Age of Aquarius
As a big fan of movies, books, and art in general as a reflection of society and the time we live in, I’ve noticed lately that Netflix primarily offers content related to extraterrestrial life—whether in the sky or on Earth—heroism, action, and mystery as the only themes capable of maintaining our already dull and short attention spans. Occasionally, when I travel to another country, the offer changes due to different IP address, but I can’t conclude that human relationships, everyday life, love and how it develops, friendship, building and maintaining connections with others, are either shown as instant and resolved within a day or not shown at all. This leads me to a conclusion, but also to a question: have we mastered all of this successfully, and is it now passé? And, on the other hand, why is there a growing number of deviations, physical and mental illnesses, individualism, and relationships that last only until the first obstacle?
All these thoughts reminded me of a period in history known as the Golden Age and the Age of Aquarius. Although I am neither a witness nor a contemporary of those times, according to the available facts, humans were at the center—focusing on their happiness, transformation, progress, prosperity, and growth across all dimensions: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and cultural. Of course, it also had its good and bad moments and sides, and nothing is ever ideal because everything has been a constant struggle from the beginning of the world to this day, a search for the meaning of existence within that struggle.
I mention and observe all this because it is the context (the time we live in) that shapes work policies, values, approaches, and manners of treating others, including in the workplace as people are my daily topic. By definition, we are currently in the Technological Age. Although critical thinking and presenting a realistic picture, both positive and negative, based on facts, can often be seen in this brand narratives, marketing in a way that is foreign to what should be, credit must be given to the technology that has enabled a new Age of Aquarius but in a different way, revitalizing other aspects of human life.
As predicted in the book 2030 by Mauro G. Fiena, we are heading toward a time in which, thanks to AI and technology, it will be possible to create solutions that have previously existed only in scientific research, concepts, and theories. Today, more than ever, it is easier to be your own master with the help of all the available generative intelligence tools for any question or topic. Looking from the perspective of the constantly shifting retirement age, with the advancement of technology and all its discoveries, there may no longer be a need for it. I’ve always wondered, in the context of developed countries, what is so developed and impressive when anyone who decides to work twice as much as others and neglect other aspects of life would achieve the same results, and why this is presented to us as some great success and happiness. I would understand if development were reflected in intelligence, the way of working, but sacrificing everything else for it—well, anyone can do that.
Now, looking ahead at what is coming and on the horizon, anyone can delegate tasks and responsibilities that are burdensome and uninspiring to artificial intelligence, such as personalized email responses, sending updates, or even taking out the trash one day in the future, and assisting with daily duties.
Even the view of humanoid robots can also be seen from a positive perspective. China has announced a weaker GDP in the coming years due to a declining population leaving the workforce, which explains its desire to be a leader in technology and the reason why it is so advanced in terms of AI and technological achievements across various domains.
Of course, things don’t happen overnight or with the click of a button, and neither does the adoption of technology, although everything today is faster than before. Although we no longer talk in terms of centuries or decades, but rather in years, how many movements and initiatives throughout history have lasted and today successfully coexist with people and all previous forms, even though they were announced as tectonic, revolutionary, or a new reality.
But all of this comes and will come with consequences, as technology changes people.
Providing a broader and holistic perspective on life and work in the age of AI, technology, and all polarized changes while watching Life on Our Planet by Steven Spielberg, from how Earth was formed, the first microorganisms in rocks, then amoebas, and for billions of years there were only animals, I found it fascinating to conclude three things:
That everything originates from something previous and continues as something more perfect, better, stronger, faster, more beautiful.
That nature itself, at some point, leads everything to destruction, and everything starts from scratch.
That our life is just a blink in time compared to the immense power of nature, the universe, and the planets.
That being said, everything can change overnight by the force greater than us, and the transformation we desperately desire or need may be closer than we think. And we should welcome the future with gratitude.
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