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
BETTER LIFE
One vision I have for 2040 is a world where clean energy has fully replaced fossil fuels. In this future, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and fusion power provide abundant, affordable electricity to everyone. Cities are designed to be energy-efficient, with smart grids that optimize power usage and storage. Electric transportation dominates—cars, buses, and even airplanes run on sustainable energy, eliminating carbon emissions. Climate change is no longer a looming disaster because global temperatures have stabilized, and ecosystems are recovering from centuries of damage.In this world, energy is no longer a source of conflict but a shared resource that supports innovation, economic equality, and a cleaner planet.
hallo
Suburbs home
We see the future as a place where I will have to work longer until retirement. I plan to move to the countryside because the cost of living in the city is too high, and the quality of life in the countryside is better. The environment will deteriorate due to global warming, and the prices of food and fertile land will be even higher. Europe must develop a common military security system because threats to its survival will come from both the east and the west.
hallo
Finally succeeded
In 2040 scientists and clever people could successfully stop the climate change. People have realized that everyone needs to make a few sacrifices, and they are all proud of the outcome. Thanks to a more sensible school system, they are well-informed and make the right choices regarding nutrition, shopping, and the consumption of general resources in order to keep our planet livable.
hallo
Mobility has changed fundamentally. Nobody owns a car. There are small airplanes for everyone that fly well over 5 Mach and are powered by green electricity. Energy is only generated naturally. There is no more combustion, not even in houses and apartments for heating. We all live longer, the air is better, the food is better anyway. This rapid mobility means that humanity is growing together even faster. We are constantly in the most amazing places with the most amazing people. Hate and wars no longer exist either.
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