I asked ChatGPT what the future looks like for my 10-year-old and its outlook was bleak yet promising.

Visions of Gideon

As I think about what the future holds, I can’t help but see it through the lens of my 10-year-old son, Gideon. He is a member of Generation Alpha, which is the generation born after 2010. As such, they are the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century, and they are growing up in an increasingly connected, globalized world. They are digital natives, having grown up with smartphones, tablets, and other devices, and they are comfortable using technology to connect with others and to access information.

As a result of their upbringing in the digital age, members of Generation Alpha are expected to be more tech-savvy and globally minded than previous generations. They are also growing up in a time of significant social and political change and are likely to be more aware of issues such as climate change, social justice, and inequality than previous generations at their age.

It remains to be seen how the experiences of Generation Alpha will shape their worldview and impact the world around them as they grow older, but they are certainly a generation to watch closely as they begin to make their mark on the world.

Watching he and his cohorts, I can’t help but try to frame their future existence by looking at others from the past who have tried to describe our present. Two authors that seem to capture the essence of what it means to live with hope during despair are Cormac McCarthy and Kurt Vonnegut.

Describing the future from the perspectives of Cormac McCarthy and Kurt Vonnegut can be useful for a variety of reasons. First, both writers have a unique style of storytelling that allows them to explore complex issues and ideas in an engaging and thought-provoking way. They are both skilled at creating vivid and often bleak worlds, which can help readers to consider the consequences of the decisions that we make in the present.

McCarthy and Vonnegut are also known for their ability to challenge our assumptions about the world and human nature. By imagining bleak and often dystopian futures, they force us to confront the darker aspects of our world and consider what we can do to prevent such a future from becoming a reality. At the same time, they also offer glimpses of hope and humanity amidst the darkness, which can inspire readers to act with compassion and purpose in the present.

Another reason why their perspectives can be useful is that they both offer unique insights into the human condition. McCarthy's gritty, unflinching portrayals of violence and depravity can help us to better understand the darkest aspects of human behavior, while Vonnegut's quirky, satirical style can help us to see the absurdities of our own lives and culture. By exploring these different facets of the human experience, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of our world and our place within it.

Ultimately, describing the future from the perspectives of these two authors can help us to imagine new possibilities and to challenge our assumptions about what is possible. It can inspire us to think creatively and to take action to shape a better future, even in the face of overwhelming challenges. In the case of Gideon, here is how they would tell his story of what his life and the world will be like in 10 years.

I used ChatGPT to help write stories using these authors voices. I asked the simple question:

Write a story in the style of [Cormac McCarthy or Kurt Vonnegut] about what the future will look like for my 10-year-old son, Gideon.

Here is the story ChatGPT generated in the voice of Cormac McCarthy:

The boy stood at the edge of the world, staring out into the vast expanse of nothingness. It had been ten years since the world had changed, ten years since the world had become a dark and dangerous place.

Gideon had grown up in this world, a world where the sky was always dark, the air always thick with smoke and ash. It was a world of danger and uncertainty, where every day was a struggle to survive.

But Gideon was a survivor. He had been born into this world, and he had learned to adapt to its harsh realities. He had learned to find food where others saw only barren wasteland, to find shelter where others saw only ruins.

And he had learned to be strong, to be resilient, to be fearless in the face of danger. For Gideon knew that in this world, there was no room for weakness.

But as he stood there, looking out into the darkness, he felt a glimmer of hope. For he knew that he was not alone. There were others like him, others who had survived the apocalypse, and they were out there, somewhere, fighting for a better future.

And so Gideon continued to survive, to fight, to struggle against the odds. For he knew that in this world, there was no other choice.

But as he looked out into the darkness, he could not help but wonder what the future held. Would there ever be a day when the sun shone again, when the air was clear and clean, when the world was safe and secure?

For now, there were only questions, and no easy answers. But Gideon knew that he would face whatever the future held, with courage and determination, and with the hope that one day, the world would be a better place.

And here is what was generated using the Kurt Vonnegut prompt:

Gideon was a precocious young boy, always asking questions and seeking to understand the world around him. As he looked ahead to the next 10 years, he couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation - the world was changing so quickly, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for what was to come.

But as Gideon grew older, he began to see that the world was not so scary after all. Yes, there were still problems and challenges to be faced, but there were also so many reasons to be hopeful.

In the next 10 years, Gideon saw incredible advances in technology - from self-driving cars to virtual reality, the world was becoming more interconnected and more exciting than ever before. And while some worried about the impact of these changes on our society and our way of life, Gideon saw an opportunity to use technology for good, to connect people and ideas from all around the world.

But it wasn't just technology that gave Gideon hope. He saw people coming together to fight for social justice, to protect the environment, and to support one another in times of need. He saw a growing awareness of the interconnectedness of all things, and a growing sense of responsibility to care for one another and for the world around us.

As Gideon looked ahead to the future, he knew that there would still be challenges to face - climate change, political turmoil, and social inequality, to name just a few. But he also knew that these challenges were not insurmountable, that together we could create a better world for ourselves and for future generations.

In the end, Gideon found that the world was not something to be feared, but something to be embraced with open arms. And as he looked forward to the next 10 years, he was filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation - for all the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

As we look towards the future – especially through the eyes of the next generation- it is easy to become overwhelmed by the challenges and uncertainties that we face. Climate change, political polarization, and the ongoing global pandemic are just a few of the issues that can leave us feeling hopeless and disheartened.

But despite the many challenges that we face, there are still many reasons to be hopeful for the future.

First and foremost, we must remember that throughout history, humanity has faced and overcome immense challenges. From war and famine to disease and natural disasters, we have faced countless trials and tribulations, and yet we have persevered. Human resilience and adaptability are nothing short of remarkable, and as long as we continue to work together, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way.

Secondly, we are living in an era of unprecedented technological progress. Advances in medicine, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy are just a few examples of the ways in which we are making tremendous strides towards a brighter future. As these technologies continue to develop and become more accessible, we can expect to see significant improvements in healthcare, energy efficiency, and our overall quality of life.

Thirdly, there is a growing global awareness of the challenges that we face, and a growing willingness to take action to address them. People all around the world are coming together to fight climate change, advocate for social justice, and support one another in times of crisis. This growing sense of solidarity and shared responsibility bodes well for the future, as it suggests that we are capable of overcoming our differences and working towards a common goal.

Finally, we must remember that hope is not just an abstract concept - it is something that we can actively cultivate and nurture. By focusing on the positive changes that are taking place in the world, by celebrating the successes of those who are working to make a difference, and by taking action ourselves, we can contribute to a more hopeful and optimistic future.

In short, despite the many challenges that we face, we have every reason to be hopeful for the future. By working together, supporting one another, and keeping a positive outlook, we can create a brighter and more hopeful world for generations to come.