Mad Max or Diamond Age? 6 Wealth Trends Shaping Your and My Future.
(From the Mad Max Wealth Bad Time and Diamond Age Good Time Stories)
As we explore the forces redefining wealth, we stand between two possible futures: one dark and dystopian, the Mad Max world, and the other full of promise, the Diamond Age vision. Each trend reveals new dimensions of possibility and complexity, touching on the core of what wealth might mean in a world driven by technology, climate shifts, inequality, and evolving lifespans. Here’s a recap of the six trends, the polarities they introduce, and the dilemmas each trend raises.
"The future depends on what you do today." – Mahatma Gandhi
The Human Condition, Rene Magritte, 1933
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation
Mad Max: In a society where AI is unchecked, automation exacerbates inequality, replacing jobs and eroding privacy.
As Yuval Noah Harari suggests, “As algorithms push humans out of the job market, wealth will concentrate in the hands of the owners of the all-powerful algorithms,” raising the risk of significant economic divides.
Diamond Age: In an optimistic future, AI empowers individuals, democratizing knowledge and opportunity.
As tech innovator Kai-Fu Lee posits, “AI will revolutionize productivity, freeing humans to pursue creativity and empathy-driven fields” that redefine work itself.
Dilemma: Will AI liberate humanity by creating new opportunities, or will it deepen inequality by placing control in the hands of the few?
2. Wealth Inequality
Mad Max: Wealth disparity escalates, with resources concentrated among the few.
According to economist Thomas Piketty, “Capitalism and market forces left unchecked tend to increase the concentration of wealth in fewer hands,” a view that underscores the risks of a runaway wealth gap.
Diamond Age: Models like universal basic income (UBI) and shared economic structures could narrow this gap.
As Rutger Bregman advocates in Utopia for Realists, “UBI is not a utopian pipe dream; it’s a practical solution that promises to put a floor under everyone’s feet,” potentially leveling the economic playing field.
Dilemma: Can society find a balance between personal prosperity and collective well-being, or will wealth continue to divide more than it unites?
3. Cybersecurity and Digital ID
Mad Max: Cyber threats weaponize digital assets, compromising security and destabilizing economies.
Former NSA Director Michael Rogers warns, “The connectivity and access we prize are the very things that adversaries exploit,” highlighting the fragility of digital wealth systems.
Diamond Age: Cybersecurity innovations could protect digital assets, establishing trust in digital wealth.
Cryptographer Nick Szabo emphasizes the potential of blockchain to “enable secure transactions without relying on centralized institutions,” creating a foundation for resilient digital ecosystems.
Dilemma: Will digital wealth empower individuals, or will it lead to instability and mistrust in a hyper-connected world?
The Human Condition, Rene Magritte, 1935
4. Longevity and Healthspan
Mad Max: Longevity becomes a privilege only for the wealthy, deepening health divides.
In The Price of Immortality, Peter Ward writes, “If aging becomes a luxury only the wealthy can afford, inequality in life spans will be one of the great ethical challenges of our time.”
Diamond Age: Advances in healthcare and accessible longevity resources can benefit everyone.
Bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel argues for a broader approach: “True health equity means ensuring longevity isn’t just for the rich,” envisioning a society where healthspan advancements uplift all.
Dilemma: Will longevity reinforce social divides, or can society make healthspan a universal benefit?
5. Climate Change and Sustainable Wealth
Mad Max: Without action on climate change, wealth is reduced to survival resources.
According to Naomi Klein, a renowned Canadian author, social activist, and filmmaker, “The climate crisis is not an ‘issue’ to add to the list of things to worry about. It is a civilizational wake-up call,” underscoring the existential threat of environmental degradation.
Diamond Age: Sustainability becomes integral to wealth, as society redefines wealth to include ecological stewardship.
In The Uninhabitable Earth, David Wallace-Wells writes, “The future will either be green or not at all,” framing sustainable wealth as both moral imperative and survival strategy.
Dilemma: Can wealth be redefined to prioritize planetary health, or will short-term gains undermine long-term survival?
6. Decentralization and Blockchain Technology
Mad Max: Decentralization without oversight risks fragmentation, creating economic instability.
Economist Nouriel Roubini cautions, “Cryptocurrency is the mother of all scams… a bubble waiting to burst,” highlighting the risks of unchecked decentralization.
