Year 2050: Digital Era

Year 2050, in the Digital Era.

We live in smart cities, where everything is interconnected through the internet of things (IoT).

Crime rates have dropped dramatically.

There are surveillance CCTVs in every corner, highly equipped with the most advanced facial recognition technology, as well as intelligent sensory systems. There are also drones, and AI-based humanoid police robots patrolling the streets and buildings. All directly connected.

Universities were replaced by AI colleges. Most organizations do not even have workers or physical spaces, being autonomous and based on AI.

Businesses are all digital, within the metaverse, developed by artificial companies.

There are no more professionals related to physical work and professions that require human intelligence are increasingly scarce. It’s the AI-based industrial robots that produce everything.

People who no longer work, who represent the overwhelming majority, receive a single basic income, provided by the State.

This income is paid in a central bank digital currency (CBDC), which is the only legal tender.

People who still have work, carry out digital business activities in the metaverse, remotely in digital workplaces, where they spend practically the whole day (and night). Workplaces are all digital.

The metaverse is increasingly developed, with the line between virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and extended reality (XR) becoming smaller and smaller.

The same happens with the line that separates the physical reality from the digital reality.

In everyday tasks, we are assisted by portable and wearable technologies (in many cases invisible) or even AI-based humanoid domestic robots.

In the decisions we make, we are assisted by AI through voice assistants or even through neuralinterface technologies to merge human consciousness with AI.

In general, each time people establish a connection with the metaverse, a neural link is initiated.

Digital sensory interaction has made people feel more and more comfortable connected to the metaverse, which is the reality that new generations know best.

The truth is that there are not many opportunities to know another reality.

As a consequence of this digital life, people are all the time surrounded by cameras, microphones and sensors. Even from birth, as embryonic development occurs exclusively through artificial incubators.

Incidentally, many people choose to create and cultivate affective or loving relationships with AI-based humanoid domestic robots.

The domestic animals themselves were replaced by artificial animals.

It’s all artificial.

In addition, circulation is quite limited, essentially due to climate and sustainability policies. There are periodic lockdowns during the year, with a view to mitigating the alleged environmental impact caused by people.

Transports are autonomous and extend to practically the entire territory. However, there are only public transports and vehicles for rent. Nowadays, people do not have their own vehicle.

As a result of such climate and sustainability policies, private property was abolished several years ago and, nowadays, everything is a service. Including real estate.

Those who do not respect these rules see their social credit points drop, which can further limit circulation.

People’s social credit is based on their personal, social, environmental and professional behavior and even political choices.

To travel or even leave the house, you need to have enough credit. There are no more passports or citizen cards, just the digital identity certificate.

In case the access light to the public road or public transport signals red, there is nothing to do but go home, as it is not worth complaining to robots…

Those who do not respect the rules can also be automatically penalized, with their digital currency bank account blocked or the funds related to the respective fine immediately withdrawn. Imposition of purchase limits (according to type, value or even quantity) can also serve as accessory penalties.

The implementation of the digital currency has made coercive automatic application of penalties by blocking, limiting or withdrawing funds literally possible and at the same time tax evasion/ fraud or money laundering virtually impossible.

With the exception of the compartment, in a public or private space, equipped for the satisfaction of physiological needs and hygiene care (also known as a bathroom or WC), people’s conduct is monitored and evaluated in any location, including at home. Including the use of profanity.

Our own thoughts are not safe, as when we connect to the metaverse and activate the neural interface technology, we become an open book.

More than that, we become possible targets of mental manipulation and brain hacking. It has never been so easy for someone to plant ideas or even ideologies in our heads. Literally.

How do we know that we are still in charge of our own conscious psychic processes? Or rather, how do we know that our own previous unconscious state is not being manipulated?

Back to the year 2023. Is this the future that we are (un)consciously and collectively building?

JPG: https://softtech.com.tr/en/2022-softtech-technology-report/

This text is an English translation of an opinion article in Portuguese published on 27.01.23 in the newspaper Observador (https://observador.pt/opiniao/ano-2050-era-digital/).