The Liminal Luxurian – a view from the edge of luxury

12: Luxury & the Synthocene

Is being human a luxury? Well, there’s a question. And one that maybe needs a spot of ?contextualising. If we’re not comparing the value or quality of one human life against another but, for example, what it means to be human compared to being a beetle, we have to decide whether we mortals are just one strand of the complex web of life on earth, or somehow different, special, elevated; wholly unlike all other living things.

Humankind’s ability to understand a concept like luxury is what defines our difference from other species. Increasingly, we’re asking ourselves if our indulgence is at the cost of others. In the age of the Anthropocene, we’re aware of our impact on all eco-systems, and how as an ‘intelligent’ species we are forging a future not just for ourselves but determining the existence of all living things that surround us.

And as we cast ourselves into the future and consider the arrival of the Age of the Synthocene, the role of humanity on this planet and its impact is drawn in sharp relief.

Today, the term ‘intelligence’ frequently comes with the prefix ‘artificial’. However, as humans harness a number of advancing technologies – from artificial intelligence and XR to biotech and quantum computing – what are the prospects for human intelligence in 2025 and beyond??

Rapid technological advances are propelling us into an era in which the boundaries of possibility seem limitless – described as?The Transformative Twenties by The Future Laboratory. But this fast-paced progression leaves both the near and distant future shrouded in uncertainty. Current outcomes are strained by tensions, leading to cognitive dissonance, while potential outcomes remain vast and unpredictable.?

We face the dual challenge of living in a world where the lines between reality and artificiality are increasingly blurred, profoundly impacting trust, social cohesion, personal wellbeing and intellectualism – essential human values. This is leaving a mark on humanity, highlighting the need to redefine or reengage with the essential aspects of our species and to provide tools to navigate 'metamodernism,' defined as a constant oscillation between dichotomies – reality vs artificiality, trust vs scepticism, social cohesion vs fragmentation, intellectualism vs anti-intellectualism, stability vs change.?

In this new synthetic age, we’ll seek to define the ‘expanded human’, not only looking at how we will be shaped by technologies but how we will interact with and benefit from them, especially as they become more human. ‘Our intelligence is variously embodied and distributed. It will become even more so as AI systems proliferate, making it increasingly hard to pretend that our achievements are individual or even solely human. Perhaps we should adopt a broader definition of ‘human’, to include this entire bio-technological package,’ says Blaise Agüera y Arcas, AI researcher, software engineer and architect at Google.

In September, The Future Laboratory will host its annual Trend Briefing, a day designed for professionals keen to think about the strategic development of their businesses and brands. There, we will explore how core aspects of intelligence – logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving – are influenced by technology, and the resulting effects on how individuals identify, think, interact, connect and communicate. ‘As we humanise machines, we stop mechanising ourselves’ observes Kristian Hammond, professor of computer science at Northwestern University in the US.

I wonder, are human beings a luxury planet earth can no longer afford, or are we the transformative bridge to a new planetary era? Well, that’s a mighty meaty question we may attempt to answer at our Trend Briefing on September 26th. I hope you’ll be able to join us.

With thanks to Fiona Harkin and the analysts at LS:N Global for their work on The Age of the Synthocene