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about the episode
Speaker
Beatrice Erkers reads six Existential Hope Scenarios. Beatrice is the program manager of the Existential Hope program, and Chief of Operations at Foresight Institute. The positive scenarios were a collaborative output from our 2023 Existential Hope Day attendees.
Session Summary
This podcast has been created from our 2023 Existential Hope Day, held earlier this year. This workshop aimed to provide a forum for enhancing our conceptual clarity of what positive futures might look like. This includes understanding the what, how, and why of various ideas to determine their relevance and potential impact. The discussions aimed to deepen our understanding of the term ‘Existential Hope’ and similar concepts, probe why these concepts might have been sidelined, and delve into specific future visions.
The Scenarios
- AI-Enabled Personal Flourishing
- Multigenerational Habitat in Space
- Epistemic Revolution
- Good Singularity
- Flying Cows
- Human-AI Partnership / Paretopia
Dive into our 2023 Existential Hope Day: Report
Existential Hope was created to collect positive and possible scenarios for the future so that more people can commit to creating a brighter future, and to begin mapping out the main developments and challenges that need to be navigated to reach it. Existential Hope is a Foresight Institute project.
Hosted by Allison Duettmann and Beatrice Erkers
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About Xhope scenario
Xhope scenario
Multigenerational habitat in space
Listen to the Existential Hope podcast
Learn about this science
About the Scientist
This scenario was contributed by participants at Foresight Institute's 2023 Existential Hope day: https://foresight.org/foresight-existential-hope-day-2023/
About the artpiece
DALL·E by OpenAI is an AI system that can create realistic images and art from a description in natural language.
About xhope scenario
This future society is spread across different habitats in space and on Earth, all working together to create a better future.
One of the key values of this society is freedom, as people are encouraged to pursue their interests and collaborate in ways that are meaningful to them. However, the society also recognizes the importance of social cohesion and ecological sustainability. This is reflected in the design of the bioarchitecture spaceships, which incorporate recycling and fish ponds, as well as in the terraforming efforts and sustainable agriculture practices that are continuously being developed.
Education in this society is focused on depth and intentionality, with a particular emphasis on force multipliers that enable people to achieve more with less effort. Lectures are replaced by hands-on experiences, and people are encouraged to pursue their interests outside of the classroom. This has led to a culture of lifelong learning and personal growth, as people are able to pursue their passions and develop their skills at their own pace.
In terms of energy, the society has developed a cheap and abundant source that enables environmental protection and democratic access to resources like education. This has been a game-changer, as it has allowed the society to prioritize the needs of all its members, regardless of their socio-economic status.
From the zero-gravity sports that people enjoy, to the large-scale events like the Crystal Palace World Fair in space, this society is committed to making the future a better place for everyone.
Epistemic revolution
Listen to the Existential Hope podcast
Learn about this science
About the Scientist
This scenario was contributed by participants at Foresight Institute's 2023 Existential Hope day: https://foresight.org/foresight-existential-hope-day-2023/
About the artpiece
DALL·E by OpenAI is an AI system that can create realistic images and art from a description in natural language.
About xhope scenario
In this scenario we will have gone through an epistemic revolution where we drastically improve our conflict resolution and super learning. This future will also prioritize privacy and accessible education. AI will enable us to achieve super learning, and we will manage the abundance of AI to prevent any negative impact on society.
With AI-enabled super learning, we will be able to learn and process information at a much faster rate than ever before. This will lead to significant advances in technology and society. Moreover, privacy will be a top priority, and we will have systems in place to maintain it. Accessible education will be a fundamental right for all, providing equal opportunities for all individuals to succeed.
One of the significant challenges we will face in getting to this future is maintaining privacy while using AI. Additionally, we will need to ensure that the abundance of AI is distributed equally, and the power of managing it is not concentrated in the hands of a few.
