A not-so-distant future society where technology and governance seamlessly come together.
Living in the year 2090, in the new city-state of Harmonia, its citizens live with a very lean government, almost unnoticeable, yet omnipresent. There have been no elections of authorities for some years now, and for years they have been living with an innovative techno-political system that combines efficiency and democracy.
Liz, 25 years old, considers herself an enthusiastic and committed citizen, she doesn't think much about government. Since 2080 a quantum platform has replaced the physical government. A new government has been created with a highly advanced AI; formally, it is called “New Gov Artificial Intelligence.” However, people just call it NIA, and this super platform and its decisions are part of daily life.
Liz generated using gencraft.com AI
In the morning, Liz wakes up, and one of the first reminders her bio-integrated digital assistant gives her - as an implanted thought - is to consult with NIA, the mandatory citizen participation app. She is to review the problems identified by the community; today the issue is water rationing for use at the shower, and NIA gives her the best possible solution. The implementation of this solution is mandatory, and so is voting. Without posting her vote, Liz will be unable to activate her digital ID, a nano chip she had implanted years ago - which will allow her to have her shower, get into her office, pay for food, and take the bus among other things. It requires very little time because the voting is straightforward; Through her bio-device, NIA reads her intentions by cross-recognizing emotions and thoughts. Liz doesn't know exactly where or how the platform presents the options; she only cares a little; she trusts NIA, which always solves problems and is very fast! They say NIA’s algorithms are very advanced; it always suggests the best proposals. In addition, NIA eliminates biases and organizes by relevance, much better than how older people say the politician-run system used to be - the system in which Liz’s parents and grandparents grew up.
Most citizens see NIA as the only way to achieve efficiency; they don't worry about leadership or representative elections and don't have to deal with politicians. Liz doesn't think much about it because for this society, getting problems solved quickly is the only thing that matters, the ultimate value is efficiency and immediacy. NIA gives confidence to Liz and her fellow citizens. They feel empowered by having direct control over the destiny of their community, to the smallest detail. For example, today even though NIA and her fellows preferred water, NIA opted for using the human washer option, a machine that cleans the body without water; the second option, and the one Liz prefers, is a 3 for 3, which is a time to shower for three minutes, three times a week. The water is desalinated which is a little more expensive. Nia will be in charge of monitoring that these policies are fully observed.
However, not everything in Harmonia is perfect. Individual privacy is a thing of the past. Perhaps, this imperfection is why there is little new artistic production. However, NIA can generate new music, poems, paintings, and artwork previously unimaginable, almost instantly! Liz believes this lack of privacy is a small price to pay. Some critics - fewer and fewer since a dissent system was implemented for the anti-NIA - speak of concerns that some citizens have been excluded from the process; these groups have opted to live in communities outside the Nia-controlled smart quantum cities, in a kind of off-line slum. Liz has heard of these disadvantaged communities but does not care about pursuing the truth. Without the nano drugs that NIA distributes, reaching the age of 98 years, which is the current average lifespan, is impossible.
Though NIA has solved many social problems, there is a rumor that its owners live in a paradisiacal place called “Oceania.” Most people do not care because every problem is solved quickly, and Liz believes it is better not to think about it. Most citizens, including Liz, still value the efficiency of the system. They do not think much about the long term, because for a while now, it has not been necessary to bother about laws, congress, parties, and all those inefficient processes of the past. Although sometimes she would like more autonomy and privacy, Liz values that she does not have to waste her precious time in debates with diverse or conflicting opinions. Debates are outdated, so her life, in general, is more efficient. Liz believes she has a voice and she always achieves her goals, NIA reported to her that her citizen KPIs are very high; this score allows her access to her dream vacation the Japanese lunar elevator. Yet, when consulting NIA, she learns there is no space in the next 15 years, but NIA knows and decides to implant a different thought in Liz, “How about a resort on the new beaches of Greenland?” In the end, NIA is the most efficient!
© Cesar Perez, 2024
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