I’m not a doomsday guy, and I don’t believe in the apocalypse theories that AI is going to wipe out all of humanity in the next few years, nor do I believe that one day AI will ever create a utopia of care-free living for humanity. But I do wonder whether the world order we’ve known since the end of World War II will cease to exist.

What I mean by that is that civil society in the developed world has, for decades, rested on a certain balance: political stability, economic growth, access to natural resources, the ability to earn a living and buy a home, the opportunity to develop intellectually through learning and education, and, perhaps most fundamentally, the expectation that we can live our lives without being killed by autonomous weapons. But I see many of those assumptions changing right before my eyes.

Politics seems to be moving toward fascism and greater authoritarianism. The governments of most major economies are carrying tremendously dangerous levels of debt. Natural resources are becoming more constrained. Automation and AI are beginning to wipe out large swaths of employment. Much of Gen Z may never be able to afford a home. At the same time, younger generations seem increasingly immersed in things like social media that make sustained attention, intellectual development, and independent thought nearly impossible. The threat of drone warfare is also expanding, while stable global alliances appear increasingly fragile. Climate change is already disrupting where and how many people live.

None of this necessarily means civilization is going to collapse. I’m not expecting humanity to be wiped out by AI, global warming, nuclear proliferation, or an unstoppable virus, although I suppose any of those things are possible. What I expect is something much more mundane, and perhaps therefore more unsettling.

I expect major disruption.

More poverty. More insecurity. More unrest. More militarization. More instability in the ordinary routines of daily life. Perhaps simply a world that is more unpleasant to live in.

That is what makes me wonder about 2035. I am pretty sure most of humanity will still be here, but whether the civilization we grew up assuming would continue to exist will still be recognizable.

I don’t see much point in worrying about it. If I look in the rearview mirror, I’ve already had a pretty good life. Whatever happens, happens. But I find myself wondering what ordinary life will actually feel like five or seven years from now.

In my view, it's not whether the world ends, but whether the world we know gradually becomes something else without us ever being able to identify the precise moment everything completely changed.

But I do wonder whether the world order we’ve known since the end of World War II will cease to exist.

False assumptions.

First of all, the Mid century prosperity in America began to unravel as soon as Ronald Reagan was sworn in January 21, 1981 for a whole list of policies that basically destroyed middle class America.

Unqualified celebrity with a fancy mouth fooling millions of people.

Functionally, no different than Donald Trump.

So the world Boomers grew up in pre 81 no longer exists.

Second, the Nerd Reich will take over power and you can't stop them because they can and will co-opt Democrats in the future if they can't use their boy Trump any longer.

1 hour ago, SoCal1990 said:

Politics seems to be moving toward fascism and greater authoritarianism.

Very intelligent post.

No time to reply to all points, but for this one:

The new AI economy empowers the little guy, because you are no longer forced to stay in crappy jobs and no longer forced to work in corrupt organizations and compromise your integrity to survive. Assuming of course govts wield it ethically.

If govts step out of line too much, they are afraid of the masses revolting. Which has happened numerous times in history.

This is no conspiracy stuff, it's all out there for all to read.

Look up Peter Thiel and his vision for world economy. He has the money, and so do his cronies. When Musk et al talk about the new world they will build it is Thiel's inspiration they are talking about.

In his own words:

The initial founding vision was that we were going to use technology to change the whole world and basically overturn the monetary system of the world… the basic idea was that we could never win an election on getting certain things because we were in such a small minority… But maybe you could actually unilaterally change the world—without having to constantly convince people and beg people and plead with people who were never going to agree with you—through technological means… technology is this incredible alternative to politics.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

Very intelligent post.

No time to reply to all points, but for this one:

The new AI economy empowers the little guy, because you are no longer forced to stay in crappy jobs and no longer forced to work in corrupt organizations and compromise your integrity to survive. Assuming of course govts wield it ethically.

If govts step out of line too much, they are afraid of the masses revolting. Which has happened numerous times in history.

The downside I see in all of this is that so many young people are trying to earn money purely online now, some moving to Thailand and calling themselves digital nomads, influencers, and online coaches. Others simply refer to them as begpackers or griftpackers or backpackers with a laptop. Many just sell redundant merchandise in the form of nothing more than T-shirts and unhealthy energy drinks filled with stimulants.

Power to them if they can figure out a way to earn a living legally while seemingly doing practically nothing for it, but I do see a downside to it all. Nobody really seems to aspire to develop themselves into anything meaningful anymore. Everyone is looking for the lazy way out, a quick way to retire at 30 without having to contribute anything of real value back to the world.

I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting old, but it seems like many of them aren't really developing any meaningful knowledge or skills that will carry them into their later years in life. Do you really think that's a good direction for the world to be headed?

38 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting old, but it seems like many of them aren't really developing any meaningful knowledge or skills that will carry them into their later years in life. Do you really think that's a good direction for the world to be headed?

That's a tough question.

Elon Musk said the biggest problem with AI taking jobs is "loss of meaning".

But that assumed you had a job with meaning to being with.

Many people don't.

I saw Bill Gates in an interview. He was not pleased when he realized that AI will ask him to step aside and take over trying to find a cure for malaria. But on the other hand, AI may find cures to diseases much faster than humans can.

It's not clear if we are heading towards a society of increasing alcoholism, drug use, and despondency.

And yet people are still having babies.

Screw we (you), I'm concerned about me. I'll turn 81 at the end of 2035, if I don't crap out before that. I only know one relative on my mother's side that made past 81, my cousin, 84.

The world is fine, plenty of food, sunshine/rainfall, fossil fuel, and intertwined world powers that realize, WW ? , type wars aren't profitable or survivable, so no worries.

The climate won't change enough, The political left & right will always remain split, but neither dominant, so plenty of fake news to argue over while your tax dollars are stolen from right in front of you.

Taxes will be raised again, for yet another world ending catastrphe that will never happen. WW 3 will continue to be pending, but will never happen, and we'll raise budget spending, JIC.

Expect a few more oil crises. You idiots will probably fall for another scamdemic also, as that was too easy ... bah bah bah

I'll sit here, not on AN, thankfully, and chuckle at y'all, the ignorant world, for the next 9 years, if Buddha permits.

Oh yea, and ... GOD BLESS AMERICA

Edited 55 minutes ago55 min by KhunLA