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
cortinovis.fabio@inwind.it
In 2040, everyday life is profoundly transformed by technology. Cities are smart, with self-sufficient buildings using solar energy and self-driving transport networks. Autonomous cars are finally a reality, reducing road traffic and reducing polluting emissions. Artificial intelligence is embedded in every aspect of society: Virtual assistants manage the house, book appointments and optimize work activities. Remote working is the norm, with holograms replacing video calls, making meetings more immersive. Medicine has also made great strides. Thanks to biotechnology, genetic diseases have almost disappeared and nanotechnologies allow immediate treatment for many diseases. Human longevity has increased, with many people over 100 in excellent health. Education is fully personalised where students learn through interactive experiences. However, new challenges are emerging. Dependence on technology raises ethical and social issues, and humanity must address the delicate balance between progress and mental well-being. Overall, 2040 is an era of extraordinary possibilities, where innovation continues to redefine the way we live, work and interact with the world.
hallo
jukka.sarvi@gmail.com
I see a united Europe, a federation that decides by majority vote with binding force. Money is common. Europe mainly produces its own food, and agriculture is planned with the rest of the world in such a way that food is distributed, sold to everyone as needed. The population has decreased according to the carrying capacity of nature. There is no war in Europe and the war is over. There is one common army in the world, ,, that controls the entire ball. Europe is involved in this. The production of energy relies on wind and solar power, which has been built all over the world from common resources. Nuclear power is part of the energy mix. The state of nature has been improved and 30% of land and water areas are in their own peace without human intervention. All operations are financed from a single fund and the surplus is returned to this fund. Citizens have a living income (citizens' wages) and everyone is equal, but also obliged to work of their choice. The profit-seeking of companies and people is limited to a very small amount. Everyone has the right to vote and decisions are preceded by extensive civic surveys.
hallo
Nazioni padrone in casa propria
nations free from absurd restrictions dictated by awakened fanaticism, free in thought and actions, a Europe of nations master in their own home, with citizens free to move and operate without the restrictions of a fanatical and self-referenced ecological movement. Immigration is 100% controlled and restricted. Each state with its own traditions celebrated and handed down to their children. Western culture is always protected and safeguarded because it is the engine of our growth.
hallo
Frieden, Zufriedenheit, Miteinander
There are no borders or wars over countries and power. People change their lives when they want to go where they want to go. Every person is welcome everywhere, learns the language and habits, contributes there and earns a living. People help and support each other. Satisfaction, trust, togetherness, the focus is on us.
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