We need to interrogate the future before it arrives | Grace Turtle | TEDxYouth@Sydney

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what will your future look like have you

what will your future look like have you thought about it recently my future is

thought about it recently my future is

thought about it recently my future is gonna be filled with papaya and coconuts

gonna be filled with papaya and coconuts

gonna be filled with papaya and coconuts like what’s up in here you have a moral

like what’s up in here you have a moral

like what’s up in here you have a moral obligation to question and interrogate

obligation to question and interrogate

obligation to question and interrogate the futures that have been served to you

the futures that have been served to you

the futures that have been served to you and to challenge yourself to think about

and to challenge yourself to think about

and to challenge yourself to think about alternatives for example imagine it’s

alternatives for example imagine it’s

alternatives for example imagine it’s 2030 drones a reforesting the Amazon

2030 drones a reforesting the Amazon

2030 drones a reforesting the Amazon back to its original state universal

back to its original state universal

back to its original state universal basic income has been set in place and

basic income has been set in place and

basic income has been set in place and young girls previously deprived of an

young girls previously deprived of an

young girls previously deprived of an education are in school 2050 NiO tribes

education are in school 2050 NiO tribes

education are in school 2050 NiO tribes are gathering across the world to have

are gathering across the world to have

are gathering across the world to have the United vote on a blockchain to agree

the United vote on a blockchain to agree

the United vote on a blockchain to agree on global resilient strategies the

on global resilient strategies the

on global resilient strategies the world’s climate is in recovery power and

world’s climate is in recovery power and

world’s climate is in recovery power and wealth has been meaningfully distributed

wealth has been meaningfully distributed

wealth has been meaningfully distributed and the inequity gap is closing

and the inequity gap is closing

and the inequity gap is closing now these futures are obviously

now these futures are obviously

now these futures are obviously speculative the reality is we don’t know

speculative the reality is we don’t know

speculative the reality is we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future

what’s going to happen in the future

what’s going to happen in the future but what we do know is we’re likely to

but what we do know is we’re likely to

but what we do know is we’re likely to see more change in the next 15 years

see more change in the next 15 years

see more change in the next 15 years than the past hundred think about that

than the past hundred think about that

than the past hundred think about that no wonder we’re anxious about the future

no wonder we’re anxious about the future

no wonder we’re anxious about the future it’s dark but that’s a good thing

it’s dark but that’s a good thing

it’s dark but that’s a good thing because in the darkness lies

because in the darkness lies

because in the darkness lies possibilities and you have a choice to

possibilities and you have a choice to

possibilities and you have a choice to idly stand by and watch less ideal to

idly stand by and watch less ideal to

idly stand by and watch less ideal to stop

stop

stop futures come into play or you can act

futures come into play or you can act

futures come into play or you can act and you can play in the darkness now I’m

and you can play in the darkness now I’m

and you can play in the darkness now I’m a design futurist but I don’t believe in

