Over a long enough timeline, the future eventually becomes nostalgia for the past:
Whenever you see old Sci-Fi writers predictions in the ’50s and the ’80s
They were sometimes scarily accurate on some concepts
And yet on other areas seem so off.
Whenever they pictured computers they always pictured bigger computers;
Bigger mainframes, more flashing lights, fancier peripherals.
They missed the fact that as technology gets more advanced it tends to become miniaturized, and more accessible.
For some reason they seemed unable to imagine an alternative way to control the computers such as touch screens, or voice control. Even less imaginable, was the fact that these computers could communicate and be networked, so one handheld device can control another across the room or even across the world.
Many sci-fi books written in the ’50s saw robots controlled by radio controls, or magnetic tapes because that was the medium of the time. Although safe, imaginative Sci-Fi writers were able to capture new societal structures or cultures or technologies. They seemed unable to grasp a fundamental shift in the medium of society.
The future is difficult to predict because it disguises itself as the past.
Early phone calls were concise like telegrams.
Early movies looked like filmed plays.
This is what Marshall McLuhan called “driving to the future via the rearview window.
– Ivan Zhao
I wonder if we are now at that same stage with AI
In 60 years, will people look back at the time we’re in now
And the science fiction that was written now about the future,
And laugh at how short-sighted and quaint we wear.
Perhaps AI will usher in a new golden age.:
The investment and infrastructure and money that’s going into AI just now is the single biggest boom in human history,
Bigger than the American railroads and the infrastructure that brought about shorter travel distances and instant communication such as the telegram,
These new technologies ushered in a new age of health, prosperity, safety and cultural progression for everyone.
Out of the barbarity of the wild west came a new age
And yet we still look back with nostalgia. It’s the reason why westerns are such a popular genre.
There’s a romanticised view of the purity of these days and touched and unfettered by careers, electricity and other trappings of technology backed up your day when we use the fruits of our own labour.
People conveniently forget the sickness plagues, raiders, robbery, short lifespans, and misery of the times…
Will we look back at these ages the same way?
Will AI usher in a new age of efficiency equality,
And comfort for people
Perhaps it will control our infrastructure regular governments remove the need for mercy human politics for all controlled by a balanced AI system that determines policy.
Perhaps will be more comfortable. But will we more or less content, or just the same?