Meaning through Human-AI Partnership/Paretotopia
Listen to the Existential Hope podcast
Learn about this science
About the Scientist
This scenario was contributed by participants at Foresight Institute's 2023 Existential Hope day: https://foresight.org/foresight-existential-hope-day-2023/
About the artpiece
Midjourney is an independent research lab that produces an artificial intelligence program under the same name that creates images from textual descriptions, similar to OpenAI's DALL-E and Stable Diffusion.
About xhope scenario
This is an Xhope scenario of a world where technology, particularly Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and clean energy, have enabled an abundance of material resources and longevity. This abundance allows for greater cooperation and respect among individuals and communities, leading to a more meaningful existence. AGI-assisted humans are able to align with their individual meanings, and may even form symbiotic relationships with AI, joining aligned communities of meaning. AI serves as a mediator for these communities, which thrive in a Pareto-optimal utopia where everyone benefits. Solarpunk communities exemplify this future, where humans and AI cooperate in a world of abundance and shared meaning.
Good Singularity
Listen to the Existential Hope podcast
Learn about this science
About the Scientist
This scenario was contributed by participants at Foresight Institute's 2023 Existential Hope day: https://foresight.org/foresight-existential-hope-day-2023/
About the artpiece
Midjourney is an independent research lab that produces an artificial intelligence program under the same name that creates images from textual descriptions, similar to OpenAI's DALL-E and Stable Diffusion.
About xhope scenario
This scenario shows a world where technology growth is balanced with human flourishing, and existential risks are minimized. It is driven by improvements in education, family structures, banking systems, governments, and the arts. Universal Basic Income (UBI) has been implemented, allowing for a society that values and supports all individuals. Wildlife is also protected and valued.
A key aspect of this scenario is the establishment of a true truth system, which promotes transparency and accountability across all areas of society. The singularity, or technological advancement, is growing at an optimum rate and is aligned with human values.
The path to this scenario was lined with a few key indicators of progress. In 10 years from now, there were fewer wars, windfall trusts, and higher approval ratings for congress. Activist groups were launching faster and the economy was thriving.
In 50 years, this scenario has fully manifested. The world is a more peaceful and just place, with a thriving global economy that supports all individuals. The true truth system is fully established and provides a framework for transparent decision-making. The singularity has continued to advance, but always in alignment with human values, allowing for continued growth and progress.
Flying cows
Listen to the Existential Hope podcast
Learn about this science
About the Scientist
This scenario was contributed by participants at Foresight Institute's 2023 Existential Hope day: https://foresight.org/foresight-existential-hope-day-2023/
About the artpiece
Midjourney is an independent research lab that produces an artificial intelligence program under the same name that creates images from textual descriptions, similar to OpenAI's DALL-E and Stable Diffusion.
About xhope scenario
In this scenario we will have a renewable energy system and connected infrastructure that increases human well-being, promotes beauty, love, and truth, while being mindful of the environment. This system will be designed with the lightest possible touch, allowing maximum freedom while still being appropriate for Earth and other planets through terraforming. Data privacy will be a top priority, and the platform will be decentralized, relying on peer-to-peer networks for operation.
The energy system will provide unlimited clean energy, which will power innovative modes of transportation such as e-bikes that can take you hundreds of miles and even fly. There will be solarpunk flying e-bike pathways over the countryside, with drone birds and animals grouped together, allowing old and healthy people to experience nature in a new way. These safe e-bike pathways will connect with each other, providing access to different locations.
However, this future was not reached without challenges. Climate change and the centralization of AI to corporate powers were massive challenges that we must overcome to get here.
AI-enabled personal flourishing
Listen to the Existential Hope podcast
Learn about this science
About the Scientist
This scenario was contributed by participants at Foresight Institute's 2023 Existential Hope day: https://foresight.org/foresight-existential-hope-day-2023/
About the artpiece
DALL-E is a computer program developed by OpenAI that is capable of generating images from textual descriptions. The name "DALL-E" is a combination of the artist Salvador Dali and the character EVE from the movie Wall-E. Using natural language descriptions as input, DALL-E can create a wide range of images, from fantastical creatures to everyday objects, and even scenes with abstract concepts. The technology behind DALL-E is based on a generative model called GPT-3, which was trained on a massive amount of text data to enable it to understand human language and generate responses.
