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
Czy to bajka, czy nie bajka?
A better future... We drive electric cars, and electricity to them is provided by wind and nuclear power plants. Non-organic plastic replaced glass, in a garbage incineration plant with efficient filters made waste pits finally unnecessary. The air in Polish cities is suitable for breathing even in winter, and in summer we are not afraid of drought and lack of water. And instead of arming, we spend money on health protection and equal opportunities for children and adolescents. All this may be possible, but I'll put it between the fairy tales...
hallo
Den gröna framtiden
I would like to see a future where there has been a major change for the benefit of the environment and the future of the planet. Solar, wind and hydropower have replaced fossil energy sources. Buildings, houses, etc. are equipped to be self-sufficient both in terms of energy and, for example, basic raw materials such as potatoes and the like. Public transport has switched entirely to electric vehicles and there are incredible high-speed trains that can compete with flights between major cities.
hallo
Naturen er reddet
You have invented a technology that effectively breaks down CO2 from the atmosphere and you are back to a world without climate change. The gardens are healthy with beautiful coral reefs and full of fish. In the North there is winter with long periods of snow. Farther south in Europe there are rarer forest fires and normal amounts of rain that give good breeding. There are no climate refugees. They appreciate nature more and seek it out often. Animal welfare is also an important focus area and you eat less meat. Smartphones and computers are used less often, and you are less accessible by phone/mail both privately and at work.
hallo
Podróże w czasie
In 2040, the world looked very different than it did twenty years ago. Poland has become a peaceful, safe and united country around common values. The streets were clean, the cities well organized, and people lived in harmony, valuing their traditions and culture. There was an atmosphere of tranquility in the towns, with children playing in the backyards without fear, the elderly walking in the parks, and the neighbours knowing each other and helping each other in their daily lives. Local communities thrived and small family businesses thrived, supported by modern technologies and a conscious approach to the economy. There were no problems with crime or riots. The authorities have made sure that the country develops in a sustainable and safe way. Young people had good prospects – they could educate themselves at a high level, develop their passions and be sure that they would find a decent job. Thanks to a wise economic policy, Poland became self-sufficient – agriculture flourished, domestic companies produced modern technologies, and people enjoyed stability and prosperity. Society was united, proud of its history and ready to build the future in accordance with its own values. In the evening, sitting on the terrace of his house, John looked at the quiet streets and felt gratitude. He knew that his children were growing up in a world where they could feel safe, respect their roots and build a better future for generations to come.
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