Practical Futures

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Build a future-ready mindset for the age of AI

Join change-makers from market-leading companies developing strategic imagination and futures thinking through product sci-fi workouts. Transform how you think about tomorrow in 10 minutes a week.
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Imagination Workouts

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How was your annual preview?
She enters the almost empty office café through the blue-lit doors of the preview lounge. As the door closes, its ambient lighting shifts to a warm…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Avatar set not to open your presents?
He knocks on the door. Silence. He steps into his son’s room quietly. The boy, headset on, doesn’t notice until the father waves an audio override. …
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Where did you download this Santa from?
Her palms glow with the mug's hot chocolate temperature indicator. She enjoys its satisfying warmth, cosied on a sofa with her friend. They watch as…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Did you remember to print the plates?
Lights twinkle over the lively, decorated market, filled with chatter of shoppers bundled in their winter coats. The air is intoxicating with aromas of…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Are you streamhosting this year?
In the warm glow of the downtown bar's floating festive lights, they raise their nearly empty glasses. The loud ding of their toast mingles with the…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Your performance review was a banger!
He gazes at tomorrow's highlights projected onto the elevator's sleek glass wall, the holographic text illuminating his features. The doors close…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
I had a great time living your life
She answers his call with a tap on the steering wheel. Neon highway lights reflect off her windshield. - How are you? A strangely familiar voice asks…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
You’ve poisoned our recyclobot again
Standing before the softly glowing workspace, she allows a confident smile to spread across her face. As her voice resonates through the virtual…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
My pizza preferences are trending again
Looking at the flickering city lights from their high-rise apartment, she wonders what the time is. She sends a ping, tapping her foot impatiently. …
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Multiversing plans for a healthier you?
- You look tired? Is everything okay? He asks, noticing another regular standing motionless before the mirror. The big guy seems frozen, transfixed by…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Your dog's digital twin has got me worried
- Hi, we don't have an appointment, but her barkpad requested a doctor's visit and tests. The receptionist's interface scans the data transmitted from…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
2
Give my compliments to your AI
She leans forward with a hint of a smile on her face. In the glow of the holographic interface between them, her eyes reflect streams of data scrolling…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
2
Practical Futures
Practical Futures
10-minute imagination workouts with product sci-fi and reflection prompts for strategic thinkers building a future-ready mindset for the age of AI.
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Today’s solutions won’t solve tomorrow’s problems. Get your leadership future-ready in 10 minutes a week. Think bright.

Season 1

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Can you help me reset my room?
- Hi, are you busy? - I wouldn’t answer if I couldn’t talk. How are you doing?- I’m finishing a presentation for my conference talk tomorrow. The flight…
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Pawel Halicki
This money changes value based on where you spend it
- Thank you for finding the time to come to my party. - Our pleasure. We’re so happy it’s getting harder every year to wish you something you don’t…
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Pawel Halicki
I’m going to prescribe you some participatory fiction
- I must admit I expected the cast to be 3D-printed or something. She smiles while punching the keyboard as he sits on the chair. - 3D-printed casts…
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Pawel Halicki
Working on the history of the future pays surprisingly well
- How did you two meet? She takes a sip of green tea from a chilled glass. - He was a top contributor to my open-source project. My demand generation…
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Pawel Halicki
Have you checked if the car is already streamtracked?
Reaching for the seat belt, he makes himself comfortable in the driver's seat. Suddenly, a 10-year-old's hand springs from the back, repeating a…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
They were still getting used to her working in her sleep
Trying to overcome the temptation to check the time, he focuses on the soothing sound of their new air filter. He can’t wake her up. Breathe. They spent…
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Pawel Halicki
He loves me but won’t live in a drone-free area any longer
- So, if everything is fine, what’s the thing I’m sensing? - We decided to move to grandma's old unit to travel more and be able to save some money. He…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Thousands of people mirror our cats’ trading strategy
- You did what? She takes a deep breath while ignoring incoming requests. - It was just an experiment. I hooked up a trading account with cat cameras…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
The kids our son is playing with are not real
She sits next to him, glowing in the summer weekend sun.
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Pawel Halicki
She was too tired to live the lifestyle she had ordered anyway
Sandwiched in a metro train stuffed with the morning crowd, she was fine-tuning data viz animations for a client. Her favourite music mixed with random…
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Pawel Halicki

Season 2

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The shower is low on relaxation
- Do you need anything from the store? - What do you need that can’t wait for the weekend delivery? - The shower is low on relaxation. I have a…
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Pawel Halicki
These smart fridge magnets saved our marriage
- How many times do I need to repeat? No headsets at breakfast. She puts her hands on her hips, awaiting a reaction, her eyes squinting. He angrily…
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Pawel Halicki
Can you optimize my haircut for lead generation?
- What were you thinking of doing today? - It’s conference season again. Can you optimize my haircut for lead generation? - Would you consider a little…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Are you kidcycling your children?
- Is it easier for him the second time around? - Don’t ask. He’s trying his best, but serious fatherhood is like a DLC he's still struggling to…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Raid fitness is the cheapest way to lower your misery tax
- How was your trip? - Overall, it was fine, but the long flight was challenging. - How so? She looks around the conference room and continues. - I…
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Pawel Halicki
Two flat whites for here, to go or secret?
- Next please. - Hi, can I have two medium flat whites, specialty roast, regular milk? - Shall I throw in a sandwich or a muffin? Our toasties can make…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Their home is a charmer, and you should talk to it soon
- How was your weekend in the mountains? - It was a bit of a surprise at first. Our friends got stuck in traffic, so we arrived three hours early. But…
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Pawel Halicki
Please remain seated. We are experiencing a calendar attack.
- Good morning, my dear nephew. What can I invest in today? - There is no need for sarcasm. I’m in trouble. These hacked delivery drones are slowing…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Who are your favourite content proxies?
- Thanks for your submissions. While models proposed by all teams are rendering now, let me transfer you to breakout rooms for a short icebreaker before…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
She took out the butter and realised I had been hyper-trading again
- I developed this ritual to celebrate great days. On my way home, I would switch the investment assistant into a high-risk strategy for a tiny…
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Pawel Halicki

