Rooted Intelligence
What if AI was shaped by emotional wisdom, not just code?
Rooted Intelligence began with research in Kenya, created with Black Rhino VR and supported by the British Council’s Catalyst Follow-On Fund during the UK/Kenya Season 2025.
It explores how ancestral knowledge and ethical storytelling offer an alternative to Big Tech — a more human vision we call ascended intelligence.
This site explores how community-led design, ancestral knowledge, and ethical storytelling offer an alternative paradigm to Big Tech — what we call ascended intelligence: a more human, grounded vision for the future of technology.
What We Do
✅ Future-facing XR projects that challenge bias, inequality & control
✅ Workshops & Labs that co-create visions of collective liberation
✅ Award-winning storytelling built for emotional impact & long-term change
Partners
We collaborate with partners worldwide to create storytelling experiences that drive real-world change — from Labs in Munich to workshops in Taiwan, and public activations from MozFest in the Netherlands — all exploring new, human-centered forms of emergent intelligence.
An Incredible Partnership
In partnership with Black Rhino VR for the UK/Kenya Season 2025, we’ve built a global network that connects experts, students, and creatives — helping partners co-create powerful, culturally grounded tech and storytelling experiences.
Collaborate With Us
Experience Latest Chronicle
Ascended Intelligence
Preview the Interactive Prototype* Click Below
✳︎ Prototype is desktop only and works best in Chrome browser.
Ascended Intelligence is the follow-up to Consensus Gentium, Karen Palmer’s award-winning immersive film that warned of the future of surveillance, digital ID systems, and emotional manipulation through AI.
● News & Events
Each chronicle represents a small part of the work that goes into building a community of thinkers. Our work is shared at events, talks, symposia and conference across the world.
Made Possible by the British Council Catalyst Grant
Future Chronicles website emerged from the British Council’s Catalyst Follow-On Grant (UK/Kenya Season 2025), in collaboration with Black Rhino VR. Launched with the global live webinar An Algorithm of Our Own, blending immersive storytelling, and future forecasting to reimagine decolonised AI and cultural agency.