. Unfortunately though, the chatty AIs are proving very good at tricking our humble organic brains.

So it felt useful - especially in the current whirlwind of speculation over what this tech can/will actually do for us all - to be reminded that these increasingly prevalent tools don’t actually ‘know’ what they’re doing or saying. At least yet.

Over in another tent, dappled with incongruously cheery golden autumn sunlight, author Sarah Wilson was arguing, fairly compellingly, that we’re witnessing civilisational collapse at a global level.

She reminded us that, throughout history, complex systems eventually collapse under the weight of their own complexity. And from climate crisis to our financial precarity, and online conflicts to geopolitical ones, all the signs are that the current shitshow sadly isn’t going to get any better.

Her suggestion for how we deal with this maelstrom? Firstly: try not to go mad. Essentially, keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, which feels more essential than ever at a time when it’s so easy to end up arguing with vicious far right bots in the online spaces where once we shared lovely holiday snaps.

Secondly, and thankfully perhaps a silver lining as to what happens next if her predictions are right, Wilson suggests we all should focus our attention right now on everything that makes us feel human.

That’s not just turning inwards to calm the nerves with some meditation, or to feel inspired by a nice walk in nature, as good and useful as those things are. Being human means connecting with other people in living, breathing ways, and being really nice and supportive to them.

Even if she’s wrong, and this creaking late capitalist cesspit somehow holds tight, this is still surely the only way we can navigate it without sinking, and so I left her gloomy hour of predictions strangely inspired.

That much needed refocus on human scale, even if it is inevitably augmented and improved by some use of AI, too, is exactly what we’re going to be drilling down into at tomorrow’s Camdenist panel discussion, Analogue Joy in a Digital Age, at the King’s Cross Vision Festival (see below for info & free tickets).

I’m delighted that we’re going to be joined on the panel by Wayne Hemingway, the original Camden fashion entrepreneur turned sustainable retail and place-based revitalisation expert, to talk about the changing face of high streets, markets and the spaces around them.

Alongside him we have Suley Muhidin from Camden Film Quarter, to look at how cinema production and consumption is changing in this digital era, and how that will be delivered locally, and Steph Dye from Camden Community Narrowboat, Tarporley, which is also the fabulous setting for the event. She’ll be looking at how to make the charity, and a life of boats that are perhaps the epitome of slow, off-grid living, relevant for today’s world.

At a time when everyone seems to be struggling to various degrees, financially, emotionally or physically, and the pace of change often only serves to exaggerate the strain, it’s vital to remember to take a step back occasionally, and simply be a bit more human.

When the shizz hits the fan again, and again, and again, that sense of connection to others and the places around us is vital. When all else may fail, love is the enduring currency. Just make sure to give it to each other, and not to a saucy ‘word calculator’.

FESTIVAL 🚘 The much-loved Classic Car Boot Sale returns to its longstanding home in Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard this weekend, Sat 26th & Sun 27th Sept, brining with it over 100 rare and heritage vehicles, and one of the best-dressed crowds to be seen gathered anywhere. Alongside people-watching the many vintage-inspired looks, you have the chance to delve into all manner of circular couture and upcycled fashions at a huge edition of the Charity Super.Mkt, enjoy live music, vinyl DJs and there’s masses to eat and drink, too.

PUB 🍺 Great to see that huge local boozer the Camden Road Arms is about to reopen, after a sad period left boarded up following the unravelling of the Brewdog dream. Now, it back as part of Heineken’s Star Pubs’ Just Add Talent programme, which helps enthusiastic landlords to get a successful pub up and running in today’s challenging climate. The handsome building, directly opposite Camden Road Overground station has already had a thorough spruce-up, inside and out, and is set to reopen next Fri 2nd Oct.

MUSIC 🎸 Sibling duo The Molotovs, who we enjoyed at the launch of King’s Cross Summer Sounds, what feels like only the other day, take over the 02 Forum Kentish Town tonight… but it’s sold out. Never fear though, as there are still a few tickets left for a second night at the venue this Sat 26th Sept, if you’re quick.

FESTIVAL 🗿It’s the 20th year of the Bloomsbury Festival running throughout October, with over 150 events to enjoy at over 40 venues in the district. From walks to talks, live music to hands-on workshops, the event is full of delights. So where to start? Look out for the Culture Quest Hunt, a series of timed treasure hunts leading you through the British Museum. Just gather a small team of family, friends or colleagues (or even go solo to meet new people) and race against the clock through the world’s most incredible artifacts. There are also a series of related quizzes at The Lady Ottoline pub, too.

STAGE 🤣 From writers of the international hit Menopause The Musical 2 comes The Viagra Monologues — A Midlife Musical, where four old school friends end up having a middle aged meltdown on a stag do in Vegas. The first ever shows, which are rehearsed readings with scripts very much still in progress, take place at Hampstead pub theatre the Circle & Star this Mon 28th & Tues 29th Sept.

SHOP 🍎 The latest plucky organic grocery store to arrive on the ever-changing Chalk Farm Road riviera is Harvest NW1, which has just opened, offering an impressive range of healthy and sustainably made produce right opposite the Roundhouse in the former Amazon Fresh unit.

MUSIC ☠️ Head to Chalk Farm’s Imperial Palace of Big Red on Sat 26th Sept for the next Doomsday event, which promises a night of all things sludge stoner doom & post for those who won’t compromise on their guitar rock madness in this atmospheric venue.

FESTIVAL 💡We’ve flagged it previously, but do remember that it’s also Camden Inspire this Sat 26th & Sun 27th Sept at Camden Collective, which these days means a series of workshops, panels and feasting to explore innovative creative responses to the climate crisis. Theis year the focus is around moveable shades for streets, parks or other places where the sum is simply too blazing.