About xhope scenario
In this future society, technology, particularly AI plays a crucial role in helping individuals become better versions of themselves. Through personalized feedback, insights into decision-making processes, and input from others, AI can assist people in making choices that reflect their deeper values and goals.
AI-powered fitness and sleep trackers, financial apps, career coaches, and time management apps are some examples of how AI can provide personalized feedback to help individuals improve their health, finances, and productivity. By analyzing past choices and behaviors, AI can help individuals identify patterns and biases that may prevent them from making decisions that align with their values.
Moreover, new technologies such as decision markets and aligned AI-powered social media platforms can provide individuals with input from others whose opinions they care about. This feedback can help individuals better understand how their choices and behaviors are perceived by others and make decisions that align with their values and goals.
However, the society recognizes that AI is not a panacea and that its effectiveness is only as good as the effort put into it. Therefore, society must ensure that AI aligns with their values and works towards this goal.
Transcript
Today, we're releasing a special episode of the Existential Hope Podcast. We're going to explore a few of the existential Hope scenarios that were created during the Foresight Institute Existential Hope Day, which took place in early 2023. It was an event that invited a few brilliant minds from different fields to imagine positive futures. We covered several different subjects everything from the potential of AI in education and conflict resolution to the idea of human habitats venturing beyond Earth. So, this was an opportunity to explore and discuss dreams about positive directories that our shared future might follow. As we unpack these concepts, we also focus on trying to achieve that very difficult balance of understanding the potential risks we face while also not losing sight of the hopeful futures that we could potentially create.
So, if you're wondering what these bright futures potentially could look like, we are here to share a few of these envisioned existential hope scenarios. So let's get started!
Scenario one. This one is called AI-enabled personal flourishing. In this future society, technology, particularly AI plays a crucial role in helping individuals become better versions of themselves. Through personalised feedback insights into decision-making processes and input from others. AI can assist people in making choices that reflect their deepest values and goals. AI-powered fitness and sleep trackers financial apps, career coaches, and time management apps are some examples of how AI can provide personalised feedback to help individuals improve their health, finances and productivity. By analysing past choices and behaviours, AI can help individuals identify patterns and biases that may prevent them from making decisions that align with their values. Moreover, new technologies such as decision markets and aligned AI-powered social media platforms can provide individuals with input from others whose opinions they care about. This feedback can help individuals better understand how their choices and behaviours are perceived by others and make decisions that align with their values and goals. However, this society recognises that AI is not a panacea and that its effectiveness is only as good as the effort put into it. Therefore, this society must ensure that AI aligns with our values and works towards this goal.
Scenario two is called Multigenerational Habitat in Space. This future society is spread across different habitats in space and on Earth, all working together to create a better future. One of the key values of this society is freedom as people are encouraged to pursue their interests and collaborate in ways that are meaningful to them. However, the society also recognises the importance of social cohesion and ecological sustainability. This is reflected in the design of the bio-architecture spaceships, which incorporate recycling and fish ponds, as well as in the terraforming efforts and sustainable agriculture practices that are continuously being developed. Education in this society is focused on depth and intentionality, with a particular emphasis on force multipliers that enable people to achieve more with less effort. Lectures are replaced by hands-on experiences, and people are encouraged to pursue their interests outside of the classroom. This has led to a culture of lifelong learning and personal growth as people are able to pursue their passions and develop their skills at their own pace. In terms of energy, society has developed a cheap and abundant source that enables environment environmental protection and democratic access to resources like education. This has been a game changer, as it has allowed the society to prioritise the needs of all its members, regardless of their socioeconomic status. From the zero gravity sports that people enjoy to the large scale events like the Crystal Palace, World Fair and space, this is it is committed to making the future a better place for everyone.
