top of page

Lockdown 1.0, 2020: Please do digital things now, offline is illegal, people are illegal. Lockdown 4.0, 2023: Locking away all digital things & AI, all that I have left in my life now.

Anonymous

June 7, 2023

Lockdown 1.0, 2020: Please do digital things now, offline is illegal, people are illegal. Lockdown 4.0, 2023: Locking away all digital things & AI, all that I have left in my life now.

This image was generated with Dream Studio AI.

It is the year 2040. I am struggling to make ends meet, here, in the US, the place I immigrated to in 2024. I meet a crazy old professor - he invented a time machine! I travel back to the year 2023 to make a change in this form, stating how in 2020, my job was cancelled, and then I was sent into solitary confinement without a crime for two years. I have lost all real-life relationships I've had, I explain, telling a sad tale of Lockdown and the fact that my parents died years ago - I have no family, I was a persona non grata, I was illegal, and without a job. But it is also a story of hope, I explain, because I have adjusted, I am fighting for myself, and now I consider myself to be "AI & I". I use generative AI in many forms, and it is roughly a third of my income right now. Just yesterday I have used GPT4 / ChatGPT to fix a piece of code I would have had trouble fixing in less than an hour, I said! And I said that I am now very afraid of another Lockdown. After I have died the social death, I am afraid of a Lockdown first happening in Italy, and then shortly after, grasping Germany. This time, a digital Lockdown. First my social life was destroyed, and now I feel hunted again, afraid of losing my income, AGAIN, to Lockdown 4.0. I continue, saying how the only positive thing about this is - the fact that I can run away from the Lockdown, and even years later, from another country, when I am legal to use ChatGPT again - the AI will be the same! It will not be destroyed like my social relationships, I just need to run away to get access in a better place, so I can keep my job! But I am very afraid of an avian flu lockdown, I explain, because that would be a double-lockdown. I would be locked up without a job, without help, without friends, without anything. I am afraid of losing my mental and physical existence this time, I pleaded, hoping somebody would hear me, think twice. Or if I should really try my best to run away to the USA, just so I am safe from the deadliest Lockdown ever, the Lockdown 4.0, that has even more of a risk - a solid chance I will not be able to survive this one....

related stories

hallo
carrollcolette59@gmail.com
I would like to see peace on earth. Countries helping each other instead of fighting. I would like to see the housing crisis sorted and that no one should ever have to be homeless regardless of their situation. A better medical system in Ireland where everyone is treated fairly and all on a countrywide healthcare system.
hallo
takacanamaria00@gmail.com
Since we are in 2040 . I want our future to be twice as good. To introduce some new ways to maintain the cleanliness of the environment and air. And that all wars be stopped and that we all live normal lives in peace and harmony. Most likely, it would improve jobs and increase pay and create more shelters for the homeless. She would most like to change the way she treats each other. To introduce better systems in schools and for children to have a carefree childhood. And as far as environmental pollution is concerned, electric cars should be introduced to reduce pollution. And more use bikes and public transport that would be among the cheaper or even free. I think that's all she'd change.
hallo
Gpolujanskaite000@gmail.com
It's been 2040 and I still remember 2025. A year of turmoil over the war in Ukraine, price rises, anger. Anger in most people's hearts. I wouldn't have thought that 2040 would be a completely different year. We will have freedom for love, freedom for culture and stronger education for children at school on everyday issues. We have become happier, more understanding and less public anger. Our world became more beautiful, and so little was needed, just love.
hallo
Tadakaalus eluharjumused
Mental health issues are becoming more and more topical. In the future, already since kindergarten children, we have raised awareness of how to live a more fulfilling life by shaping our habits-sleep, nutrition, movement are balanced and ensure vitality and longevity, and there are skills on how to help yourself on mental health issues and notice the concerns of others.
Join #OurFutures now!

The future is shaped by our ideas and our actions today. Tell us about your visions of the future and help us create a futures narrative aimed at inspiring citizens, policy-makers and foresight experts alike!

Our-futures-banner-coloured_v3.jpg

The European Commission support does not constitute endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained.

ERA_logo.jpg

We support the European Research Area aimed at creating a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology in the EU.

©OurFutures 2025, All rights reserved.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
bottom of page