Ordinary mornings in 2042

Anonymous

April 26, 2023

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.

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Esseri umani prima di tutto

People will work to live and not live to work. Work weeks will be a maximum of five days. Cities will stop being productive machines, and will become the space in which a cohesive society can be expressed. Social cohesion will again allow children to grow up together with their peers, in safe and available places throughout the territory. Neighborhoods will allow soft mobility and there will be a return to having at most one car per household. Secular third places will once again exist for teens and adults, who will not necessarily have to spend money to have reception.

"A Sustainable, Connected, and Thriving Europe"

In 2040, I imagine a Europe that has fully embraced sustainability, innovation, and community-driven progress. Climate change is no longer an existential threat but a challenge we have successfully tackled through renewable energy, circular economies, and nature-conscious urban development. Transportation is powered entirely by clean energy—public transit is seamless, fast, and accessible, reducing the need for private cars. Cities are green, with vertical forests, smart energy-efficient buildings, and abundant public spaces for people to connect. Rural areas are thriving, thanks to advanced digital infrastructure that allows remote work, telemedicine, and sustainable agriculture. Education has evolved beyond traditional models, incorporating personalized learning, real-world problem-solving, and emotional intelligence training. AI and technology serve as tools for empowerment rather than replacement, supporting individuals in their creativity, critical thinking, and well-being. Most importantly, communities are stronger than ever. Technology connects people rather than isolates them, fostering local engagement and global collaboration. Policies prioritize well-being over economic growth alone, ensuring a fair and inclusive society where no one is left behind. This is the Europe I hope for—one where sustainability, innovation, and human connection shape a thriving and balanced future for all.

Nov sistem za novo in boljše skupno življenje

Humans are animal beings, striving to survive. We want the best for ourselves, but we are bound by socio-demographics. We want to help each other but are constrained by the current political-economic system. In the future, I would like us to be able to transcend the system we are caught up in and to free ourselves from the animal instinct that makes us egocentric. I want and hope that we can realistically care for the well-being of the environment in which we live, that we can help each other, that we can use our knowledge and technology to improve our health and to benefit each other in every way.

Optimisme

A better future would be one in which we stop fighting or getting worked up over things that aren't important, and wars of "religion" no longer exist. We'd take care of the earth and stop polluting it. On a more personal note, my daughters would have finished their studies and have a job in which they're fulfilled, they'd have a family life that they want and that they don't feel "trapped" in. In short, they'd be happy to discover the world without fear of their fellow man or of a natural disaster, and they'd travel to discover a world unpolluted by mass tourism. I'd be close to retirement, so I hope I'd still be able to enjoy my family and the free time I'd have. And everyone would be in good health.

#OurFutures

Ordinary mornings in 2042

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