The third scenario that was suggested is called epistemic revolution. In this scenario, we will have gone through an epistemic revolution, where we drastically improve our conflict resolution and super learning. This future will also prioritise privacy and accessible education. AI will enable us to achieve super learning, and we will manage the abundance of AI to prevent any negative impact on society. With AI-enabled super learning, we will be able to learn and process information at a much faster rate than ever, which will lead to significant advances in technology and society. Moreover, privacy will be a top priority, and we will have systems in place to maintain it. Accessible Education will be a fundamental right for all providing equal opportunities for all individuals to succeed. One of the significant challenges we will face in this future is maintaining privacy while using AI. Additionally, additionally, we will need to ensure that the abundance of AI is distributed equally and the power of managing it is not concentrated in the hands of a few.
The fourth scenario is called good singularity. This scenario shows a world where technology growth is balanced with human flourishing and existential risks are minimised. It is driven by improvements in education, family structures, banking systems, governments and the arts. Universal Basic Income has been implemented, allowing for a society that values and supports all individuals; wildlife is also protected and valued. A key aspect of this scenario is the establishment of a true truth system, which promotes transparency and accountability across all areas of society. The singularity or technological advancement is growing at an optimum rate and is aligned with human values. The path to this scenario was lined with a few key indicators of progress. In 10 years from now, there were fewer wars, windfall trusts, and higher approval ratings for Congress. Activist groups were launching faster, and the economy was thriving. In 50 years, this scenario is fully manifested. The world is a more peaceful and just place with a thriving global economy that supports all individuals. The true truth system is fully established and provides a framework for transparent decision-making. The Singularity has continued to advance but is always in alignment with human values, allowing for continued growth and progress.
Scenario number five is called Flying Cows. In this scenario, we will have a renewable energy system and connected infrastructure that increases human well-being and promotes beauty, love and truth. At the same time, being mindful of the environment. This system will be designed with the lightest possible touch, allowing maximum freedom while still being appropriate for Earth and other planets through terraforming. Data privacy will be a top priority, and the platform will be decentralised relying on peer-to-peer networks for operation. The energy system will provide unlimited clean energy which will power innovative models of transportation, such as E-bikes that can take you hundreds of miles and even fly. There will be solar punk flying ebike pathways over the countryside. With drone birds and animals grouped together allowing old and healthy people to experience nature in a new way. These safe e-bike pathways will connect with each other, providing access to different locations. However, this future was not reached without challenges. Climate change and the centralization of AI to corporate powers were massive challenges that we must overcome together.
The last scenario we will touch on today is called the human-AI partnership. This is an existential scenario of a world where technology in particular AI, AGI, and clean energy have enabled an abundance of material resources and longevity. This abundance allows for greater cooperation and respect among individuals and communities leading to a more meaningful existent existence. AGI-assisted humans are able to align with their individual meanings and may even form symbiotic relationships with AI adjoining aligned communities of meaning. Ai serves as a mediator for these communities, which thrive in a Pareto optimal utopia where everyone benefits. Solar punk communities exemplify this future where humans and AI cooperate in a world of abundance and shared meaning.
If you'd like to explore any of these existential hope scenarios further, I suggest you dive into it at existentialhope.com. If you visit this website, you'll be able to find more detailed discussions on each scenario. And you can also admire some of the beautiful AI-generated art inspired by these patients. And so as we look forward to next year's workshop, we're excited to dig deeper into these concepts and continue enriching this dialogue. So thank you to everyone who's listening.
Before we conclude, I just like to say a quick reminder to please sign up for the monthly newsletter and hope drop, from the starting page of existential hope.com.
See you next time!
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RECOMMENDED READING
Existential Hope Day 2023 Report – Foresight Institute
