What does it mean to trust the news in an age of AI, fractured attention, and declining public confidence? For Te-Rina Isaáko a youth leadership scholarship opened the door to three days of rigorous dialogue, challenge, and connection at the 2025 Socrates Seminar in Queenstown. In this reflection, she shares what it was like to step into a global conversation on media, trust, and leadership, and why youth voices are a necessary part of it.

How can democracy and journalism hold their ground in a world shaped by AI, speed, and information overload? Drawing on her experience as a systems thinker and sustainability practitioner, Katherine Short reflects on the 2025 Socrates Seminar. Her essay explores trust, accountability, and the enduring need for human judgement at the heart of democratic life, as technology reshapes how information is created, shared, and consumed.

Following his participation in the recent Aspen NZ Socrates Seminar, Alexander Plimmer considers the implications of declining trust in the news and what open dialogue can offer in navigating an increasingly fragmented information environment.

Welcome to The Lookout. This month, we look at what it takes to keep our footing in a world of shifting power, overlooked essential workers, and the power of the 'commons' to guide us through rough waters.

Welcome to the April edition of The Lookout, bringing you a global perspective on issues that matter. In this edition, we put In Focus AI, Social Media and Democratic Challenges, the topic of our most recent seminar, the eighth in the series Critical Thinking and Values Based Leadership. Followed by Leadership In Action with Beyond Borders, our new podcast and YouTube series, a curated selection of discussions on critical global issues. Plus, an In Depth look at the Institute's Science and Society's new report on Clinical Trial Diversity which investigates how clinical trials can be improved by including a broader spectrum of the population to provide greater outcomes.

Welcome to The Lookout, bringing you a global perspective on issues that matter. In this edition, we put In Focus Great Power Rivalry, the topic of the final forum in the Aspen Summer Series. Followed by Leadership In Action with Aspen Ideas - Climate 2023, the annual multi-day conference that focuses on addressing solutions. Plus, an In Depth look at the Institute's new report on Equitable AI which delves into how we can build and distribute artificial intelligence for equitable outcomes.