a design futurist but I don’t believe in

a design futurist but I don’t believe in predicting futures I believe in using

predicting futures I believe in using

predicting futures I believe in using experimentation to design alternative

experimentation to design alternative

experimentation to design alternative futures that might steer us away from

futures that might steer us away from

futures that might steer us away from blindly stumbling towards our ultimate

blindly stumbling towards our ultimate

blindly stumbling towards our ultimate demise raise your hand if you created

demise raise your hand if you created

demise raise your hand if you created imaginary worlds as a child bingo we’re

imaginary worlds as a child bingo we’re

imaginary worlds as a child bingo we’re all futurists who you believed that

all futurists who you believed that

all futurists who you believed that hoverboards would be an actual thing by

hoverboards would be an actual thing by

hoverboards would be an actual thing by now so disappointing I honestly believed

now so disappointing I honestly believed

now so disappointing I honestly believed that I would go to Space Camp in space

that I would go to Space Camp in space

that I would go to Space Camp in space by the time I left school sad so sad

by the time I left school sad so sad

by the time I left school sad so sad didn’t happen one of my earliest

didn’t happen one of my earliest

didn’t happen one of my earliest memories is wandering into the shed

memories is wandering into the shed

memories is wandering into the shed discovering balsa wood for the first

discovering balsa wood for the first

discovering balsa wood for the first time rummaging through a blue toolbox

time rummaging through a blue toolbox

time rummaging through a blue toolbox pulling out some random objects which I

pulling out some random objects which I

pulling out some random objects which I took over to my cubby house the original

took over to my cubby house the original

took over to my cubby house the original makerspace to build a contraption with

makerspace to build a contraption with

makerspace to build a contraption with the hope with the intention that it

the hope with the intention that it

the hope with the intention that it would allow me to speak with aliens I

would allow me to speak with aliens I

would allow me to speak with aliens I reflect on this memory a lot and I think

reflect on this memory a lot and I think

reflect on this memory a lot and I think it’s because there is a strong

it’s because there is a strong

it’s because there is a strong connection between this action and what

connection between this action and what

connection between this action and what I do today is a design futurist not

I do today is a design futurist not

I do today is a design futurist not necessarily speaking with aliens but

necessarily speaking with aliens but

necessarily speaking with aliens but using design futuring

using design futuring

using design futuring and experimentation to help my clients

and experimentation to help my clients

and experimentation to help my clients like government think critically about

like government think critically about

like government think critically about the future with the intention to create

the future with the intention to create

the future with the intention to create better alternatives than our present day

better alternatives than our present day

better alternatives than our present day realities so a few years back when I was