Season 3

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Can you ID those pictures for me?
- What can I say… life’s good. I never thought I would finally have time to play games all night once I’m old and retired. What can I do for you? - Good…
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Pawel Halicki
Cover your tray with the pasta spray
- …so in today’s episode, I will show you how to create the latest viral sensation. Lasagna Supreme is taking the internet by storm. Thanks to novelty…
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Pawel Halicki
These are my travel eyes
- I didn’t know you had asthma. - I don’t. This is my jet lag inhaler, and these here… She reaches into a side pocket of her trolley bag, unzips it and…
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Pawel Halicki
2
Hi, I’m your emergency recharge
- Hi, how are you? - Change of plans. It’s nothing serious, but Niels had a small accident, and I have to pick him up from the hospital. - What…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Do you have anything tokenised on the menu?
- How was your holiday? - I can’t complain. We had a full week of SPF 50 weather. - Sounds nice. The waiter puts a carafe of ice-cold water on their…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
If this soda tastes like mango, call an ambulance
Gravel rolls as the bike stops abruptly. - I’m not at my 100% today. He taps on the helmet’s visor twice as his friend’s deep breaths get closer to…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
That tree made two million last year
- Sorry to keep you waiting folks. - No problem. How is your day? - Phenomenal. I only regret that hand washing is not a popular competitive sport. I…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
I respawned your favourite shirt
- How was your trip? He releases her from a comforting hug. - It was okay, I guess. Some minor delays and a little bit of traffic. Nothing unusual. …
 • 
Pawel Halicki
She only eats lasered fruit
- Anything else? - Yes, five blue bananas. Could you etch them? She only eats lasered fruit. - Picky eater, huh? Any story themes in mind? We have…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
You’ve packed your desk into a carry-on?
- Are you still working? She takes off her headphones. - Sorry, what was that?- I envy people who can listen to music while working. I need peace and…
 • 
Pawel Halicki

Season 4

View all
You’ve poisoned our recyclobot again
Standing before the softly glowing workspace, she allows a confident smile to spread across her face. As her voice resonates through the virtual…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
My pizza preferences are trending again
Looking at the flickering city lights from their high-rise apartment, she wonders what the time is. She sends a ping, tapping her foot impatiently. …
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Multiversing plans for a healthier you?
- You look tired? Is everything okay? He asks, noticing another regular standing motionless before the mirror. The big guy seems frozen, transfixed by…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Your dog's digital twin has got me worried
- Hi, we don't have an appointment, but her barkpad requested a doctor's visit and tests. The receptionist's interface scans the data transmitted from…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
2
Give my compliments to your AI
She leans forward with a hint of a smile on her face. In the glow of the holographic interface between them, her eyes reflect streams of data scrolling…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
2
Press here to shift your coat's gravity
- Thanks for joining me. Juggling gifts for a double birthday is always a struggle. - No worries. I owe you one. - I hope we can still grab a bite…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Sorry I avatared you
- Hi! We’re still at the Society Museum resting after the Exhibit. Sorry I avatared you. - I think I can forgive you one more time. - I have so much…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Can you turn this tattoo off?
- The dessert was a blast today, but let's get back to business. Do you have any other ideas? How much time do we have left? - I thought you would never…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
2
You sold our home when I went to the kitchen?
- I see you already have everything in place, and your legal assistant is up and running. I think we can start. Are you plugged into the property right…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
2
Two million stars on neuro brew
- Are you ready? She nods with a smile, and he turns on the switches. The large basement lights up, showing a pool with a VR tank computer rig next to…
 • 
Pawel Halicki

Season 5

View all
How was your annual preview?
She enters the almost empty office café through the blue-lit doors of the preview lounge. As the door closes, its ambient lighting shifts to a warm…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Avatar set not to open your presents?
He knocks on the door. Silence. He steps into his son’s room quietly. The boy, headset on, doesn’t notice until the father waves an audio override. …
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Where did you download this Santa from?
Her palms glow with the mug's hot chocolate temperature indicator. She enjoys its satisfying warmth, cosied on a sofa with her friend. They watch as…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Did you remember to print the plates?
Lights twinkle over the lively, decorated market, filled with chatter of shoppers bundled in their winter coats. The air is intoxicating with aromas of…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Are you streamhosting this year?
In the warm glow of the downtown bar's floating festive lights, they raise their nearly empty glasses. The loud ding of their toast mingles with the…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
Your performance review was a banger!
He gazes at tomorrow's highlights projected onto the elevator's sleek glass wall, the holographic text illuminating his features. The doors close…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
I had a great time living your life
She answers his call with a tap on the steering wheel. Neon highway lights reflect off her windshield. - How are you? A strangely familiar voice asks…
 • 
Pawel Halicki
© 2024 Pawel Halicki
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