HERE’S TO THE 2026 RIDE AROUND THE SUN
As 2026 is starting to show itself it feels like we are heading towards an uncertain future with AI dominating all things. For all of my adult life I have been excited about technology and the improvements it brought. At this point, it feels more like a new era is being pushed upon us without fully gauging its scale on humanity. As far back as we can see, humans defined themselves through culture, art and work. Basically, we are what we do!
Everything in our society is linked to our contributing a work element. Our contribution to society is what mostly defines who we are and where we stand in said society. A barber, a shoe maker, a chef, a mason…everything and everyone has a purpose. I don’t want to get into a debate about those who are not yet working or no longer working, like the young, the old or the sick. That is s different social discussion, that not matter what happens with AI, remains a hot topic.
So, as AI continues to be perceived as the way forward by the owners of the world, what becomes of us? Yes, we can turn to that vision of the future which started in the 1920s in sci-fi books and movies, where machines and computers (AI) would be “serving” humanity. The thing is that AI is not serving humanity, it is serving its owners.
We assume that AI is free. It is not. It is mega corporations who own AI. Not you, not I. All historians will certainly agree, property and ownership are as old as humans and it remains a center piece today. At the moment most of us, have access to the free AI sliver as a teaser. The other side is the paid-subscription side where stuff is really happening. If you can pay, you can play!
With that said, what happens next? AI replaces most if not all workers. That human self-definition disappears. But that’s just one side of the coin, because with no one working, no one has money. That aspect of property starts to become real complicated and possibly quite sinister. How do we continue to trade in our highly structured society based on money for all goods and services? Those subscription models won’t work. At this point my perception of the future starts to look allot like it’s 1426 and words like “servitude” come to mind.
A universal income is the main idea being thrown around. It’s a start but it doesn’t really fit with the human competitive mind set and the reality of our needs and wants. So we bring back bartering – makes sense!? Not everyone has something to barter and let’s push that further, if AI is now doing everything, most of us are not producing anything and therefore are out of the bartering equation.
I don’t have the answers. I am just drinking coffee and trying to reason the problem out by asking the obvious questions. I am not being negative, I am just asking: What is in front of us? What does it mean? Should we move forward? Does it make sense? How is this going to change us?
What is certain is that in the immediate, many people will no longer have a place. People who are smart, driven and useful. And of those smart people, not everyone will be able to make $10,000 / month with a faceless YouTube channel like the social media propaganda will have you believe. In fact, most of us might not be able to access the internet anymore or pay for that cellphone contract.
OK so I am being negative. Here’s to the 2026 ride around the sun!