Responsible AI backcasting
Bernardo Crespo Velasco
Strategic Innovator ◦ Digital Transformation Leader ◦ Academic Director at IE Business School ◦ Expert in AI, Digital Sustainability & Data & Tech Strategist ◦ Speaker & Author ◦ Empowering Growth Across Industries
In a world that had once been vibrant and bustling with technological advancements, the echoes of the digital era now linger as haunting reminders of a lost golden age. The towering, rusting logos of once-mighty tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, Nvidia, TikTok, Tencent, Alibaba, and OpenAI stand as somber monuments to their former dominance. The relentless march of progress, driven by these juggernauts, had promised a utopia of convenience and connectivity but ultimately led to a dystopian downfall.
The streets are desolate, filled with debris and the remnants of a civilization that placed its trust in artificial intelligence and the digital domain. The buildings, once sleek and modern, are now crumbling facades of neglect, their exposed rebar and shattered windows reflecting the decay that has seeped into every corner of society. Puddles of stagnant water collect in the cracks of the asphalt, mirroring the bleak, overcast skies above.
Among the ruins stands a young man, his face etched with dissatisfaction and anger. He embodies the disillusionment of a generation that grew up under the shadow of omnipotent tech companies and AI systems that promised to solve all problems but instead created new ones. His dark, tattered clothing and the intense expression in his eyes tell a story of survival and defiance in a world where the promises of the digital age have crumbled into ruins.
The symbols of the past lie scattered and rusting, their once-iconic presence now reduced to twisted metal and broken dreams. The dominance of AI and big tech had led to unprecedented levels of control and surveillance, stifling individuality and freedom. As resources dwindled and the environment deteriorated, society began to unravel. The overreliance on technology for every aspect of life left humanity ill-prepared for the cascading failures that followed.
The consequences of unchecked technological advancement and societal neglect are profound and multifaceted. Young men and women, disillusioned and marginalized by dating apps that perpetuate superficial judgments, are increasingly drawn to far-left and far-right extremist movements. This trend exacerbates social divisions and fuels political instability. The world is further destabilized by the pervasive influence of AI-generated fake news, which manipulates public perception and erodes trust in traditional media.
The population's attention spans, decimated by constant engagement with social media and networking applications, leave individuals vulnerable to the simplistic and emotive rhetoric of populist extremist leaders. These leaders exploit the fractured social fabric to gain power, promising easy solutions to complex problems. As a result, rational discourse and nuanced understanding are casualties in a society driven by reactionary impulses.
An aging population, having subverted the social system to favor their interests, exacerbates the generational divide. Young people face a bleak reality where opportunities for success are scarce, reserved for the remarkably talented or wealthy. This systemic inequality is compounded by a failure to distribute the productivity gains achieved through technological advancements, leading to stagnating real wages. Capital gains tax advantages disproportionately benefit tech billionaires, who resist redistributing their wealth back into society, further entrenching economic disparities.
The future also sees younger generations struggling to afford basic life milestones. Saddled with crippling student loan debt, they find it nearly impossible to buy homes, creating a sense of hopelessness and disenfranchisement. This economic precarity undermines social cohesion and fosters resentment towards a system that appears rigged against them.
Moreover, environmental degradation and resource depletion continue unchecked, as short-term profits are prioritized over sustainable practices. This negligence leads to increasingly frequent and severe climate disasters, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable communities. Health crises, exacerbated by overcrowded and underfunded healthcare systems, become more common, straining societal resilience.
In this grim reality, the lack of comprehensive and inclusive education further limits opportunities for social mobility, while pervasive surveillance erodes privacy and personal freedoms. The combination of these factors creates a society where despair and anger are common, and the fabric of civilization itself is at risk of unraveling.
In this post-digital apocalypse, the young man represents a flicker of hope and resistance. Amidst the decay and abandonment, he stands as a testament to the enduring human spirit, challenging the remnants of a bygone era. The world after the digital era is a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked technological advancement and the need for balance between innovation and humanity.
While this narrative is a work of fiction, I implore you, dear reader, to connect with the plight of these fictional parents, and to contemplate the questions you and your peers might posit, given the opportunity to scrutinize this imagined scenario and, through a transformative process, reshape the present to avert a dystopian future.
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Questions for Thought:
Throughout human history, the capacity to craft such visually compelling and lifelike projections has never been so accessible. This narrative seeks to ignite your outrage and catalyze a response that compels us to assume responsibility for shaping a future of our own design, a future designed for humans by augmented humans.
“Computers are useless. They only give you the answers.” –(attributed to) Pablo Picasso
Note: This article was 100% created by AI using a GPT specialized in crafting LinkedIN long articles. The idea of Responsible AI Backcasting and the context of the story and its images are 100% ideation of Bernardo Crespo.
Este artículo forma parte de un ejercicio del Programa Ejecutivo de Inteligencia Artificial de IE Business School.
Other AI-generated articles:
Bridging the Divide: Confronting AI-ableism in Our Digital Age | An article about how AI-ableism creates a digital divide where some benefit from augmented capabilities while others are left behind.
Sources of inspiration for this post: