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Are you interested in rethinking humanity and its trajectory?
Our summary today works with the report titled Rethinking Humanity – Five foundational sector disruptions, the lifecycle of civilizations, and the coming age of freedom from 2020 by James Arbib and Tony Seba, published by RethinkX.
This is a great preparation to our next interview with Richard Gill in episode 274 talking about change management and these sector disruptions.
Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how to rethink humanity. This report presents the key changes and disruptions shaping our future and our standing at a very important time to make decisions.
This is also an experiment as I produced the summary part with NotebookLM as two hosts dissecting the whole report.
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Welcome to today’s What is The Future For Cities podcast and its Research episode; my name is Fanni, and today I will introduce a research paper by summarising it. The episode really is just a short summary of the original paper, and, in case it is interesting enough, I would encourage everyone to check out the whole paper. Stay tuned until because I will give you the 3 most important things and some questions which would be interesting to discuss.
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Host 1: We’re diving into something a little different today. Something called rethink X plus humanity.
Host 2: Yeah, this is a really interesting one.
Host 1: It is, uh, it’s not your typical tech report. It’s really more about how technology is like fundamentally reshaping.
Civilization as we know it.
Host 2: Yeah,
Host 1: but the really cool part is that it, uh, it explores how understanding these changes can give us the power to actually shape the future.
Host 2: Yeah, I think that’s what sets this report apart from a lot of others is it doesn’t just describe what’s happening, but it actually gives you like a framework for understanding it and then potentially even like.
Influencing what might come next.
Host 1: And, you know, I’m all about those, like, ah ha moments, like, figuring out how things work.
Host 2: Absolutely. So
Host 1: let’s just jump right in. Okay, so one of the first things that kind of blew my mind when I was reading this was, This like weird link between the smartphone and the decline of the oil industry.
Host 2: Oh yeah, that’s a great example.
Host 1: On the surface it’s like, how are those two things even related?
Host 2: Right, it seems counterintuitive. But it’s a perfect illustration of how these seemingly unrelated tech advancements can have these like ripple effects across entire industries.
Host 1: Okay. So walk me through it.
Host 2: Sure. So think about it. The rise of smartphones led to like way cheaper and more accessible GPS chips and location services that coupled with the development of like on demand platforms and apps created the perfect conditions for ride hailing services to just explode. Uber, Lyft, all of a sudden they become.
Yeah.
Host 1: And then all of a sudden, owning a car, especially if you live in the city, it becomes less of a necessity.
Host 2: Exactly. And then on top of that, you have advancements in battery technology, which again, were driven in part by the demand for better smartphones, right? And you start to see the emergence of electric vehicles that are actually affordable.
So all of this is happening at the same time. And it starts to put this like serious dent in the demand for oil.
Host 1: Okay. Yeah. So that’s just one example, but the report goes even deeper. Oh, yeah. Talks about how the introduction of the car back in the 20th century completely transformed society. And it’s not just about transportation.
Host 2: Right. It goes way beyond that.
Host 1: Yeah.
Host 2: So the car led to the rise of suburbs, fast food restaurants, motels. I mean, the whole highway system we take for granted. It reshaped urban planning land, used how we think about cities. I mean, just think about back in the day. If you had to go any significant distance, you were relying on horses.
Host 1: Yeah, that’s a good point.
Host 2: So there was a whole industry built around that stables blacksmith’s places that sold feed for horses.
Host 1: Yeah.
Host 2: And a lot of those jobs, they just disappeared.
Host 1: Like stable hands.
Host 2: Gone, right. And all that land that was dedicated to feeding horses, Well, now we use it to raise cattle.
Host 1: That is fascinating.
Host 2: It’s a reminder that technological disruption, it creates winners and losers. And this report is arguing that we’re on the cusp of an even bigger disruption today. But this time we have the opportunity to learn from the past and potentially make this transition a little bit smoother.
Host 1: And they make this really interesting connection between the car and the printed book.
Host 2: Oh, yeah.
Host 1: And at first I was like, what, how are those two things related?
Host 2: It does seem like a stretch.
Host 1: But the more I thought about it, The more it started to make sense.
Host 2: Yeah, they make a very compelling case. The printing press, just like the car, wasn’t just a technological invention.
It was a catalyst for massive societal change.
Host 1: Okay, so explain that to me.
Host 2: So, before the printing press, knowledge was largely controlled by the elite. Right. By the church, by those who could read and write. The printed book Democratized knowledge. It allowed ideas to spread rapidly across borders and social classes, and this led to revolutions in thought religion.
It even played a role in the formation of nation states.
Host 1: Wow, so it’s like they’re saying the printing press was basically the internet of its time.
Host 2: Exactly. Just like the Internet is doing today, the printing press disrupted existing power structures and created entirely new ways of producing, consuming and disseminating information.
It fundamentally changed how people thought and interacted with the world.
Host 1: OK, so we’ve got smartphones disrupting the oil industry, cars reshaping society, the printed book paving the way for the Internet,
Host 2: right?
Host 1: It feels like there’s a pattern here.
