Building Community in Newham, Together
A new app designed for the residents and community groups of the London Borough of Newham - connecting neighbours, amplifying voices, and turning local conversations into collective action. Powered thoughtfully by AI. Built for us, by us.
NEGOTIATING AI AS A COMMUNITY (NAIC)
Our Mission
What Are We Building Together?
NAIC - Negotiating AI as a Community — is not about replacing people with machines. It is about asserting the value of people in the age of the machine. AI is a tool to be used skilfully for our shared wellbeing, not something to worship or fear.
Competence
Developing individual and community capabilities so residents can think more clearly and act more effectively.
Coherence
Connecting people across Newham so that local knowledge and energy flows where it is needed most.
Capacity
Using AI as an organisational tool to increase the productive capacity of communities and community groups across the borough.
The Framework
Four Goals for the App
1
Visibility
Make it easy for people in Newham to see what's happening locally and where they belong.
2
Connection
Help people find and connect with others like them - or complementary to them.
3
Understanding
Turn conversations in Newham into shared understanding, not just noise.
4
Memory
Create a shared memory for Newham so that knowledge is never lost.
App Screen - Home Feed
Your Neighbourhood, In Your Pocket
What You'll See on the Home Screen
App Screen — Communities
Find Where You Belong
Communities in Newham
The app organises people around shared interests and shared challenges. Every resident can browse, join, or create a community. Here are some examples already in the app:
👨👩👧 Parents in Newham
Schools, childcare, family events and support.
🚗 Challenging Parking in Newham
Local issues, appeals, and collective action.
🛠️ Makers in Newham
Crafters, builders, and creative entrepreneurs.
Smart Introductions
The Right People, at the Right Time
Inspired by the logic of Lunch Club, the app's Smart Introductions feature uses AI to suggest meaningful one-to-one connections between residents — not random matches, but purposeful ones based on shared goals and complementary skills.
Similar Goal
"You should meet Amara - she's also working on reducing food waste in Forest Gate. You two should connect."
Complementary Skill
"You should meet Raj - you're both passionate about youth employment, and he has funding contacts you don't."
Hyper-Local Nudge
"5 people near you care deeply about housing. They're meeting this Thursday evening. Want to join?"
App Screen - Connect
Meet Virtually. Connect Meaningfully.
How Connecting Works
Reflections, Meditations & Storytelling
Posts That Go Beyond the Everyday
The app includes a dedicated space for deeper engagement — occasional reflections, ad hoc meditations, and AI-assisted storytelling. These are not passive features. Every interaction trains the model, improving recommendations over time.
Reflections
Occasional prompts to pause and reflect -shared with your community if you choose. Engagement here helps the AI learn what matters most to Newham residents.
Meditations
Ad hoc meditations available within the app. A quiet counterpoint to the busy feed - grounding residents in the present moment.
Storytelling
AI-generated art, stories, or social posts that celebrate Newham narratives - shareable to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to drive referrals and bring new residents into the community.
App Screen - Posts & Storytelling
Creative Expression as Open Dialogue
The Post Screen
Inspired by the open, exploratory spirit of Storia - the Post experience is designed like an open dialogue. There are no rigid prompts or required formats. You bring what you have. The community responds. AI helps surface the most meaningful exchanges.
App Screen — Settings
Your App, Your Way
Screenshot Placeholder 5
📱 Settings Screen
App screenshot coming soon. This screen will show dark mode / light mode toggle, email editing, notification preferences, and membership options - including premium features such as direct messaging.
Settings & Personalisation
Dark Mode / Light Mode - choose the visual experience that works for you
Edit Email - keep your account details up to date
Notification Preferences - decide what you hear about and when
Membership - upgrade to premium to unlock direct messaging and exclusive community features
AI Preferences - control how the app personalises your experience and recommendation-
Ethics of AI
AI as a Tool - Not a Master
"AI is not something to worship or fear. It is a tool. NAIC approaches AI as a means - something to be used skilfully for our shared wellbeing — not as an end in itself to be chased out of hype or fear of missing out."
An Example of Ethical AI in Practice
When the app's Smart Introduction feature suggests you meet someone, it tells you why. You see the reasoning. You choose whether to connect. The AI does not decide for you - it informs you. Residents retain full agency. The system is transparent, explainable, and in service of community - not the other way around.
Our Commitments
Augmented Community Intelligence
The Brain Is Us
The "Borough Brain" is not a computer. It is us - in dialogue, as a community, augmented by AI tools. We are building what we call Augmented Community Intelligence (ACI): a community that uses AI thoughtfully to enhance collaboration, learning, and collective decision-making.
Connect
Residents meet and share in the app
Grow
Communities act with coherence and capacity
Reflect
AI surfaces insights from community dialogue
Each stage feeds the next. The more residents connect and share, the smarter the recommendations become. The smarter the recommendations, the more meaningful the connections. A genuine flywheel — powered by people, not algorithms.
Your Voice Matters
Help Us Build the App You Need
We want this app to reflect the priorities of Newham residents - not just what we think you need. Below are four goals we're designing towards. Vote for the features that matter most to you and help shape what gets built first.
1
See What's Happening Locally
Make it easy to discover local events, issues, and opportunities - and find where you belong in the borough.
2
Find Your People
Connect with others in Newham who share your goals - or bring skills and perspectives that complement yours.
3
Turn Conversations into Clarity
Move beyond noise. Help good ideas surface, gain traction, and reach the people who can act on them.
4
Build a Shared Memory
Ensure that knowledge, decisions, and stories from across Newham are recorded and accessible - not lost over time.
Cast your vote at the session or via the link shared with you. Every response helps us prioritise what gets built in the next development cycle.
🙋 Hands Up - What Matters Most to You?
We're building this app for Newham. Tell us what you need.
Raise your hand when you hear the one that matters most to you.
1
See What's Happening Locally
Make it easy for people in Newham to see what's happening locally and where they belong.
2
Find Your People
Help people find and connect with others like them — or complementary to them.
3
Turn Conversations into Clarity
Turn conversations in Newham into shared understanding, not just noise.
4
Build a Shared Memory
Create a shared memory for Newham so that knowledge is never lost.
Every vote shapes what gets built first. Your voice is the product roadmap.
Next Steps
Join Us in Building This
NAIC is community building in the age of AI. We use AI to develop individual and community capabilities. We connect with each other to use those capabilities wisely and powerfully. Newham is where we start — and what we build here can become a model for boroughs across the country.
01
Join the Beta
Sign up to be an early user. Your feedback directly shapes the product.
02
Bring Your Community
Invite your community group, residents association, or local network to join the app and claim your space.
03
Shape the Future
Attend our ongoing workshops and open dialogues. Help us decide how AI should — and should not — be used in our community.