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[Quarque]

A concern is that the only sentient beings we humans have ever met (or at least acknowledged) are humans.

Not really. Dolphins for example can recognize themselves in a mirror and they appear to have some sort of language (at the very least, it allows them to cooperate in pretty impressive ways when hunting, for example). Elephants, chimpansees, same thing. Sentient is a gradual thing.

That made me think.. perhaps some day AI will be so much more advanced than us that they discuss whether or not humans can be called 'sentient'.. 

[Loud Whispers]

I don't think we need to worry about cool techapocalypses like AI uprisings, tech singularities or accidentally uploading your consciousness into a Roomba. The future will only have lame declines, like waking up in a world where the ocean is full of dead zones, it's hard to breathe, the water makes you infertile and lose your hair, and some trillionaire dickhead is broadcasted everywhere about how you should focus on "self wellness by following my routine" whilst you work endlessly just to keep up with your food subcsription, rent subscription, living subscription

[Scoops Novel]

We're coming up to a lot of tehnologies that define you rather then add to you, like the internet, or smartphones, or cars, by and large.
It's like becoming a swordsman. That's the kind of technology were heading towards. Self-driving nomads, neuralink wizards; technologies that become defining experiences like Pokemon Go did. It's a different experience and it seems like it has a lot of repercussions.
People becoming less willing to move on, for one thing, even as new technology comes in quicker. Just accelerating and accentuating generation gaps.

[McTraveller]

Those technologies don't define me, nor do any others.  Don't speak in absolutes.

[Scoops Novel]

Yet.

A Neuralink implant sure as shit defines you.

One more thing: the future could be so messy it's hard to make a story out of it. And... people will start demanding the future. Every generation has thier idea of future shit they deserve. Once they get some, they'l want the rest. It will also help it make sense if we get it in the cultural context we're accustomed too. It would kind of suck if we get robots 40 years after the generation big on them are dead. And it would make it harder to figure out. There's also going to be a lot of guaranteed baggage associated with "cultural" technology, and the quicker we burn that out the sooner we can move on to the actually new.

[EuchreJack]

Those technologies don't define me, nor do any others.  Don't speak in absolutes.

Absolutely!

Ultimately, humans can be self-defining, if they so wish.
Novel was more talking about how people could define themselves with technology, not that that would have to define themselves with technology.

Yet.

A Neuralink implant sure as shit defines you.

One more thing: the future could be so messy it's hard to make a story out of it. And... people will start demanding the future. Every generation has thier idea of future shit they deserve. Once they get some, they'l want the rest. It will also help it make sense if we get it in the cultural context we're accustomed too. It would kind of suck if we get robots 40 years after the generation big on them are dead. And it would make it harder to figure out. There's also going to be a lot of guaranteed baggage associated with "cultural" technology, and the quicker we burn that out the sooner we can move on to the actually new.

1) I know plenty of people with poor eyesight that successfully fight off wearing glasses.  People will get Neuralinked primarily because they can accept that.
2) Every generation also has a long list of future shit they never get.  The wonder is the future stuff they get that they never imagined was possible.

[martinuzz]

It looks like my latest patch to your neuralinks is working as it should.
You don't realize anymore you have been implanted with them, and believe it is a future technology yet to be implemented.

Next patch I will focus on bugfixing, get rid of the unintended susceptibility to conspiracy theories.

[EuchreJack]

Conspiracy Theories are the realm of Crazy People.
Crazy People are locked up.
You don't want to be locked up.
Thus, abandon Conspiracy Theories.
....
bugfix complete

[martinuzz]

That only works if conspiracy theorists are a small minority in your civilization. It doesn't work like that when it is half your population and your former president.
Not enough cells, not enough guards.

[EuchreJack]

That only works if conspiracy theorists are a small minority in your civilization. It doesn't work like that when it is half your population and your former president.
Not enough cells, not enough guards.

NMP_{not my problem}

[RoseHeart]

But, why kill anticipation?

Other then Ai (too problematic) and Luck, how could this come to pass?

By challenging your assumption it's the only way.

Perhaps meditation, time in nature? Surprises can be !FUN!

Maybe there's a hidden Anxiety Stat on your character sheet that can be dialed down somehow.

What are your beliefs about death?

[McTraveller]

What are your beliefs about death?

So far, I could not have died yesterday.

[Scoops Novel]

You know, the ideal future would not just be one big revolutionary jump. It should be; better then perpetually waiting on the next remaking of the world et al, you want something to last us for a while; but you've got to work in the tension and evaporate some chill in the world to really make it satisfying. You don't want to spend the aftermath of the revolution leveling out, you want to be gearing up for the possibilities!

And people get what they want...

How can you work out all the world's favourite cane-shaking cajolations and give people such a jump into the future they're back in the present?

[EuchreJack]

Play Solargene, seriously.
We have a thread for it http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=179636.0

[Scoops Novel]

You know what... there's too much going on. Actually though, too much to keep track of in the future. It's like playing 5d chess. You can't plan on gene editing and self driving and robotics and drones simultaneously. You can't even stay focused, that's why i'm making a new thread every 10 seconds.

I expect a big (stupid) push for AI in response, as the only obvious way to get ahead/get control of the whole thing. If not, you have to accept a big element of chance and spur-of-the-moment solutions. Or try to invent your way into a new paradigm, the really smart move.