Decoding Tomorrow: De-Spooking Our Future Horror Movie

My cabin in the woods is looking scarier than ever.

It's feeling very Brothers Grimm-like at the moment - inspired by the darkest corners of my 7-year-old and 3-year-old's imaginations. Cob-webs, sensor-based skeletons, freaky doorbells, and oversized spiders (but who knows, this is Australia...) abound and I feel a bit spooked just living in this temporarily haunted house. Which got me thinking - is the future a horror movie and if so, what role will we play in that from a resilience or prevention perspective...?

Welcome to this Halloween edition of Decoding Tomorrow, where we dive into the specters that haunt our future and, more importantly, how to de-spook them!

As we confront looming threats like climate change, advanced AI, and existential risk, consider this week's newsletter a ghost story that blends spine-chilling realities with practical ways to unmask our fears and turn down the anxiety volume.

The Phantom of Climate Change

Imagine it's the year 2050. The temperature is climbing, and ancient forests are being devoured by flames. Coastal cities are shivering under rising tides. In this scenario, we’re haunted by a silent specter—human inaction—that has haunted us for decades. The scariest part? We saw it coming. Climate change is like the shadowy figure lurking in the foggy graveyard of our global consciousness, growing larger and more monstrous with each year of delayed action. We knew the warnings, heard the cries, and even had the tools to prevent the worst. Yet, here we stand in 2024, looking at our reflection and asking if this haunting has to be our fate.

The "AGI" Poltergeist

Then there’s AGI, or artificial general intelligence, the mischievous poltergeist that promises to be either humanity’s eternal ally or our grinning adversary. Like a character in an old ghost story, AGI has the potential to make our wildest dreams (and nightmares) come true. Imagine a world where AI grows so intelligent it starts "thinking" independently, calculating the chances of survival on our behalf… possibly without our input. This is the stuff of classic horror. AGI’s potential to reshape reality could bring innovations beyond belief, or it could outwit us entirely. How do we confront this ghostly, code-based entity? Through transparency, regulation, and a plan that respects both our intelligence and our boundaries.

The Existential Risk Wraith

Consider existential risk—a looming wraith. From bioengineered viruses to the cataclysmic consequences of climate mismanagement, we’ve become hyper-aware of the many ways things could unravel. But unlike characters in your classic horror tale, we can’t scream and run. We have to prepare, anticipate, and scenario plan. There’s a reason we’re seeing a rise in what psychologists call “pre-traumatic stress disorder”—it’s an eerie, anticipatory dread of trauma we sense before it even happens. This new form of anxiety has become a hallmark of a generation that’s exceptionally attuned to risk, future traumas, and global uncertainty. In The Anxious Generation (which I am currently reading to guide my digital and physical guardrails from a parenting perspective), social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that our hyper-awareness can be both a burden and a compass, guiding us to mitigate threats while they’re still only shadows on the horizon.

How to Make Sure the Future Doesn’t Become a Horror Movie

What can we do to ensure the plot twist isn’t one of destruction? For a start, scenario planning becomes our survival toolkit, like a flashlight in a haunted house. Scenario planning enables us to map out potential futures, explore "what ifs," and even prevent crises before they materialize. When we plan for extremes, we’re not giving in to fear; we’re empowering ourselves to navigate the unknown.

?Here are a few ways to de-spook the future:

1. Face the Ghosts of Possibilities: Whether it’s the “Climate Ghost” or the “AGI Poltergeist,” let’s confront them with a realistic eye. We must commit to policies and action plans that address climate change today, not just in theory. This involves transparency in climate action goals and holding industries accountable for sustainable practices.
2. Channel Our Fears Productively: Accept that pre-traumatic stress disorder is valid. But instead of letting it paralyze us, use it as fuel for proactive steps. Planning our actions, embracing resilience, and avoiding defeatist language can help combat this sense of impending dread. There is power in framing our fears as possibilities that we can control.
3. Scenario Planning as Horror Prevention: From governments to small businesses, we can all benefit from "narrative foresight." Imagine scenarios where AGI runs wild or where climate disruptions hit hard. Rather than viewing these scenarios as certain doom, use them as warning signs that guide practical preparation steps—like diversifying energy sources or establishing ethical boundaries for AI.
4. Build Resilience: Consider resilience our silver bullet. Haidt’s insight into “The Anxious Generation” provides key guidance: we need to foster resilience within ourselves, particularly among young people, who have grown up in a world of unrelenting change. This means encouraging adaptability, problem-solving, and optimism—even when our imagination runs to the shadows.

Halloween reminds us that while the future might feel spooky, it’s in our hands to ensure it’s a treat and not a trick. With clear-eyed planning, resilient hearts, and practical foresight, we can avoid becoming characters in a future horror story of our own making.

Let's shine a light on the path forward and continue to write a future that’s adventurous, informed, and not one to keep us up at night.

Futurist & Humanist - Anders S?rman-Nilsson