Chapter 3 - Connected Loneliness, Separated Consciousness (2)

I cannot estimate when you will come across this video series. Search engines and social media pre-select the types of posts they show you. We are all not only trapped in our individual reality tunnels but also in our own filter bubbles and echo chambers. And often, it is not the most relevant or complex topics, but the simplest ones, that find their way to you. The more time you spend on these platforms, the more successfully the algorithm works – at least from the perspective of the corporations.

The release of this video series is set for the spring of 2024, roughly one and a half years after the global breakthrough of Chat-GPT. At the current time, the capabilities of AI systems should have penetrated public awareness sufficiently to begin a discussion about a community of the future.

Our world population is over eight billion, with over five billion having access to the internet. About 500 cities on the planet have more than a million inhabitants. The triumph of AI is continuing in an increasing number of areas at a breathtaking speed worldwide. Early in 2023, YouTube announced Multi-Language Audio Support, the ability to upload videos with soundtracks in multiple languages. However, this would have required the creation of such soundtracks, thus entailing considerable additional effort.

By mid-year, it was announced that YouTube was testing its AI-powered dubbing feature, which clones the creator's voice, automatically translates the content into over a dozen languages, and synchronizes the respective soundtracks with the lip movements in the video.

The emergence of new value patterns, resulting in changes in attitudes and adjustments in behavior, is a lengthy process. These phases not only occur at different times within individuals, but they also largely take place unconsciously, making it even more challenging to approach the subject. While I emphasized the positive aspects of the year, I deliberately left out the downsides. It's important to pay attention not only to what is in texts but also to what is missing, and to ask oneself why that is. Cognitive dissonance, a sometimes subtly perceptible discomfort, arises when valued mental events cause conflicts. In this case, the beautiful new world I sketched may have collided with your deeply rooted beliefs that are already firmly anchored within you.

While the word 'summer' might initially evoke positive associations for both you and me, we both know that globally, July 2023 was the hottest month on record. The mere technical feasibility, for example, of a future community, does not yet guarantee its actual implementation. Of eight billion people, five billion may have access to the internet, but three billion remain excluded from it. A significant portion of humanity, if they can go online at all, will only find a censored version of the internet.

The increase in connectivity density, both in the virtual and in the physical urban space, has not reduced our loneliness. In fact, it is increasing worldwide. As for YouTube: The major innovations are initially rolled out to the most successful influencers. It could take years before they become available to all YouTube creators – if they are ever implemented at all. In the worst case, this could not only lead to a reduction in the already limited diversity of content but also make it more difficult to find more meaningful content from new YouTube creators. Overall, I have my doubts whether it truly enriches the lives of the planet's poorest individuals if they can access videos about specifications of luxury yachts, villas, and dream cars in their native language in the future.

And while we are on the subject: While we should worry less about AIs supposedly taking our jobs, we are facing a much greater problem: An outdated copyright system that prevents AI and scientists from accessing scientific papers globally to contribute to the welfare of humanity. As long as we do not find a new way to adequately compensate artists, scientists, designers, and engineers, the vision of a semantic, global net remains pure fiction.

To return to cognitive dissonance: It could be a useful warning signal. The pain you feel when you touch a hot stove is unpleasant, but it helps you pull your hand away to prevent greater harm. Therefore, it would be more concerning if such a warning were absent.

The intriguing question is: Are you strong enough to withstand the internal tension? Culture arises through an iterative process and thus builds on our history. Since psychology was introduced as a university discipline only about 150 years ago, while our cultures were established thousands of years ago, we should not be surprised that these cultures occasionally conflict with human nature. New insights are integrated into culture over time, but this process can take years, decades, or even centuries, and in some cases, millennia. Therefore, today we all live far behind our potential.

In my view, it would definitely be better to adapt the external world to our own nature, rather than unconsciously discarding value systems, attitudes, and behaviors just to regain the comfortable, but in this case deceptive, feeling of consistency. - After all, the reason for repression in the second case would still persist. An irreversibly inflamed or already dead tooth causes pain. If root canal treatment is not carried out, it can lead to blood poisoning and thus death. Would you prefer to treat symptoms with constant pain medication intake, or are you willing to endure the rigors of a root canal treatment?

Think about it carefully. - Not all questionable decisions have to end dramatically. There are many people who are willing to set aside their own memories to feel less loss from the past. And sometimes it seems as if they fare better than those who refuse this action. However, I would not be willing to ignore parts of my life and pretend to have Alzheimer's just to supposedly feel better. It would not do justice to the people who accompanied me in the past. It would not do justice to the preciousness of life itself. But most importantly, it would not do justice to me and the people of my present and future. Decisions are based on our experiences. If we have no access to a part of our experiences, we cannot take that part into account. - Your choice.