The text presents a speculative map of humanity’s futures in 2050, created as part of a project by the company Curiouser. It emphasizes the importance of exploring radical and extreme scenarios rather than comfortable predictions. The author critiques current professional forecasts of future work, highlighting their optimism and lack of systemic thinking, while proposing a range of potential futures categorized into terrible, mediocre, and desirable outcomes. The discussion is enriched with references to science fiction works that reflect these possible futures. Ultimately, the text argues that the future will be shaped by present choices and actions, urging a political focus on future implications rather than past events.
| name | description | change | 10-year | driving-force | relevancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Techno-chômage | The inevitable rise of technology-induced unemployment affecting workers globally. | Shift from traditional employment to a gig economy and increased unemployment rates. | In 10 years, a significant portion of the workforce may rely on gig jobs or alternative income sources. | Advancements in technology and automation leading to job displacement. | 5 |
| Gig Economy Expansion | The growth of short-term, flexible jobs replacing traditional employment models. | Transition from stable jobs to a gig-oriented workforce with less security. | By 2033, gig work may dominate the labor market, creating instability for workers. | Demand for flexibility and cost-cutting by companies driving the gig economy’s growth. | 4 |
| Environmental Degradation | Continued environmental decline impacting social and economic structures. | From industrial growth to ecological crisis, forcing a reevaluation of sustainability. | In the next decade, societies may face severe environmental challenges affecting livelihoods. | Neglect of sustainable practices leading to resource depletion and climate change. | 5 |
| Synthetic Speciation | Emergence of a divided society based on genetic enhancements and eugenics. | From natural human diversity to a genetically engineered population with disparities. | In 10 years, society may see significant divides between enhanced and non-enhanced individuals. | Market-driven eugenics and biotechnology advancements promoting genetic modifications. | 4 |
| Post-Apocalyptic Scenarios | Cultural narratives reflecting fears of societal collapse and survival. | Shift from optimistic futures to narratives of dystopia and survivalism. | In a decade, such narratives may influence social and political discourse heavily. | Fear of climate change, political instability, and technological failures shaping societal views. | 5 |
| Rise of Guilds | Professional organizations forming to protect skills against AI and corporate control. | From individual work to collective bargaining and guild-like structures for protection. | In 10 years, industries may see a resurgence of guilds competing with AI and corporations. | Need for skilled labor protection in an increasingly automated job market. | 4 |
| Cultural Shift Towards Commons | Increased focus on community-managed resources and shared economies. | From privatized resources to a collaborative approach towards common goods. | In a decade, communities may prioritize shared resources over individual ownership. | Recognition of the failures of capitalism in resource management driving collective action. | 4 |
| Cyberharmonic Societies | A vision of the internet as a space for sharing and collaboration rather than profit. | From a profit-driven internet to a collaborative and neutral digital space. | In 10 years, digital spaces may prioritize community and knowledge over commercial interests. | Desire for a more equitable digital landscape driven by user demand for change. | 4 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| Technological Unemployment | The looming threat of massive unemployment due to automation and AI, leading to social and economic instability. | 5 |
| Environmental Degradation | Continued environmental destruction and climate change, making Earth increasingly uninhabitable and causing potential extinction of humanity. | 5 |
| Social Inequality | The division of society into classes based on access to technology and genetic enhancements, leading to potential conflict. | 5 |
| Surveillance and Privacy Loss | Humanity’s increasing vulnerability to corporate and government surveillance, leading to loss of privacy and autonomy. | 4 |
| Post-Apocalyptic Collapse | Potential for a future characterized by extreme violence, stagnation, and societal breakdown due to ignored crises. | 5 |
| Cultural Stagnation | A regress in societal values leading to a preference for superficial entertainment over intellectual pursuits and innovation. | 4 |
| Corporate Control Over Labor | The concentration of power within large corporations, leading to worker exploitation and loss of personal autonomy. | 5 |
| Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering | Unregulated advancements in biotechnology leading to eugenics and a new form of social discrimination. | 5 |
| Failure of Global Cooperation | The risk of nations failing to work together on critical issues, preventing sustainable development and peace. | 5 |
| Loss of Political Agency | Societies succumbing to passivity and failing to act on pressing global challenges, leading to detrimental outcomes for future generations. | 5 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| Radical Futurism | Exploring extreme scenarios of the future to provoke thought and discussion rather than predict outcomes. | 5 |
| Systemic Thinking in Future Scenarios | Emphasizing interconnectedness and complex relationships in envisioning future work and society instead of linear projections. | 5 |
| Awareness of Technological Unemployment | Recognizing the inevitability of job loss due to technology and the gig economy as a critical issue. | 4 |
| Collective Governance in Space Exploration | Advocating for international cooperation in space to prevent ecological degradation and promote peaceful exploration. | 4 |
| Cyberpunk Reimagined | Envisioning a positive future where technology serves as a tool for knowledge sharing and social equity. | 4 |
| Community-Centric Economies | Exploring alternative economic systems that prioritize communal resources and shared governance over individual profit. | 4 |
| Environmental Reawakening | A collective shift towards respecting and integrating with nature in response to environmental crises. | 4 |
| Cultural Investment for Peace | Redirecting resources towards education and culture rather than military spending as a strategy for global peace. | 4 |
| Speculative Storytelling in Role-Playing Games | Using role-playing games to explore and challenge contemporary issues through science fiction narratives. | 3 |
| description | relevancy | src |
|---|---|---|
| A significant rise in unemployment due to automation and advanced technologies replacing human jobs. | 5 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| A labor market characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work rather than permanent jobs. | 4 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| AI systems that may eventually surpass human intelligence and decision-making capabilities, impacting various aspects of life. | 5 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| The concept of engineered genetic modifications leading to the creation of distinct human subspecies based on socio-economic status. | 4 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| The possibility of establishing human settlements on the Moon, potentially for resource extraction and habitation. | 5 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| Professional federations evolving into guilds to protect skills and knowledge in response to AI threats. | 4 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| A future where traditional currency may disappear, leading to new ways of exchanging goods and services. | 4 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| A vision of the internet and new technologies that emphasize neutrality, independence, and knowledge sharing. | 5 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| A societal shift towards managing shared resources collectively, prioritizing sustainability over profit. | 4 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| A collective human effort to respect the environment, leading to new philosophies and activities centered around nature. | 5 | 1fdbc3e9376df5881732234577000373 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| Technological Unemployment | The inevitable rise of unemployment due to automation and technology, leading to socio-economic challenges. | 5 |
| Gig Economy Expansion | The growth of gig economy jobs, which may lead to instability in employment and benefits for workers. | 4 |
| Environmental Degradation | Continued deterioration of the environment, impacting livelihoods and prompting social unrest. | 5 |
| Synthetic Speciation | The potential for genetic engineering to create social divisions based on biological enhancements. | 4 |
| Surveillance Capitalism | Increasing corporate control over personal data and privacy through algorithm-driven surveillance. | 5 |
| Post-Labor Economy | The concept of a society where traditional money disappears, leading to new forms of value exchange. | 4 |
| Modern Slavery | The persistence of modern slavery practices within corporate structures, often hidden from public view. | 5 |
| Space Colonization Ethics | The ethical implications of colonizing other planets and the socio-economic impacts on Earth. | 4 |
| Cultural and Knowledge Commons | The potential rise of shared resources managed collectively, challenging current capitalist models. | 3 |
| Cyber-Harmony vs Cyber-Punk | The contrast between a hopeful technological future and one marked by inequality and dystopia. | 4 |