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Cyberpunk dystopias have been a staple of science fiction literature since the 1970s. The genre often envisions a futuristic version of a 'Tale of Two Cities,' where society is sharply divided between powerful corporate elites and tech-savvy underprivileged citizens. People augment their bodies with cybernetic enhancements, while the wealthy wield advanced technology and military power to suppress opposition. Meanwhile, rebellious transhuman hackers challenge the dominance of these corporate giants.
Many of the dark visions from Philip K. Dick’s neon-drenched world are still far from reality. While the concept of androids and omnipotent precogs may seem like a futuristic dream, elements of cyberpunk technology are gradually emerging. Let's explore some of the ways society is embracing this high-tech world, for better or worse.
10. Space-Based Advertising
Several companies are already utilizing a strategy called 'space advertising.' Following NASA's decision to permit private missions to the International Space Station, marketing firms have sent an assortment of products into orbit, such as Adidas soccer balls, bottles of wine, and even shower heads. Russian companies have gone as far as launching rockets featuring ads for toothpaste, diapers, and TV networks. Now, they're looking to take it even further.
Imagine a massive, glowing brand advertisement filling the night sky – visible to billions of people, with no way to escape it. This is the vision of a Russian company named StartRocket. The startup intends to launch a fleet of satellites into low Earth orbit, each equipped with a reflective solar sail. The result? An orbital billboard created when sunlight reflects off the array of satellites.
In 2019, PepsiCo's Russian division announced a partnership with StartRocket to create a space billboard for its energy drink, Adrenaline Rush. The goal was to launch a 'campaign against stereotypes and unfounded prejudices about gamers.' However, the proposal quickly sparked public outrage, forcing Pepsi to respond. The company clarified that it had collaborated with StartRocket to test 'stratosphere advertisements' using its logo but had no plans to proceed with the project.
9. Hiring Virtual Influencers
Online influencers are driven by one mission: to promote corporate products for money. By leveraging their massive social media followings on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, they secure high-paying deals with top brands. The more followers, the bigger the payday. But Silicon Valley has realized it can now create its own influencers in a digital lab. In 2016, Brud, a company based in Los Angeles, introduced a virtual teen influencer named Lil Miquela. The CGI creation quickly gained internet stardom, attracting a loyal fanbase.
Lil Miquela's Instagram account is where the real money is. With almost three million followers, the 19-year-old's managers have landed deals with major brands like Calvin Klein, Prada, and Samsung. In 2019, she appeared in a Calvin Klein ad featuring American model Bella Hadid. In 2020, she even signed with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), becoming their first virtual client.
Miquela claims to advocate for social change, addressing issues like homelessness, racial equality, and LGBT rights. In 2018, Brud engineered a public online feud between Miquela and a digital pro-Trump influencer named Bermuda. The company made it appear as though Bermuda had hacked Miquela’s account and erased all her Instagram photos. These publicity stunts have paid off. To date, Brud has reportedly secured $6 million in investments.
8. Electronic Tattoos
Several researchers are exploring the use of electronic tattoos (also known as tech tats) as a way to enter the diagnostics market. In April 2018, engineers at the University of Minnesota published a paper detailing a method for applying 3D-printed electronics onto a person's skin. The team believes this technology will enable the development of biomedical devices capable of monitoring vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.
Professor Michael McAlpine, one of the authors of the paper, suggests that tech tats could also have military uses. Since the circuits can be printed with a basic $400 printer, McAlpine predicts that these tattoos will become standard in military applications. 'You could think of printing life-saving devices directly onto the body, like a solar panel on the wrist, or a sensor for chemical or biological warfare on the arm,' he explained.
At the same time, a private company called Chaotic Moon is working to bring this technology to the consumer market. In 2015, Eric Schneider, the company’s hardware specialist, explained how their tattoos would revolutionize healthcare. 'Instead of visiting the doctor once a year for a physical, this tech tattoo could be something you wear once a year. It would monitor everything that would be checked in a physical and send the data directly to your doctor.'
