003 - Atomic / Space Age vs Today: Why aren’t today’s future visions optimistic?

Written By Viraj Joshi

Cultural observation

Today, our visions of the future are narrowed to a singular kind of optimistic techno-utopia [1] coming from tech giants; all while people feel that the future is on shaky grounds [2].

Illustration by James McNabb

Hypothesis

As compared to the 50s and 60s future-visions which demonstrated atomic and space age utopias – “AI” futures today seem more obviously bleak, and it’s hard to visualise brighter futures.

I wonder if the above is true.

Let’s use my world building template in order to investigate. [Source]

The “AI” age: World-building statement

In a world where digital systems can generate images, videos, and text on demand based on datasets provided to them;
people can use these digital systems to do some of their household and professional tasks. [What tasks? Any and every, GenAI companies say.]
corporations can create “content” much faster without keeping humans in the loop.

In a stark contrast to the promise of AI, all the applications so far have focussed on what comes across to me as the most direct or obvious solution of generating more “content” (hate that word) to feed into our existing digital systems, internet, and social media.

Moreover, the promise of AI hasn’t quite been visualised well either – where do we look for inspiring images of the future of people using AI making their lives better?

We still haven’t found many clever use cases for “Gen AI” beyond speed and scale of adding to a deluge of digital content, one that already demands so much of our attention, and contributes to ‘Brainrot’, Oxford’s word of the year 2024.

Caveat: The AI age may just not be an age if it falls off the hype curve as quickly as the metaverse did.

Space and Atomic age: World-building statement

In a world where atomic energy is commonplace
people can move faster around the world, avail electromechanical household products, and services from companies are automated with bespoke serving contraptions.

A print advert from the “Live better electrically” campaign

Observation

There is a nice utopian sheen on the visions from atomic and space age; which is (rightly) missing because of the dire climate implications today. The AI age feels more blatantly corporation-centric too.

Until the next one!

V.

Viraj Joshi
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004 - Solarpunk Imaginaries
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002 - That which shall not be named.