Host 2: There is a pattern. The report argues that we are at a very unique point in history.
They introduced this concept of ages of humanity, suggesting that human civilization has progressed through these distinct phases. Each age has its own unique characteristics, its own set of challenges and opportunities.
Host 1: So what ages are they talking about? Where do we fit in right now?
Host 2: So they break it down like this.
First, you had the Age of Survival, characterized by hunting and gathering. Then came the Age of Extraction, where we mastered agriculture, harnessed fossil fuels, and built the industrial world as we know it today. But now, the report argues, we’re on the verge of entering a completely new era. The Age of Creation.
Host 1: The Age of Creation. That sounds intense.
Host 2: It is, and it’s all driven by technology, but not in the way we might typically think. Yeah. In the age of creation, technology isn’t just about building bigger and better gadgets. It’s about harnessing these fundamental building blocks of nature. Things like photons, electrons, DNA, even bits and qubits.
We can use these to create what we need in a more efficient and sustainable way.
Host 1: Okay, I’m gonna need you to break that down for me a little bit more. What does it actually mean to create resources using things like photons and DNA? What does that look like in the real world?
Host 2: That’s where things get really interesting.
We were talking about this idea of, like, ages of humanity, and how we’re maybe, like, on the verge of moving into this new age of creation.
Right. And I gotta be honest, I’m still, like, kind of wrapping my head around what that actually means. Like, practically speaking.
Host 1: Yeah, I mean, it is, it is a pretty mind blowing shift.
Host 2: Yeah.
Host 1: But I think a good way to understand it is to think about how we currently get the things we need right.
Host 2: Like we extract them from the earth, dig up fossil fuels, mine minerals, we cut down trees for lumber.
It’s all about like taking from this finite supply of resources.
Host 1: And that’s been like the dominant model for like centuries, right? I mean, it’s how we built everything.
Host 2: Yeah, it’s how we built our cities, powered our industries. It created the modern world. Yeah. But the age of creation. It kind of flips that model on its head.
Okay. Instead of extracting, we are going to be creating. So imagine, like, growing that lumber in a lab using just, like, sunlight and water.
Host 1: Okay.
Host 2: Or producing meat without raising livestock. Hold
Host 1: on. Are you saying we could, like, Grow a steak in a lab?
Host 2: Not exactly a lab in the traditional sense, but think more like localized production hubs.
Okay. Maybe even in your own community, they can create like customized food based on your individual needs and preferences. Wow. No more massive factory farms, no more long distance transportation of food, a much smaller environmental footprint.
Host 1: Okay, so instead of, like, depleting these finite resources, we’re gonna be learning how to, like, create what we need from scratch using these, like, abundant building blocks of nature.
Host 2: Exactly. Photons, electrons, DNA.
Host 1: It’s kind of wild.
Host 2: Yeah, and it’s not just food. The report argues that this shift to, like, creation based technologies, it’s gonna transform every aspect of our lives, from how we produce energy to how we manufacture food. Goods, even how we approach health care.
Host 1: Okay, so let’s dive into some of those examples.
Let’s talk about energy. What does an age of creation energy system look like?
Host 2: Think decentralized, clean, and incredibly efficient. So imagine a world where every home, every building is equipped with solar panels and batteries generating and storing their own energy, harnessing the power of the sun, which is essentially like an endless supply of photons.
Host 1: Wow. So no more reliance on like. Giant power plants or oil pipelines or those massive coal mines.
Host 2: Exactly. It’s a fundamentally different approach to energy production and distribution. And because it’s decentralized, it’s also much more resilient. You know, no more worrying about blackouts from like a single power plant failing.
Host 1: That’s a good point. Okay, this is all sounding pretty amazing, but I do have to ask. What happens to all the industries that are built around the old model?
Host 2: Right.
Host 1: The oil and gas companies, the coal miners, all the people who work at power plants. What happens to all those jobs?
Host 2: That’s the million dollar question.
And the report acknowledges that this transition is going to be disruptive. There will be job losses. Some industries are going to decline. And we need to be prepared to manage that transition in a way that’s fair and equitable.
Host 1: Right. Because it’s not like people are just going to give up their livelihoods overnight.
There’s going to be resistance. There’s going to be uncertainty, potentially even like social unrest.
Host 2: Absolutely. And that’s why the report emphasizes the importance of like anticipating these challenges and putting systems in place to support the people who are affected. So investing in retraining programs, creating new economic opportunities, making sure that the benefits of this new age are shared widely.
Host 1: So it’s not just about like technological innovation. It’s about social innovation as well. We have to rethink our economic systems. Our education systems, even our political systems, to make sure they’re aligned with this new age of creation.
Host 2: Yeah, I think that’s a really important point. We can’t just sit back and wait for technology to change everything.
We need to actively shape the transition, and that’s going to require a collective effort from governments. Okay,
Host 1: so let’s talk about what that looks like in practice. Yeah. Like, what are some concrete actions that people can take to become, like, active participants in shaping this future?
Host 2: We’ve talked about this whole shift from, like, extraction to creation, and, uh, we’ve explored some pretty mind blowing possibilities and, and acknowledged that this transition isn’t going to be without its challenges.
