It's June 17, 2040, and I'm standing on my balcony. The air is clean, the sky is bright blue – a matter of course since the energy crisis of 2032, which forced the whole of Europe to fully switch to renewable energies. Since then, cities have been green, car-free and traversed by floating expressways.

My day starts with a coffee from my vertical garden kitchen, where almost everything is grown by myself. My smartphone has long been a story – instead, I communicate through a neural interface that transforms thoughts into digital commands. I work as a historian in the virtual museum, which allows time travelers to experience history up close.

In the afternoon, I meet friends in a café made of sustainable 3D printed materials. Money no longer exists – AI-enabled resource allocation ensures prosperity for all. 2040 isn't perfect, but it's a world where we've learned from our mistakes.