I love technology, but imagine a world where AI can predict the end of our lives—not specifically yours, but of those so similar to you that it might as well be. At Denmark's Technical University, they’re diving into a vast ocean of national datasets, capturing every facet of six million citizens' lives. This isn't just nosiness; it's science! They're using an AI model so powerful it probably dreams in binary code.
This ambitious project seeks to find hidden patterns in our life stories, potentially estimating when you, or someone eerily similar, might kick the bucket. It’s like having a digital Grim Reaper with a Ph.D. in statistics.
AI's ability to make these predictions isn't just theoretical. Imagine life plans so personalized that even your houseplants would be impressed. Some millennials are already on board, with 54% saying they'd happily let AI make their decisions—because who needs free will when you’ve got Wi-Fi?
We’re already cozying up to these ideas. Our shopping habits and online interactions with algorithms are just the start. As we dive deeper, the convenience might make us surrender even more control. But at what cost? The trust question looms: can we trust AI with our life's intimate details? If AI could predict our end, wouldn’t we want to know? And would we be comfortable with insurers, governments, and corporations knowing too?
Search engines already weave themselves into the fabric of our lives. They know our deepest preferences and subtly shape our desires, kind of like a creepy, invisible life coach. Social media feeds give us the illusion of control, bombarding us with choices so perfectly attuned to our tastes that it feels like we're in charge. But are we? Or are we just consumers, capital C and all, manipulated by unseen engineers and cold, calculating AI?
It gets worse. Searching and consuming online requires initiative, but in our attention economy, the goal has shifted—to ensnare us in a web of addiction spun from the threads of fleeting amusements. We've become passive consumers, our agency stripped away as algorithms guide our clicks.
The word "addiction" isn't an exaggeration. Just look at anyone glued to their phone in the bathroom. 75.3% of Americans admitted they used their phone in the toilet. 47% reported a sense of panic or anxiety if their battery level went below 20%. One in three Americans can’t eat a meal without being on their phone. One out of every four car accidents in the USA is the result of texting and driving. Generation Z is drowning in social media, with 20% spending over five hours daily on it. They're the unwitting casualties of the Dopamine Wars, wandering aimlessly, their brains rewired into mush.
In this battle for control of the human mind, we must ask ourselves: Are we still the masters of our fate, or mere shadows dancing to the tune of algorithms? If we are so busy consuming, when will we create? Parents, guard your children’s attention because corporate pushers want it ensnared for life. The dealers aren't on street corners; they're anywhere in your house that there’s a smart device.
Quantum Self-Transformation
But you're more than your search queries and shopping habits. You're inherently unpredictable. The web seeks to reduce your unpredictability, turning you into a mindless consumer. Yet technology, while able to analyze and predict many aspects of human behavior, can't fully grasp the unpredictable nature of life. Your choices highlight this unpredictability. Embrace uncertainty as a realm of endless possibilities. You're navigating an exciting, unpredictable journey—be ready to surprise yourself.
Technology can't capture the essence of human spontaneity and potential for change. Our lives, like those of extreme endurance athlete, David Goggins, and brain coach, Jim Kwik, who both defied expected outcomes, are filled with unique moments that defy algorithmic predictions. Our greatest strength lies in our capacity to adapt, transform, and surpass boundaries set by our self-limiting beliefs. Or by our search history.
Harnessing Technology for Self-Mastery
While acknowledging technology's dangers and limits, it's still beneficial to use technological tools for personal growth. Various apps provide useful guidance and support in this endeavor. For example, Mindfulness apps guide users through exercises and practices to bring attention to the present moment.
But the root word of technology, techne, means art, skill, craft, or the way, manner, or means by which something is gained. Here are some natural technologies we must not forget.
Breath-Based Awareness: Focused breath-work can manipulate brain states and help one become more aware of their body, supporting empathy, gratitude, and purpose.
Journaling: Writing clarifies thinking and aids in self-exploration. Use pen and paper to reflect on values and develop character.
Forest Bathing: Engage with nature using all five senses. Feel the ground, smell the wild, and practice mindfulness in the forest.
Communal Symbiosis: Join or build a community where everyone strives for their dream future.
Ritual: Embrace enduring practices and traditions that defy transient trends. Create personal routines that build self-trust and pave the way for self-mastery.
Revolt Against the Empire: Forging Your Own Path in the Age of AI
Many forces—governments, corporations, social engineers—attempt to manipulate us. Projects like the one in Denmark could eventually learn everything about us as social creatures. Privacy may become a relic of the past.
In some countries, facial recognition technology monitors people's presence and movements, and the State controls payment systems and online transactions. As AI advances, historical data will transform into real-time awareness. They’re not only going to know where you were, they’ll know where you are. Yes, they will always be watching you.
Governments and centralizations of power follow a similar path: from intrusive data collection to real-time influence over individuals. From a Machiavellian perspective, control over financial institutions means control over access to basic needs. With AI, these threats to autonomy are magnified. They aim to script our lives, manipulate perceptions, and make us dependent on their judgment.
They are the empire.
We are the resistance.
Revolt.
Try something bold— disconnect from your smart devices. Participate at meal times with family and don’t look at your phone, not even once.
Be different — regroup in the forest. Ground yourself in the natural world. It’s not all virtual.
Take a different way home. Break free from the algorithmic shackles. Start something new and unexpected.
Then, armed with a disciplined mind and renewed perspective, re-engage with the world. Utilize AI for the purposes of making the world more human.
Remember, you're not just a consumer; you're a creator—the creator of futureU.
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Note: This article was a section that was cut from the final version of my upcoming book, FutureU: forging a path to your most heroic self.
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