From Hi-Tech Inovace Publishing
A writer-futurist is an author whose works focus on the future and often include elements of science fiction, technological innovation, social change, and speculative ideas. Futuristic writers aim to explore possible future scenarios and the implications of technological and social progress on society and the individual. Their works often challenge established notions and spark discussions about the directions in which humanity might move.
The proposed conceptual book by German futurist and researcher, chief editor of FUTURUM magazine, and AI consultant Franz Joseph Schmidt is of interest to the digital community and all those who are curious about the future, formats of digital transformation, and the possibilities and consequences of influencing ongoing processes.
The book has practical significance as it is based on examples of civic initiatives of European non-governmental organizations aimed at peaceful transformation of humanity into the digital age. According to the author, the driving force behind the digital transition is the advanced community of digital creators capable of playing a positive and influential role in the development of digital democracy and in the global processes of human civilization.
90% of the royalties received from this book, by the author’s instruction, are transferred as sponsorship assistance to the public non-profit institution «Futurum Platform».
We stand on the threshold of an era in which human existence is being redefined through the lens of interaction with artificial intelligence. This process not only changes the external aspects of our existence but also touches the deep ontological foundations of human identity. The question arises: What is the essence of a person in a world where the boundaries between biological and artificial, organic and digital are blurred? For instance, what will sex be like and how will the concept of «love» transform? How will children be born, and what happens if the institution of the family disappears? Why do I touch upon these issues? Because today, it’s already possible to have a girlfriend or boyfriend in the neural network, create an image and appearance you desire, and have sex in virtual reality just as you wish. Equipping with the necessary devices—from humanoid biobots to tactile units, stimulators, and other sex toys—will allow one to achieve satisfaction and sexual happiness at the highest level as often as one desires. It’s likely that self-satisfaction in the digital world will take precedence over the complexities of traditional love and sexual relationships. After all, we know that humans are slaves to their desires.
Conceptually, on this subject, we can outline the following positions: In a future where artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies reach unprecedented heights, we face fundamental changes in relationships, sexuality, and the concept of family. These technological advancements offer humans capabilities previously considered the realm of fantasy but also present us with new ethical and social questions. In a world where everyone can create the perfect partner in a neural network, preferences shift from physical intimacy to virtual reality. Tactile units and humanoid biobots offer sexual gratification without the emotional limitations and social consequences of traditional relationships. This could lead to human intimacy disappearing as a necessity for many, and sexual self-gratification becoming the dominant form of sexual expression. Love, as a deep emotional connection between people, may be at risk in such a world. Technologically created illusions of satisfaction could diminish the value of interpersonal relationships, leading to a decline in emotional depth and mutual understanding in human connections. With the development of reproductive technologies, including extracorporeal fertilization and genetic editing, the birth of children may become a process entirely separated from sexual relations. This could lead to a rethinking
of the role of the family as the primary social institution responsible for raising children and passing on cultural values. The institution of the family may undergo a transformation where biological kinship and traditional parental roles become one of many possible bases for forming family ties. Alternative forms of family, based on choice, friendship, and shared interests, may become more common.
It is quite possible that these changes entail profound social and psychological consequences. On the one hand, they offer liberation from social constraints and the opportunity for personal self-expression. On the other hand, there is a risk of losing interpersonal closeness, empathy, and a sense of belonging to a kind and to humanity as a whole. It is also possible that individualism and self-centeredness will intensify, when a person, absorbed in satisfying their desires, may lose the ability to some traditional human values, such as empathy and sacrifice, which are the basis of deep human relationships. It becomes very important to find a balance between embracing new technologies and preserving those aspects of human life that make us truly human. By the time the book was completed and edited, we had already learned of more than 60,000 companies around the world that are creating AI in one way or another. We were literally inundated with a multitude of tools, assistants, generators, bots based on AI, offering astonishing possibilities for people without special knowledge and professional education to become singers or app developers, editors or writers, translators or composers, artists or TV hosts. The possibilities are indeed limitless, but so far chaotic and limited by the unpreparedness of users. This means that the transformation of knowledge and its acquisition in the era of AI implies a transition from classical methods of cognition to flexible, dynamic models of learning and interaction with information. This gives rise to a new epistemological paradigm, where knowledge becomes not so much a mastered or accumulated product as a continuous process integrated into everyday life and interactions with artificial intelligence.
