top of page

Ordinary mornings in 2042

Anonymous

April 26, 2023

Ordinary mornings in 2042

This image was generated with Dream Studio AI.

7am, March 28th 2042:
My personal assistant wakes me up with my favorite workday song and turns on the coffee machine. An ordinary alarm clock would perfectly do the job, but the automatic coffee machine is convenient after all.
While I brush my teeth, my personal assistant displays daily news on the mirror in front of me. Scientists came up with a new way to efficiently store an infinite amount of energy. I guess we are close to reaching complete carbon-neutrality for electricity production (8 years ahead of the plan!).
The next article reports that the 4-day workweek which was implemented in the EU in 2035 shows promising results. People started exercising more, spent more time with their families, attended more cultural events and participated more in local politics. I would tend to confirm it in my own case.
The following article reports how the unified EU-wide social security system enables workers to swiftly move from one country to another with significantly less paperwork and administrative hurdles. I always wondered why it was not implemented earlier.
The next article discusses an ongoing problem in our society. Biotechnology has enabled humans to amplify their physical and cognitive abilities. These technologies became increasingly affordable (though still quite expensive), and it led to a dualistic society. I keep asking myself what we can do about it, probably nothing. We made a lot of progress in guaranteeing and protecting freedoms to choose our life paths, education, careers, whom we love, how we dress, which god we worship and so on and so on. I guess choosing to enhance our abilities is also part of these choices.
The last topic of my daily news review concerns the increase of retirement age. Apparently it's a side effect of the 4-day workweek. I guess I won't be retired before 2085 or something… But at least most bullshit jobs have been taken over by AI and automated systems and I have all the freedom to choose a professional activity that fulfills my life goals.

related stories

hallo
I think the digital revolution will continue. I fear that my and older age groups will be out of step with the innovations. I think my then adult children's jobs will look different and be even more digitized. Hopefully prosperity will be largely restored after the Third World War that Russia unleashed along with America against Europe. We also still need to further acclimate and adapt to the shifted climate zones and many natural disasters.
hallo
It will certainly be better, because there will be no armed conflicts and others. People and decision makers will understand that this is wrong and unnecessary. I will already be an old woman. With the development of medicine and good care from my family and rehabilitation centers, I will enjoy good health and fitness. There will be no jealousy, because it serves no purpose. Unless it has a positive aspect, e.g. since everyone knows several languages, I will also try to learn them, although I am already an old person. Europe is and will be a beautiful, united continent, without nationalism. Everyone has already understood that life is one. Humans, animals and plants are so important to each other that you have to take the best care of the environment. You don't need so much to live. Work is now and will be very important. People will work longer, because good health and willingness to work will allow them to do so. It will be very important to raise the next generations well. The young will take care of the elderly and learn from their experience. Why the huge estates and palaces. Beautiful, clean small family houses will suffice. Their surroundings taken care of. The younger generation will learn to work solidly and do their duties well. May there be a seat in front of the computer, although they will be even more perfect. Nothing in the world can replace the importance of close and mutual contact with each other. Nothing will change that, and everyone will understand that.
hallo
Grön rättvisa
År 2040 har den gröna omställningen gått helt i rätt riktning. Man har byggt ut cykelvägar (med uppvärmning vintertid för säkrare cykling), de flesta kör miljöbilar och det är nästan pinsamt om man kör en diesel- eller bensindriven bil. Flickor i hela världen har äntligen fått börja skolan, kvinnor slipper vara rädda när de går ut på kvällarna och världen har blivit en mer kärleksfull och trygg plats. Våldtäktsmän straffas på rätt sätt, mobbare är de som får byta skola, kvinnor i våldsamma relationer slipper fly till skyddade boenden då männen som utsätter dom är de som får ta konsekvenserna.
hallo
Spet ljudje
After some radical upheavals, we are in a beautiful sunny spring. The seasons have changed, we are the last generation that still knows what it was like in the last millennium. But one gets used to everything, changes happen wherever the Earth stands and they have to be accepted. Finally it has happened, people have calmed down and focused on the joy of life, they have started to socialise and exchange. Previously fascinating advances in technology have become a necessary part of everyday life, but they have not succeeded in tearing people apart and throwing them into an otherwise voluntary isolation and self-centredness. Children chase each other around the meadows and help themselves to the fruit on the neighbour's pear tree, with their furry friends. Mothers know that children naturally develop into adults and responsible persons, having been deprived of this themselves. People have become tolerant, less egoistic and, as a result, happier. They have managed to turn technology and all changes in their favour, for the common good. Around us are smiling and sociable faces, aware of the role of their culture for future generations.
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