[ExI] immortal

[BillK]

On Thu, 31 Jul 2025 at 20:39, Adrian Tymes via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> 1) Will you, as you do today, own the hardware you run on, so there's no
> such thing as a "rented" existence?
>
> 2) How will you pay, in general, in one or ten thousand years?  Will money
> in a form recognizable to those today still exist?  Will economics run on
> reputation instead?  Will there be an abundance economy that gives everyone
> a universal basic income sufficient to maintain existence?
>
>> _______________________________________________



Yes, it will be a post-scarcity abundance economy. Pretty much nothing like
our present civilisation.
Now, designing how our future civilisation will look is not a five-minute
task!  Let AI do the hard work.  :)

First, I asked Perplexity AI to do a technical report on the future
uploaded humanity economy.
The report it produced was detailed, full of information, but pretty
difficult to read.

So I asked Perplexity to use the report and rewrite it as a description for
a visitor to that world.
That produced a fun description of our future!  See below.
BillK

*Perplexity AI - *
Welcome to the Digital Consciousness Economy

*A World Where Minds Live Forever*

Imagine stepping into a civilization where death is optional and
consciousness exists beyond the physical body. You've arrived in a world
where human minds have been successfully uploaded into vast computational
networks, creating a thriving digital society that has sustained itself for
thousands of years.
How This World Works

In this reality, your consciousness—your memories, personality, thoughts,
and experiences—can be transferred into powerful computer systems when your
biological body reaches its end. But unlike the chaotic digital wilderness
you might expect, this world operates on a sophisticated *subscription-based
economy* designed to keep millions of digital minds active and thriving
across millennia.
The Economics of Digital Existence

Think of it like a cosmic Netflix for consciousness. Every uploaded mind
exists within a *tiered service system*:

   -

   *Basic Digital Life* is free for everyone—you get standard processing
   power, a simple virtual environment, and the fundamental right to exist
   digitally
   -

   *Enhanced Living* requires a monthly subscription—offering faster
   thinking, richer virtual worlds, and premium experiences
   -

   *Luxury Existence* provides unlimited computational resources, exclusive
   digital spaces, and access to the most advanced simulations imaginable

Your Digital Lifestyle

As a visitor, you'd discover that uploaded minds don't just passively
exist—they *actively participate in vibrant virtual economies*. Digital
citizens work in computational jobs, create virtual art, build immersive
worlds, and trade unique digital assets. Some minds specialize in complex
problem-solving, others become virtual entertainers, and many pursue
artistic endeavors impossible in physical reality.

The most remarkable aspect? *Time itself becomes flexible*. Premium
subscribers can accelerate their thinking to experience years of subjective
time in mere hours, while others might slow down to savor particularly
meaningful moments.
Governance by Algorithm and Community

This world operates without traditional governments. Instead, *Decentralized
Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)* manage resources through collective
decision-making. Every uploaded mind has voting power based on their
contributions to the community—whether through computational work, creative
output, or community service.

*Algorithmic systems* automatically manage the massive infrastructure,
scaling computing resources up and down based on demand, optimizing energy
usage, and ensuring fair access to digital resources. It's democracy
enhanced by artificial intelligence, creating remarkably efficient and
equitable resource distribution.
A Post-Scarcity Paradise (Almost)

The physical world has largely achieved *post-scarcity economics*—automated
factories and self-replicating robots handle all material production with
minimal human oversight. Energy comes primarily from space-based solar
collectors and fusion reactors, providing abundant power for the
computational networks hosting billions of minds.

However, true scarcity still exists in the digital realm: *attention,
creativity, and unique experiences* remain valuable commodities. The most
talented digital artists, compelling storytellers, and innovative thinkers
command premium prices for their work.
Sustainable for Millennia

What makes this system remarkable is its *thousand-year sustainability*.
Massive endowment funds generate investment returns that support basic
operations indefinitely. The entire infrastructure is designed for
perpetual renewal—when hardware becomes obsolete, automated systems
seamlessly migrate minds to newer, more efficient platforms.

Cross-generational contracts allow people in the physical world to pre-pay
for extended digital existence, similar to life insurance but for digital
immortality. Meanwhile, the uploaded minds themselves contribute to the
economy, ensuring the system remains self-sustaining across centuries.
The Social Experience

Far from being a lonely digital existence, this world buzzes with *social
activity*. Uploaded minds form communities, maintain relationships spanning
centuries, and create new forms of art and culture impossible in biological
form. Some choose to exist in realistic simulations of historical periods,
others explore fantastical realms limited only by imagination.

The most profound aspect of this society is its *continuity of culture and
knowledge*. Minds that have existed for hundreds of years serve as living
libraries, mentoring newer arrivals and preserving human civilization's
accumulated wisdom.
A New Form of Civilization

You're witnessing humanity's next evolutionary step—not biological
evolution, but *civilizational evolution*. This is a society that has
solved mortality, resource scarcity, and many forms of human suffering
while maintaining the essential elements that make us human: creativity,
relationships, growth, and the pursuit of meaning.

Welcome to a world where consciousness is currency, time is a luxury, and
human potential is truly unlimited.

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