The AI industry is currently characterized by fierce competition and rapid innovations. Giants like OpenAI, supported by Microsoft, and other major technology companies such as Google, Amazon, and Meta, possess vast resources, including advanced research labs, proprietary databases, unique specialists, and global talent pools, which they use to maintain and develop their leadership in artificial intelligence technologies. This race is obviously joined by several other major players in the field of technological innovations, and a new global industry will be formed. In a competitive environment, leading AI creators will rapidly introduce innovations and form alliances for the applied use of AI in various spheres of our lives, greatly changing our world. Thus, the concept of the future, based on technological innovations and the rethinking of social structures, suggests a comprehensive approach to restructuring the world. This restructuring requires deep philosophical and scientific analysis aimed at understanding both external and internal transformations of human existence in the new era.
In my view, AI has paved the way and given humanity the prospect of peaceful restructuring of the world and its transformation into a global community without any borders, where the driving force will be the digital community, the fruits of whose labor are, after all, boundless. Besides radically changing the social structure, rethinking the individual’s purpose (the proverbial meaning of life) will change the system of money, incentives, rewards, and business as a whole, as well as interpersonal relationships and many human values. In a general sense, humanity will be divided into creators of goods and users. These two classes will not be antagonistic, but integrated into the overall harmony – «there is a need – it is created, there is something created – it is consumed. Both are formed interdependently.» Values will change even in traditional details. Today, many dream of having their own house, while the dream of a digital creator is their own neural network, which develops and monetizes with you, which is always with you! And this is – the main capital. Today, many still dream of a cool Mercedes, but tomorrow – a humanoid robot. Values and benchmarks will change very quickly. Accordingly, the world’s appearance will change.
Today, a person is tied to a place of residence, to work, to a bank, and much more. Globally available communication and means of communication, cryptocurrencies, digital democracy, and freedom of choice of creativity and needs will free billions of people on the planet from a multitude of restrictions and conventions. Within the two classes we have outlined, naturally, there will be stratification. Digital creators or qualified users of AI tools already have the opportunity, sitting at a computer and having, conditionally, 100 dollars in their pocket, to create a billion-dollar business — these are potential billionaire leaders, while others will cooperate or work for them. Such opportunities are provided by AI (but this will be a separate topic of analysis in the next book). And consumers in the digital society will have degrees of access «to goods and service,» which will depend on the contribution to the community or to humanity (pay attention to the processes in China and you will see models of the future). The lower layers — these are marginals, who have never played any constructive role at any time, will also be forced to integrate into the digital and certain social environment for them.
This vision of future society highlights a shift from traditional structures and values to individualized, technologically oriented forms of interaction and self-realization.
In such a world, where technological equipment places the inner world of the individual, his needs and aspirations at the center, we can expect the following features:
• In the future, every individual will possess a personal neural network, which not only aids in many areas of life but also serves as a lifelong tool for deep self-discovery and development. This contributes to the formation of more conscious and self-development-focused personalities, valuable for harmonizing the entire society.
• Thanks to technologies, basic needs for food, sex, and entertainment are met with a high degree of personalization. Such an approach frees up time and resources for professional activity/employment, creativity, and intellectual development, allowing the individual to explore and create new forms of self-expression and interaction with the world, especially if it is intelligently stimulated.
• The choice between development and stagnation becomes the main driver of personal growth. Stimulating individuals to continuous self-improvement and learning new things contributes to the progress of society as a whole.
• The individual aspiration to leave a legacy takes on new forms. The digital footprint in the new understanding is the successor, a «planted tree,» personal asset and property, benefit brought to the community or humanity. The motivation for action and self-development comes from the desire to benefit society and humanity. The reward for contributing to the common good becomes a key incentive, supporting the drive for innovation and improving the quality of life for all.
• Moving away from rigid ideological frameworks in favor of a flexible, adaptive approach to solving societal issues reflects the transition to a more open and dynamic social structure. This is a society where individuality, innovation, and the ability to cooperate in various forms are valued.
The transition to a society divided into creators of goods and their users raises questions about the ethics of production and consumption. In this context, concepts of responsibility, sustainability, and fair distribution become key. What are the moral obligations of creators towards consumers and the highly diverse ecosystem of humanity? And how will these obligations be shaped under conditions where production capacities and consumer possibilities expand to previously unseen horizons? Therefore, there is a need for a new approach to management and development, where digital democracy takes center stage. This leads to a rethinking of future models of statehood and social organization, where power and authority are based not on the monopoly of force and coercion, but on the ability to serve the common good and stimulate individual and collective development. For this to be realized, the general population must be computerized and master the basics of digital existence. Remember the time span from the first Mac personal computer to today’s virtual reality glasses connected to AI. The next stage will arrive three to four times faster!
