Sci-Fi Dystopias: Are We Headed There?
The rise of AI, climate change, and global inequality have many wondering if we're on the path to a dystopian future. Do the themes of classic sci-fi dystopias and their cautionary tales hold any relevance in the modern world?
Though the question is intriguing, could it be happening right now? If you feel it is, then it has to be based on the assumption that humans are more powerful than nature.
But are we?
Technology has been marketed provocatively throughout history. Inventions have been sold even when the need never existed. If you believe in scientific data of how long humans have been on earth, then you would know that we have been doing fine without technology for thousands of years.
Going back in time is past hope. The ground reality says technology is supposed to make life easier. But we all know our lives are not any easier than a hundred years ago. Human problems still exist.
A biased scrutiny will conclude that technology could be leading us down a dangerous path. Otherwise, we are still in the same place we were - Unhappy and controlled by the elite faction.
Circling back to Are we more powerful than nature... I do not, for even a second, believe that we are. Nature has the power to reset itself. Because it is an ecosystem. Its evolution is longer than that of humans. Its intelligence is innate and beyond us. For now…
If we look through the lens of technology, we're living in a world where surveillance is rampant, and social control is increasingly powerful. From your phone feeds to every available product in the market, it is all administered. Even when you create a product, it is with the intent to sell for a profit. Everything is a psychological operation, giving you the illusion of control and ability to make choices.
Is this the beginning of a dystopian nightmare depicted in sci-fi books and movies?
As a writer and content creator, I'm fascinated by the potential for both good and evil in technology. Some of the classic dystopian visions and lessons from fiction narratives warn us about advancements. Iconic dystopian works like "1984", "Brave New World", and "The Handmaid's Tale" detail a very plausible future. Common themes in these classics is loss of control of our native abilities and dependance on artificial means to survive. These stories offer warnings of the coming.
Such themes have resonated with audiences over time and continue to be relevant today. Readers are picking up books that have been written decades ago as they still make sense. Actually, they make more sense today because some of it is a reality now.
The lines between science fiction and reality are blurring. Many technologies such as TV's, self-driving cars, hand-held devices such our phones, space-living on International Space Station is a reality. Even hover-rides are being tested. Soon robots will be sent for combats, and we can do away with human sacrifices. At the same time, AI-powered automation is taking over the scene with its efficiency and accuracy. It is still evolving, using you as the subject by offering free use. Bard AI by Google, Gemini, is a notch above Generative AI by OpenAI, ChatGPT. Bard AI is using the secret data collected by Google to learn. While Generative AI is still using the public data available to you and me. Many of us still rely on AI for research because it is faster. And we are all about saving time... for God knows what!?
And so…. Are the chilling dystopian worlds we see in movies and books actually closer than we think?
Or could it be that we are creating utopia?
I feel change is inevitable. If AI is the course of action, then we cannot hold back and risk being left out. At the same time, we have to find a middle ground to live with distorting future run by machines in the foreground.
Though the question is intriguing, could it be happening right now? If you feel it is, then it has to be based on the assumption that humans are more powerful than nature.
But are we?
Technology has been marketed provocatively throughout history. Inventions have been sold even when the need never existed. If you believe in scientific data of how long humans have been on earth, then you would know that we have been doing fine without technology for thousands of years.
Going back in time is past hope. The ground reality says technology is supposed to make life easier. But we all know our lives are not any easier than a hundred years ago. Human problems still exist.
A biased scrutiny will conclude that technology could be leading us down a dangerous path. Otherwise, we are still in the same place we were - Unhappy and controlled by the elite faction.
Circling back to Are we more powerful than nature... I do not, for even a second, believe that we are. Nature has the power to reset itself. Because it is an ecosystem. Its evolution is longer than that of humans. Its intelligence is innate and beyond us. For now…
If we look through the lens of technology, we're living in a world where surveillance is rampant, and social control is increasingly powerful. From your phone feeds to every available product in the market, it is all administered. Even when you create a product, it is with the intent to sell for a profit. Everything is a psychological operation, giving you the illusion of control and ability to make choices.
Is this the beginning of a dystopian nightmare depicted in sci-fi books and movies?
As a writer and content creator, I'm fascinated by the potential for both good and evil in technology. Some of the classic dystopian visions and lessons from fiction narratives warn us about advancements. Iconic dystopian works like "1984", "Brave New World", and "The Handmaid's Tale" detail a very plausible future. Common themes in these classics is loss of control of our native abilities and dependance on artificial means to survive. These stories offer warnings of the coming.
Such themes have resonated with audiences over time and continue to be relevant today. Readers are picking up books that have been written decades ago as they still make sense. Actually, they make more sense today because some of it is a reality now.
The lines between science fiction and reality are blurring. Many technologies such as TV's, self-driving cars, hand-held devices such our phones, space-living on International Space Station is a reality. Even hover-rides are being tested. Soon robots will be sent for combats, and we can do away with human sacrifices. At the same time, AI-powered automation is taking over the scene with its efficiency and accuracy. It is still evolving, using you as the subject by offering free use. Bard AI by Google, Gemini, is a notch above Generative AI by OpenAI, ChatGPT. Bard AI is using the secret data collected by Google to learn. While Generative AI is still using the public data available to you and me. Many of us still rely on AI for research because it is faster. And we are all about saving time... for God knows what!?
And so…. Are the chilling dystopian worlds we see in movies and books actually closer than we think?
Or could it be that we are creating utopia?
I feel change is inevitable. If AI is the course of action, then we cannot hold back and risk being left out. At the same time, we have to find a middle ground to live with distorting future run by machines in the foreground.
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