In this innovative blend of storytelling and scientific forecasting, a pioneering AI expert and a leading speculative fiction writer explore a crucial question: How will artificial intelligence transform our world in the next twenty years? AI is poised to be the defining advancement of the twenty-first century, reshaping daily life in unprecedented ways. It promises to generate immense wealth, revolutionize medicine and education through human-machine collaboration, and create new forms of communication and entertainment. However, while AI liberates us from routine tasks, it also challenges our economic and social frameworks. Additionally, it introduces risks, such as autonomous weapons and technology that perpetuates human biases. This pivotal moment in AI development calls for awareness of both its potential benefits and existential threats. The authors envision our world in 2041 through ten compelling short stories set in various global cities. Readers will encounter a new "job reallocation" industry in San Francisco, immersive celebrity culture in Tokyo, a teenage girl's rebellion against AI in Mumbai, virtual teachers in Seoul, and a rogue scientist's revenge in Munich. By peering into this near future, the work provides urgent insights into our collective destiny while emphasizing that humanity ultimately shapes its own fate.
