Imagined Future Scenarios
Future of Work, Probable Futures, Short Term (1 - 3 years)
Scenario Generated from 'Employment Is Changing Forever' - Harvard Business Review
Future Arc and Implications
Grow Arc
Social Impact: Increased employee satisfaction and career mobility lead to a more skilled and adaptable workforce.
Technological Impact: Generative AI platforms become ubiquitous, driving further advancements in personalized learning and skill assessment technologies.
Ecological Impact: Increased resource consumption due to economic growth fueled by a more productive workforce.
Economic Impact: Higher productivity and innovation drive significant economic growth and increased profitability for companies.
Political Impact: Governments invest in infrastructure to support AI-driven upskilling initiatives and workforce development programs.
Narrative: A world of endless opportunity where continuous learning powered by AI leads to sustained economic growth and societal progress.
Collapse Arc
Social Impact: Widespread job displacement as AI renders many skills obsolete despite upskilling efforts, leading to social unrest and inequality.
Technological Impact: AI algorithms become biased and perpetuate existing inequalities, creating feedback loops of limited opportunity for marginalized groups.
Ecological Impact: Environmental degradation accelerates as economic instability leads to deregulation and unsustainable practices.
Economic Impact: Mass unemployment and economic depression result from AI-driven automation outpacing the capacity for upskilling and job creation.
Political Impact: Political instability arises from widespread discontent and social unrest fueled by job losses and economic hardship.
Narrative: AI-driven upskilling fails to address the fundamental issues of job displacement, leading to social and economic collapse.
Discipline Arc
Social Impact: Employees are tracked and monitored based on their upskilling progress, leading to a culture of surveillance and performance pressure.
Technological Impact: AI becomes a tool for centralized control, ensuring compliance with pre-defined skill sets and career paths.
Ecological Impact: Skills focused on sustainability and resource efficiency are prioritized to meet top-down environmental targets.
Economic Impact: Resource allocation heavily favors industries deemed strategically important by governing bodies, potentially stifling innovation in other sectors.
Political Impact: Authoritarian regimes use AI to control the workforce and suppress dissent, ensuring conformity to state-defined skill sets.
Narrative: A highly controlled and regimented future where AI upskilling serves as a tool for enforcing conformity and achieving centrally planned objectives.
Transform Arc
Social Impact: Individuals gain greater autonomy and purpose through personalized upskilling, leading to a more engaged and fulfilled workforce.
Technological Impact: Open-source AI platforms empower individuals and communities to develop customized learning solutions aligned with their values and needs.
Ecological Impact: Upskilling focuses on regenerative practices, fostering a circular economy and promoting environmental stewardship.
Economic Impact: A new economic model emerges based on skills-based contributions and decentralized value creation, challenging traditional employment structures.
Political Impact: Decentralized governance models enable communities to define their own skill priorities and shape the future of work.
Narrative: AI facilitates a radical shift towards self-directed learning and purpose-driven work, empowering individuals and transforming the fabric of society.