Diamond Age: Blockchain could foster equity and transparency, reshaping wealth as a shared resource.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin envisions a decentralized future where “trust and security are foundational to inclusive wealth ecosystems,” sparking a movement toward collective prosperity.
Dilemma: Will decentralization enhance shared prosperity, or will it lead to a fragmented economy lacking oversight?
here’s the naked wealth koan:
Each trend forces us to confront a central dilemma of our time:
Are we moving toward a scarcity mindset, grounded in fear and exclusivity, or an abundance mindset that fosters inclusivity and shared prosperity?
In the Mad Max reality, wealth remains exclusive and divisive, while the Diamond Age redefines wealth as a shared asset that spans financial resources, health, time, relationships, and the environment.
The journey through these trends encourages us to see them as interconnected, each shaping how society defines and distributes wealth. Will we pursue financial accumulation alone, or will we embrace a broader understanding of wealth that encompasses health, social equity, and ecological well-being?
At Naked Wealth Corner, we invite you to explore these questions and challenge the very concept of wealth as we know it. Join us as we envision a future that aligns prosperity with human and planetary well-being, and where wealth serves both individual growth and collective resilience…
and, as always, while you reflect, some inspirationals:
Books:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation
AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order by Kai-Fu Lee
Explores the competitive AI landscape between China and the U.S. and considers how AI will impact economies, job markets, and the nature of work.
Wealth Inequality
Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty
Piketty examines the historical patterns of wealth accumulation and argues for policies to address rising inequality, offering a deep dive into capitalism and social disparities.
Cybersecurity and Digital Assets
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
A fictional novel blending cryptography, digital currency, and history, showcasing the implications of secure digital communications and the evolution of digital assets.
Longevity and Healthspan
Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don’t Have To by Dr. David Sinclair
Dr. Sinclair shares his insights on the science of aging, exploring how breakthroughs in genetics and biology could extend human healthspan and longevity.
Climate Change and Sustainable Wealth
This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein
Klein argues that capitalism is fundamentally at odds with sustainability and challenges readers to reconsider economic and environmental priorities in the face of climate crisis.
Decentralization and Blockchain Technology
The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking by Saifedean Ammous
Ammous explores the origins of Bitcoin, its potential to challenge central banking, and its impact on the future of decentralized finance.
Movies:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation
Ex Machina (2014)
A sci-fi thriller about the ethical and philosophical questions surrounding advanced AI and human-robot interactions, exploring the risks and rewards of AI integration.
Wealth Inequality
Parasite (2019)
A powerful social commentary on class disparity and economic privilege, following two families in starkly different financial circumstances.
Cybersecurity and Digital Assets
The Great Hack (2019)
A documentary examining how data is weaponized in modern elections, highlighting the potential risks of data privacy breaches and digital exploitation.
Longevity and Healthspan
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
A fictional story of a man who ages in reverse, provoking reflections on aging, life purpose, and what it means to live a full life.
Climate Change and Sustainable Wealth
Before the Flood (2016)
Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental documentary, addressing the devastating effects of climate change and the actions needed to protect the planet.
Decentralization and Blockchain Technology
Banking on Bitcoin (2016)
This documentary explores the early days of Bitcoin and its potential to revolutionize financial systems, examining the challenges and promises of blockchain technology.
Documentaries/Podcasts:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation
AI in Business by Emerj
An in-depth podcast on AI’s role across industries, discussing both the technology’s transformative potential and ethical concerns.
Wealth Inequality
Inequality for All (2013)
Economist Robert Reich explores widening income inequality in the U.S., its impact on society, and potential policy solutions to create a more equitable future.
Cybersecurity and Digital Assets
Darknet Diaries
A podcast about the dark side of the internet, hacking, and cybersecurity, offering real-world stories about digital risks and the importance of protecting assets.
Longevity and Healthspan
Human Longevity Project
This documentary examines long-lived populations worldwide, exploring the factors contributing to extended healthspans and overall well-being.
Climate Change and Sustainable Wealth
Outrage and Optimism
Hosted by climate experts, this podcast covers climate change topics and innovative solutions, offering a hopeful perspective on environmental activism.
Decentralization and Blockchain Technology
Unchained by Laura Shin
A podcast that covers the latest in blockchain and cryptocurrency, featuring interviews with industry leaders on decentralization’s impact on finance and beyond.