Host 1: Yeah, definitely. We’ve covered a lot of ground.
Host 2: Yeah.
Host 1: But now I think it’s time to get to the heart of it. Yeah. What can we actually do?
Host 2: Right. Absolutely.
Host 1: to navigate this transition and actually create a future that we can all be excited about.
Host 2: Yeah, because it’s one thing to talk about all these big ideas, but I think, you know, at the end of the day, our listeners want to know like, okay, what can I do?
Host 1: What are the actionable steps? What can I actually do to like make a difference here?
Host 2: Yeah, and the report really delivers on that. It gives you a very comprehensive action plan.
Host 1: Okay, good.
Host 2: It has steps that individuals, businesses, and governments can take to help shape this transition to the age of creation.
Host 1: Okay, so where do we start? What’s, like, step one?
Host 2: Well, the report says it all starts with a mindset shift. We need to let go of some of these outdated assumptions and embrace new possibilities. For example, we’ve been conditioned to think that progress requires sacrifice. Right. That to solve climate change, we need to, like, drastically reduce our consumption and just, because there is not a lot of food produced, except a lower quality of life.
Host 1: Yeah, like less stuff, less travel, less meat, that doesn’t sound very fun.
Host 2: Exactly! The age of creation says we can challenge that assumption. We can have abundance, we can have prosperity and sustainability, if we can harness the power of these new technologies. OK. Think about it, if we can produce food using like, a fraction of the land and resources that we currently use, if we can generate clean energy right in our own homes, that fundamentally changes the game.
Host 1: So it’s not about going back to the stone age, it’s about like, You Leaping forward into a more advanced sustainable future.
Host 2: Exactly. And that leap forward requires investment. We need to shift resources away from these dye industries.
Host 1: Okay.
Host 2: And pour them into building the infrastructure for this creation based world.
Host 1: Okay, so like, less money for oil and gas, more money for solar wind in these crazy food production hubs.
Host 2: Precisely. And it’s not just about government funding. The report encourages individual investors to get involved as well.
Host 1: Okay.
Host 2: Supporting companies that are developing these creation based technologies.
Host 1: It’s like crowdfunding a better world.
Host 2: Exactly. But it’s not just about technology and money either,
Host 1: right?
Host 2: We need to rethink other systems as well. So for example, the report talks about reforming our education systems, okay, to equip future generations with the skills they need to thrive in this new age.
We need to foster creativity, critical thinking, problem solving collaboration.
Host 1: So less emphasis on just wrote Memorization, more focus on preparing young people to be adaptable and innovative in a world that’s constantly changing.
Host 2: Exactly. And we need to rethink our political systems as well. The age of creation, it’s going to require new forms of governance that are more decentralized, more participatory, more responsive to the needs of a society that’s surviving really rapidly.
Host 1: It’s a lot to take in, but it’s also like incredibly exciting.
Host 2: You
Host 1: know, it feels like we’re standing at the dawn of a new era, and we actually have the power to shape what it looks like.
Host 2: I think that’s a really good way to put it, and that’s perhaps the most important takeaway from Rethink X Plus Humanity.
It’s not just a report about technological change, it’s a call to action. It’s an invitation to rethink. What’s possible and to actively participate in creating a future that is more, more sustainable, more prosperous for all.
Host 1: So to our listeners out there, I want to leave you with this question. If basic needs like food, energy and shelter could be met at almost zero cost.
Host 2: How would your values and priorities change?
Host 1: Right.
Host 2: What kind of world would you create?
Host 1: That’s a great question to think about. It is. Take some time to ponder that. Explore Rethink X plus Humanity for yourselves. It really is like a roadmap to a future that’s just like brimming with potential. And it’s up to all of us to make that a reality.
Host 2: Yeah.
Host 1: So thanks for joining us on this deep dive. Keep thinking big, keep questioning, and keep creating the future you want to see.
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What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Do you have any follow up question? Let me know on Twitter at WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the transcripts and show notes are available! Additionally, I will highly appreciate if you consider subscribing to the podcast or on the website. I hope this was an interesting paper for you as well, and thanks for tuning in!
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Finally, as the most important things, I would like to highlight 3 aspects:
- The Age of Creation is a shift from extracting resources to creating them sustainably using advanced technologies.
- Innovations and technologies like the printing press, cars, and smartphones reshape industries, economies, and societies, creating ripple effects outside of their immediate circles.
- A collective effort in technology, education, and governance is needed to shape a brighter future for humanity.
Additionally, it would be great to talk about the following questions:
- If basic needs like food, energy, and shelter could be met at almost zero cost, how would societal values, priorities, and economic systems change?
- What changes would you make in your community to align with a world built on abundance?
- How can you adapt your skills and mindset to thrive in the Age of Creation?
- What role do you see yourself playing in shaping a prosperous future?
And please, let me know whether you prefer this type of research episode where 2 hosts discuss the paper or a simple summary from me – I would like to create something which you enjoy, so feel free to comment your preference!!!
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