7. Implanting Workers with Microchips
BioTeq has been embedding British workers with radio-frequency identification (RFID) microchips for years as part of its professional service. These tiny chips, placed under the skin near the thumb, enable employees to unlock electronic doors, pay for cafeteria meals, and log into company systems with just a wave of the hand. Additionally, they can store small amounts of data, such as crucial medical information.
Three Square Market, a tech company based in Wisconsin, has also implanted microchips in about half of its workforce. Employees who opted in received 'I Got Chipped' t-shirts. The idea came to the company president after a business trip to Sweden, where today thousands of citizens are volunteering for the procedure. In Sweden, a national railway allows passengers to pay for tickets with their chip implants, while businesses and gyms use Near Field Communication (NFC) scanners to grant access. Several vending machine companies have also adopted the technology.
Consumers are now even purchasing microchips online for self-implantation, a practice called biohacking. Dangerous Things, a Seattle-based company, sells microchips to people worldwide. The newest version lets users choose from various LED colors, which light up during the scanning process.
6. Brain-Computer Interfacing
In 2006, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh captured attention when they connected electrodes to a rhesus monkey's brain. These electrodes transmitted signals from the monkey's motor cortex to a robotic arm. Remarkably, the monkey used the robotic arm to feed itself banana pieces, all controlled through its brain activity.
Since then, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have become increasingly popular. In December 2020, NextMind launched a headset that connects to users' brains, allowing them to control digital devices. The device interprets brain signals and wirelessly transmits them to manage tasks like playing video games, turning lights on and off, and changing TV channels—all through thought alone.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has invested around $100 million into Neuralink, a BCI startup. The company plans to implant small devices into the human brain to seamlessly connect individuals with the digital world. Recently, Musk demonstrated the tech by implanting it in a pig named Gertrude. The technology could have many uses, from controlling prosthetic limbs to storing and potentially downloading memories. As Musk put it, "The future’s gonna be weird."
3D Printing Chicken Nuggets
Given the environmental and ethical challenges of traditional animal farming, a potential solution lies in 3D-printed food. In 2020, KFC Russia collaborated with 3D Bioprinting Solutions to create what they dubbed the "meat of the future."
By blending chicken cells with plant materials, this fast food chain intends to recreate the flavor and texture of its fried chicken. According to the company, Biomeat could lessen its environmental impact, eliminate the need for food additives, and ensure better treatment of animals. 'Crafted meat products represent the next phase in our 'restaurant of the future' initiative,' said Raisa Polyakova, General Manager of KFC Russia.
The creation of bioengineered meat begins by extracting stem cells from the desired animal. After performing a minor biopsy, the cells are grown and directed into a bio-cartridge. A 3D printer then uses the living cells to construct the meat layer by layer.
Various companies in Israel and Spain are experimenting with 3D-printed meat, including Redefine Meat. This company uses plant-based proteins to replicate the components of an average steak, including blood, fat, and muscle. Redefine Meat is collaborating with restaurant owners to bring its 'alt-steaks' to the dining table.
4. The Rise of the Megacorp
A cyberpunk future imagines a world where massive corporations become so dominant they cannot fail. These giant, wealthy entities monopolize markets, influence government policies, and sometimes even have their own private armies. While today's companies haven't yet reached megacorp status, some concerning patterns are beginning to take shape.
A significant portion of the post-industrial West has cultivated a corporate environment that exploits a specific group of low-wage, overworked individuals. Amazon is an apt example of this. Workers in Amazon's warehouses have reportedly resorted to urinating in bottles to keep up with their demanding quotas. Complaints about hazardous working conditions are frequent, and depression is widespread. Additionally, the company has patented a wearable device that monitors employees' progress and alerts them with vibrations if they fall behind on their tasks.
