Ep. 62.2: The Past, Present & Future of Living (2/2) - Jackson Steger on the Governance of Co-Living, and the Technology Shifts that Enable New Ways of Community
Aug 25, 2023
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Jackson Steger, host of the Campfire by Cabin podcast, discusses different models of co-living and the use of technology to enable highly aligned groups to find each other. He also explores the connection between co-living and the concept of the network state, and dives into exciting new co-living and living space concepts. The podcast also explores the history and evolution of passports, and discusses the future of living, new forms of governance, and innovative city design.
Co-living provides a solution to loneliness by connecting people in intentional communities with shared interests and goals.
The digitization of passports offers potential for enhanced security through biometrics and AI, but challenges remain in terms of bureaucracy, privacy, and global coordination.
Deep dives
The Rise of Co-Living: Creating intentional communities for personal growth and connection
Co-living provides a solution to the growing epidemic of loneliness by connecting people in spaces designed for community and personal growth. One model is subscription co-living, where organizations handle the logistics of housing and programming for digital nomads and remote workers. Another model is self-organized co-living, where groups of friends or like-minded individuals create intentional living communities with specific interests or goals. The key to successful co-living is a governing community intention that attracts the right individuals who share a common purpose. Different models and amenities, such as large kitchens, yoga studios, and communal spaces, create opportunities for connection and serendipity. Governance in co-living can vary, with some communities having clear owners or caretakers, while others rely on community norms and duocracy. While passports and regulations currently restrict global mobility, digitization and innovations in biometrics and AI offer potential solutions for more efficient and inclusive travel permissions.
The Evolution of Passports: From diplomatic visas to travel permissions
Passports have a relatively young history, emerging in their current form around a hundred years ago. Originally designed for diplomatic negotiations, passports evolved to confer status and permission for travel. They have undergone changes to include gender identification and protect against fraudulently obtained but genuine passports, which pose a threat to national security. The digitization of passports is a future trend, offering potential for enhanced security through biometrics and AI. However, challenges remain, including bureaucratic hurdles, privacy concerns, and the need for global coordination. The network state and startup cities are exploring innovations in passports and travel permissions, aiming to increase convenience and opportunity while mitigating risks.
The Connection between Co-Living and Network States: Building intentional communities and reimagining how we live
Co-living serves as a foundation for innovation in network states and startup cities. By creating intentional communities, co-living provides opportunities for personal growth, shared experiences, and increased social interaction. The success of co-living is rooted in foundational principles such as clear community intentions, high-quality basic needs, and amenities that foster connection and serendipity. Governance in co-living varies, with some models having clear owners or caretakers, while others rely on community norms and duocracy. The future of co-living lies in continued experimentation and the exploration of innovative models, such as subscription co-living and self-organized communities. As we enter a unique moment in history, fueled by technological advancements and a reimagining of the built environment, co-living paves the way for exciting experiments in creating affordable, inclusive, and sustainable housing solutions.
Innovation in the Co-Living Space: Examples of co-living communities and related projects
Several noteworthy initiatives are shaping the co-living landscape. Cabin, a community-curated co-living network, offers remote workers opportunities to live in nature while connecting with like-minded individuals across the globe. Kift focuses on fostering van lifer communities through community houses, skill-sharing, and travel support. Spectra Cities explores virtual city modeling using VR technology that aids placemakers in designing innovative spaces. SafetyWing's Plumea division aims to create a global mobility visa, advocating for global mobility rights and addressing the limitations imposed by passport restrictions. These projects reflect the broad spectrum of experimentation within the co-living and network state realms, promising a future of more inclusive, collaborative, and boundary-defying modes of living.
This is a double-feature episode about the past, present and future of living.
In the first episode, Thibault Serlet gives a historical view of migration patterns and labor mobility. In the second episode, Jackson Stegers gives an overview of modern-day co-living business models and practical learnings - we use both to think about a future where people have more choices, a more mobile and unbundled territory.
Jackson Steger is the host of the Campfire by Cabin podcast. Besides podcasting, Jackson is writing about coliving networks, startup cities, new neighborhood development, network states, and other new models for living on his blog.
In this episode, Jackson gives an overview of different ways of co-living from smaller scale and self-organized to becoming large businesses like Selina.
What's new about co-living is technology such as the Internet to enable highly aligned groups to find each other. Balaji Srinivasan's "The Network State" is built around that idea, and projects such as Cabin are at the forefront of this trend.
In his role at Cabin, and at various stages in his life, has collected experience in organizing a community to live together. He summarized his practical insights in a post called "The Pyramid of Co-Living Needs", a valuable guide for self-starters.
Towards the end, we talk about the origin of passports, how to unbundle our lives, improve governance services and make it possible to live together in harmony.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com
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