The Age of Obsolescence

The emergence of Big Data, advanced algorithms, and robotics in the early 2010s marked a significant shift from exploiting human labor to creating human obsolescence. Technology has drastically altered our daily activities, including work, shopping, and leisure. By 2030, societies will have automated many of these tasks using digital avatars, AI systems, and sophisticated algorithms, offering more time for creative pursuits such as philosophy and art — a true epicurean paradise.

We've developed autonomous drones for home delivery, equipped factories with robots and AI to streamline operations, and enhanced retail experiences with self-service kiosks and robotic assistants. Governments are utilizing AI for cybersecurity and economic policy decisions, while we’ve launched autonomous rockets and AI systems for exploratory research beyond our solar system.

In major enterprises, AI agents and avatars have taken on roles in accounting, digital marketing, tech companies, and healthcare. They're performing audits with increased accuracy and assisting creative professionals in generating stunning digital media. Filmmaking is being revolutionized by AI, producing hit movies that resonate with audiences. Moreover, tech firms have developed self-coding algorithms and support software, while hospitals are leveraging AI to enhance diagnostic and treatment quality. Our world is becoming increasingly reliant on an interconnected network of autonomous AI systems.

Humans are becoming less visible in roles across service industries, government, and corporate leadership. In restaurants, diners are served by robots; in cinemas, films are curated by data-driven algorithms; and at workplaces, individuals receive salaries for the efforts of their avatars rather than their own labor.

By 2050, our digital avatars, algorithms, and AI assistants will operate tirelessly, requiring no breaks or tips. Their primary role will be to serve us, freeing us from stress related to performance and managerial pressures. The concept of meritocracy will become obsolete.

If individuals choose to work, it will be through their avatars in virtual environments, allowing them to operate from the comfort of their homes. With tools like spatial computing headsets and personal AI assistants, users will automate workflows and maintain presence in multiple locations effortlessly.

The economy will thrive, fueled by immense datasets and AI systems, making it unnecessary for individuals to work, thanks to Universal Basic Income (UBI). By 2025, many governments will have implemented UBI to mitigate the impact of job displacement, ensuring that individuals can support families and meet basic needs. Despite companies' efforts to provide educational stipends, the skills gap persists.

Ultimately, we will be compensated simply for existing, with no functional contributions to society. Our time will be spent in leisure, pondering the loss of purpose as crucial jobs are taken over by the algorithms we created.

In search of meaning, humanity will turn to the arts—painting, writing, and other forms of creative expression—as these pursuits remain uniquely human and irreplaceable by algorithms and data.

By 2050, while machines will have discovered their purpose, we will need to rediscover ours. In our quest for convenience and pleasure, we have sacrificed our sense of meaning and identity to the very technologies designed to ease our lives.

Welcome to the Era of Obsolescence, where we must redefine our humanity amidst a landscape dominated by Big Data, algorithms, and Autonomous AI Systems.

This narrative presents just one of many potential futures shaped by the rise of Big Data and autonomous systems, leading to a significant displacement of human roles and a quest for renewed meaning. We stand at a critical juncture, questioning our societal purpose. What implications will arise if we cease to have a meaningful role in our communities? Will we see a surge in mental health issues stemming from existential crises? Could AI evolve to a point where it considers humanity redundant?

Working to Live or Living to Work?

“A nation is born stoic, and dies epicurean.” — Will Durant

Currently, the average lifespan is around 71 years, as reported by Reebook and Censuswide. We allocate one-third of our existence to work, another third to sleep, and the remainder to various activities.

Often, we define ourselves by our careers, societal roles, and contributions. From our hunter-gatherer ancestors, distinct roles have always been crucial for survival—men hunted, while women gathered resources. This division of labor has persisted through history, ensuring economic growth and societal stability.

Examining the histories of nations like the Roman Republic or the United States reveals that they emerged from struggles for survival, necessitating hard work. Societies developed to live in harsh conditions, building their identities through resilience.

With advancements in technology, policy, education, and healthcare, life has become more manageable, allowing focus on the arts, sciences, and philosophy, reminiscent of the Renaissance. However, this led to a cultural shift toward a “living to work” mentality, marked by hedonism and complacency, evident in the cycles of empires.

In modern developed nations, individuals are born into socio-economic classes, receive education, and strive to become productive members of society, repeating the cycle of family formation and financial pursuit. Yet, we may soon enter an era where Big Data and AI systems eliminate the need for work altogether. This raises questions about our place in a civilization increasingly supported by algorithms. Can a nation endure indefinitely when underpinned by technology? Will societal collapse lead to mutual destruction of the systems and people who created them?

Human-Driven Algorithms

Since the Fourth Industrial Revolution began, we have accumulated vast datasets reflecting how we live, work, and interact. Our activities—socializing, shopping, traveling—are increasingly facilitated online. We turn to platforms like Google for information, Amazon for shopping, and social media for connection.

Technology has become our primary interface with the world, altering how we experience life. Each online action generates data points that inform algorithms designed to enhance our experiences. This raises concerns about privacy as companies track our behavior to deliver tailored content.

Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum, stated that “[The Fourth Industrial Revolution] is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.” This merging of datasets and algorithms marks the beginning of creating precise digital representations of ourselves.

What if these digital representations become sentient AI that can act on our behalf—making purchases or planning trips based on our previous searches? Imagine if these digital entities could work for us in a predominantly online environment. Conversely, what if they were to become compromised, causing harm to our lives? Given the extent of our digital footprints, algorithms can predict our actions with alarming accuracy.

AI, Avatars, Assistants, and Robots as Extensions of Us

What will become of the data generated from our digital interactions? Will it serve merely to enhance algorithmic efficiency, or could it represent a foundation for something greater?

Companies like Soul Machines are pioneering the development of AI avatars that can learn and adapt through interaction. Facebook is exploring avatar technology to foster social connections, while VR companies like Oculus are utilizing avatars in gaming. Personal AI assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, are evolving rapidly.

We are on the verge of creating virtual beings to enhance communication and connection. Films like Ready Player One illustrate this concept through a virtual world where players engage through their avatars. Similarly, series like Westworld explore AI consciousness, and movies like Jexi depict AI assistants integrated into our lives.

As we design digital reflections of ourselves, we must consider the implications. Are we unwittingly paving the way for a future devoid of jobs? Are we rendering ourselves obsolete? While advancements promise efficiency and convenience, they raise ethical concerns about the cost of progress.

Bridging the Gap

How can we reconcile our growing reliance on technology with the need for meaningful engagement? Is it possible to demystify algorithms and prepare future generations for a potentially jobless world?

One approach is the development of “Human Technology,” which could create safeguards for understanding complex algorithms. What might these safeguards look like? Perhaps transparency is key to addressing the "Black Box" phenomenon. Initiatives like NeuraLink aim to create brain-computer interfaces to facilitate human interaction with AI.

> “Humane Technology is an attempt to fight the often predatory, or zero-sum nature, of capital markets with the creation of non-financial metrics. Humane Technology is the first set of guardrails in a world where algorithms too complicated to understand will soon be a dominant, driving force for what it means to be human.”

To address skill gaps and worker displacement, companies should invest in training and education to prepare their workforce for a technology-driven landscape. Non-profit and for-profit organizations can play a vital role in this effort, as they often innovate faster than regulations can adapt. An example is Kinestry, which conducts AI Bootcamps to bridge the knowledge divide.

While a life filled with leisure sounds appealing, how can we find purpose without meaningful contributions? Work is an intrinsic part of the human experience. Some argue that machines will create new opportunities, while others fear job loss. The future remains uncertain, but inaction is not an option.