Over time, many major corporations have shifted much of their manufacturing operations to countries like China, Malaysia, and Taiwan. The allure of lower wages, cheaper materials, and looser regulations results in greater profits. Unfortunately, this means that the suffering is often shifted elsewhere. A notable example is Foxconn, the electronics manufacturer, which has been forced to install 'suicide nets' around some of its buildings since 2010. Workers are also required to sign contracts pledging not to take their own lives.
Companies that choose to operate within the United States have powerful lobbying operations. These corporations fund think tanks, foster ties with lawmakers, and push politicians in the direction that best serves their interests. In November, a report revealed that major companies such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and Nike spent large amounts lobbying against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a bill aimed at banning imports made with forced labor from China's Xinjiang region. If the bill passes, it will likely disrupt the supply chains of some of America's most influential companies.
Flying Cars and Air Taxis
Several flying cars are expected to become available in the near future, including models from companies like Terrafugia, Aeromobil, and PAL-V. The PAL-V Liberty, a gyroplane, can travel at speeds of up to 112 mph whether flying or driving. With a starting price of $400,000, the base model of the Liberty is already up for preorder. The first set of flying cars is expected to be delivered in 2021.
The tech world has devised a more feasible alternative: Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) air taxis. Volocopter, a German aviation company, aims to have an air taxi service in operation by 2023. The first batch of tickets has already been sold out. A collaboration between Toyota and SkyDrive also shows promise. The Japanese firms recently conducted a test flight with their SD-03 prototype, aiming for a commercial launch in 2023. Similarly, Uber has heavily invested in the air taxi market, joining forces with Hyundai and Joby Aviation to develop its own designs.
While the aviation industry works on developing regulations for VTOL flights, several challenges remain. To manage the flight paths in crowded airspace, automated systems, along with dedicated airlanes and landing zones, will likely be required. However, with the industry projected to be worth $1.5 trillion by 2040, these challenges may be worth tackling.
2. Gene-Edited Babies & De-Extinction
In 2018, He Jiankui became notorious for creating the world's first genome-edited babies. The Chinese scientist used CRISPR gene-editing technology to attempt to make babies immune to HIV. Lulu and Nana, the two babies, were born in October 2018, sparking a strong backlash from the scientific community.
Chinese authorities sentenced He Jiankui to three years in prison for his involvement in the illegal experiments. In December 2020, U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe alleged that China had already conducted 'human testing' on members of the People's Liberation Army, with the goal of creating soldiers with enhanced biological abilities. Beijing responded by accusing Ratcliffe of spreading 'fake news.'
Scientists worldwide have achieved remarkable advancements using CRISPR, such as creating disease-resistant chickens and developing mushrooms that stay fresh longer. One of the more intriguing uses of this technology is in 'de-extinction' efforts. For example, Harvard geneticist George Church is working on creating a hybrid of a woolly mammoth and an Asian elephant. By incorporating mammoth genes, including those responsible for its thick coat and fat layers, Church aims to help the hybrid survive in Siberian temperatures. As Church explains, the creature would be able to thrive in -40 degrees and resemble a mammoth both in appearance and behavior.
1. The Deployment of Robo-Dogs by Police Forces
Boston Dynamics has been honing its robotic technologies for years, and one of its most famous innovations is Spot, a robotic dog equipped with a 360-degree field of view. In July 2019, Massachusetts State Police began testing Spot in real-world situations. The Bomb Squad leased the $75,000 robot for 90 days to evaluate its potential for use in law enforcement, specifically for safely inspecting hazardous environments that might involve suspects or dangerous objects.
In 2020, Spot was deployed by the New York Police Department following a shooting incident. The shooter, after a confrontation over a parking ticket, missed his intended target and accidentally struck a woman. Spot was then used to assess the scene once the shooter took refuge in a nearby building. Meanwhile, in Singapore, Spot has been seen delivering pre-recorded messages about social distancing. The U.S. Air Force is also testing similar robots to monitor their military bases.
