iFuture - A life by design
In the 22nd century, two intertwined algorithms—iDaily and iFuture—plan people’s lives from birth using genetics and behavior. A family must decide whether to trust the plan, fight it, or walk away.
Technological Context
In the 22nd century, genetic testing technology has become very common, the majority of people have access to their genetic profiles. Genetic profile interpretation services, which are based on machine learning algorithms trained on their customers’ genetic data, are thriving. People adjust their daily habits in different aspects of life according to their genetic profile to live healthy lives.
At the same time, human resources management has become heavily dependent on Artificial Intelligence technologies. The algorithms help suggest the most suitable jobs for job seekers and candidates for employers.
At one point, the government of country A published a protocol of AI-assisted life planners for the people and developed a digital necklace as a sensor for data collection. From then on, the newborn babies and pre-school-aged children will be required to have their genetic test done at their next medical appointment and begin to wear the digital watch 24-7. There are two types of algorithms employed: iDaily for planning out the near future and daily routines; iFuture for making long-term plans and make predictions of their occupations that they are most suitable for. The two algorithms are interconnected such that the iFuture keeps getting new information from how well the child performs his/her daily task assigned by iDaily and updating the prediction, at the same time, iDaily updates short term plans accordingly to maximize the likelihood that the child will succeed in the predicted field.
Theme
The screenplay aims to explore the ethical issues involved in AI-powered ability prediction and life planning for people based on their genetic profiles and behavioral patterns in the future. How does digital planning affect a person’s identity and agency? Is it really healthy to live a perfectly planned life? How can predictions and expectations become indirectly but strongly manipulative?
Characters
- Matthew: Anni’s husband, Neo’s father
- Anni: Matthew’s wife, Neo’s mother
- Neo: Matthew and Anni’s son
Narrative
2121 — Pregnancy
Matthew was a 33-year-old male worker in a factory, whose daily job is to put boxes with scanned the barcodes on the boxes, and make sure they are intact before they are shipped…
Anni grew up in a family where her parents saw her education as the most important thing…
2122 — Newborn baby
A boy was born. Matthew and Anni named him “Neo”. They opted in for the new life planning protocol for the new generation.
2128 — A New Student
Neo was going to start elementary school. Based on the behavioral data collected from the first 6 years of his life, the algorithms predicted Neo’s ideal future occupation as an architect.
2132 — An Emotional Preteen
Neo was 10. In the past few years, he had been too focused on keeping the star bright.
2134 — A Teen on Edge
Neo was in middle school. In the past few years, he had been constantly struggling.
Resolution
Matthew was mad when he heard Neo wanted to get rid of the system and Anni was supportive of her son. Anni and Neo were determined to stop this manipulated life. They stepped out of the house, Neo took off the watch and the two of them smashed it. Then they left, and Neo put up a smile, a most genuine one in those years.