RE: A Glimpse Back To The Future - A Short Story of hope and inevitability
Now that's what I call utopia! And not in an ironic way, trying to point out the impossibility of it, but on the contrary: all this sounds actually quite realistic.
One important aspect is the presence of a benevolent dictatorship of an AI-like entity. While I would not trust the dictatorship of one person, or let alone a committee, I think if a piece of software is well programmed, and especially rigorously tested, it could actually benefit us all.
As for the disaster... if it is something like the Great Quake you mentioned, sure, it would be great. But imagine something like a massive solar eruption, which would render all electronics useless, the result would be much worse.
Thanks for the story though! I always enjoy envisioning a wonderful future, especially if there is a good chance for it to be real.
thank you! yes a few people have commented that it would not be a good idea of any kind of dictatorship of one person of company.. and whilst im inclined to agree.. let us not forget what this story suggests.. which is that they are essentially liberating us, providing free self sufficient homes, unlimited power, and 'matter makers' that would render the need for dependance on anyone obsolete. That in itself would i feel negate most of my concerns about a single company having so much power.. I would hope also that the SYnergy company would not act in any kind dictatorship way, but instead would use the data they have to understand our real common desires and needs and implement them.. rather than decide for themselves.. It would be a kind of AI automated direct democracy based on a study of our views.. as determined by stats and trends.. we can already see this "Google Trends" and learn a HECK of a lot about what the world is thinking, feeling and desiring..
<3