realities so a few years back when I was

realities so a few years back when I was an aspiring tattoo artist living in

an aspiring tattoo artist living in

an aspiring tattoo artist living in Bogota I was introduced to an urban

Bogota I was introduced to an urban

Bogota I was introduced to an urban experiment by antenna smokers who during

experiment by antenna smokers who during

experiment by antenna smokers who during his time

his time

his time hired 420 minds like these guys to

hired 420 minds like these guys to

hired 420 minds like these guys to re-educate road users about safety by

re-educate road users about safety by

re-educate road users about safety by ridiculing jaywalkers these minds were

ridiculing jaywalkers these minds were

ridiculing jaywalkers these minds were able to affect behaviour change that’s

able to affect behaviour change that’s

able to affect behaviour change that’s amazing right

recently I used virtual reality to

recently I used virtual reality to immerse citizens into a fictional future

immerse citizens into a fictional future

immerse citizens into a fictional future of reimagine transport systems we used

of reimagine transport systems we used

of reimagine transport systems we used VR and AR prototypes and tabletop games

VR and AR prototypes and tabletop games

VR and AR prototypes and tabletop games as tools to test concepts around green

as tools to test concepts around green

as tools to test concepts around green corridors safe cycleways electric bikes

corridors safe cycleways electric bikes

corridors safe cycleways electric bikes autonomous buses and drones citizens

autonomous buses and drones citizens

autonomous buses and drones citizens engaged in the experiment were able to

engaged in the experiment were able to

engaged in the experiment were able to tell us things we otherwise wouldn’t

tell us things we otherwise wouldn’t

tell us things we otherwise wouldn’t know like how to prioritize funding to

know like how to prioritize funding to

know like how to prioritize funding to these concepts based on their unique

these concepts based on their unique

these concepts based on their unique needs and smaller details like how they

needs and smaller details like how they

needs and smaller details like how they felt morally towards uber and how they

felt morally towards uber and how they

felt morally towards uber and how they simply didn’t like the idea of

simply didn’t like the idea of

simply didn’t like the idea of carpooling with strangers I was

carpooling with strangers I was

carpooling with strangers I was interested to understand what it would

interested to understand what it would

interested to understand what it would take to get someone out of their car

take to get someone out of their car

take to get someone out of their car adopt public transport and feel safe in

adopt public transport and feel safe in

adopt public transport and feel safe in a driverless bus because this future

a driverless bus because this future

a driverless bus because this future isn’t too far away by 2040 autonomous

isn’t too far away by 2040 autonomous

isn’t too far away by 2040 autonomous vehicles could make up 75% of our road

vehicles could make up 75% of our road

vehicles could make up 75% of our road vehicles and by 2050 it is likely that

vehicles and by 2050 it is likely that

vehicles and by 2050 it is likely that 70% of us humans will be living in

70% of us humans will be living in

70% of us humans will be living in cities radical urbanization threatens to

cities radical urbanization threatens to

cities radical urbanization threatens to increase the structural inequities of

increase the structural inequities of

increase the structural inequities of our cities if we don’t redesign public

our cities if we don’t redesign public

our cities if we don’t redesign public infrastructure in the right way this

infrastructure in the right way this

infrastructure in the right way this experiment raised the question about

experiment raised the question about

experiment raised the question about reversing urbanization to create more

reversing urbanization to create more

reversing urbanization to create more equitable cities and if we’re to create

equitable cities and if we’re to create

equitable cities and if we’re to create more equitable cities we need to

more equitable cities we need to

more equitable cities we need to re-engage the social fabric of our

re-engage the social fabric of our

re-engage the social fabric of our cities on a cultural level and we need

cities on a cultural level and we need

cities on a cultural level and we need to decentralize cultural and economic

to decentralize cultural and economic

to decentralize cultural and economic activity because if we don’t we might

activity because if we don’t we might

activity because if we don’t we might find ourselves in a future with a

find ourselves in a future with a

find ourselves in a future with a privilege travel freely in the sky in

privilege travel freely in the sky in

privilege travel freely in the sky in drones while the rest of us plebs around

drones while the rest of us plebs around

drones while the rest of us plebs around the ground stuck in traffic where will

the ground stuck in traffic where will

the ground stuck in traffic where will you be

you be

you be up there or down here mobility is a

up there or down here mobility is a

up there or down here mobility is a right and public transport must work for

right and public transport must work for

right and public transport must work for everyone so today the scale and purpose

everyone so today the scale and purpose

everyone so today the scale and purpose of my experimentation is somewhat

of my experimentation is somewhat

of my experimentation is somewhat different to that of when I was

different to that of when I was

different to that of when I was attempting to contact aliens but the

attempting to contact aliens but the

attempting to contact aliens but the intention to test an experiment with

intention to test an experiment with

intention to test an experiment with futures before they arrived is

futures before they arrived is

futures before they arrived is essentially the same we live in a time

essentially the same we live in a time

essentially the same we live in a time were generally speaking we’re

were generally speaking we’re

were generally speaking we’re disillusioned with the state of the

disillusioned with the state of the

disillusioned with the state of the world capitalism and are failing

world capitalism and are failing

world capitalism and are failing democracies we’re threatened by

democracies we’re threatened by

democracies we’re threatened by technological disruptions and most

technological disruptions and most

technological disruptions and most importantly each other and for that

importantly each other and for that

importantly each other and for that reason the need for childlike wonder

reason the need for childlike wonder

reason the need for childlike wonder experimentation and play to reimagine

experimentation and play to reimagine

experimentation and play to reimagine future worlds is more important than

future worlds is more important than

future worlds is more important than ever the fifth element and the matrix

ever the fifth element and the matrix

ever the fifth element and the matrix were my favorite films growing up big

were my favorite films growing up big

were my favorite films growing up big surprise I believed that one day I would

surprise I believed that one day I would

surprise I believed that one day I would go to space and fall in love with a

go to space and fall in love with a

go to space and fall in love with a Supreme Being

Supreme Being

Supreme Being after being unplugged from a fake

after being unplugged from a fake

after being unplugged from a fake reality where Humanity sleeps oblivious

reality where Humanity sleeps oblivious

reality where Humanity sleeps oblivious to the fact that they’re plugged into a

to the fact that they’re plugged into a

to the fact that they’re plugged into a system to power robots this is the

system to power robots this is the

system to power robots this is the perfect example of a future that we want

perfect example of a future that we want

perfect example of a future that we want to avoid

to avoid

to avoid maybe not the supreme beings

maybe not the supreme beings

maybe not the supreme beings I’m all for supreme beings now don’t get

I’m all for supreme beings now don’t get

I’m all for supreme beings now don’t get me wrong I love the future so much

me wrong I love the future so much

me wrong I love the future so much actually have a tattooed on my arm in

actually have a tattooed on my arm in

actually have a tattooed on my arm in future oh I’ve also made it my life’s

future oh I’ve also made it my life’s

future oh I’ve also made it my life’s goal to facilitate experimentation of

goal to facilitate experimentation of

goal to facilitate experimentation of possible futures so that we might avoid

possible futures so that we might avoid

possible futures so that we might avoid dystopic futures

dystopic futures

dystopic futures imagine a future where humanity is no

imagine a future where humanity is no

imagine a future where humanity is no longer the dominant intelligence in the

longer the dominant intelligence in the

longer the dominant intelligence in the world and your choices are dictated by a

world and your choices are dictated by a

world and your choices are dictated by a set of external algorithms I recently

set of external algorithms I recently

set of external algorithms I recently created a game the humanity trade-off

created a game the humanity trade-off

created a game the humanity trade-off challenge for a future of work lab

challenge for a future of work lab

challenge for a future of work lab designed to help workers interrogate the

designed to help workers interrogate the

designed to help workers interrogate the role a I would play in their future the

role a I would play in their future the

role a I would play in their future the challenge for participants was to

challenge for participants was to

challenge for participants was to relinquish aspects of their humanity to

relinquish aspects of their humanity to

relinquish aspects of their humanity to AI in order to renew their own human

AI in order to renew their own human

AI in order to renew their own human intention I put the question to them

intention I put the question to them

intention I put the question to them what aspects of your humanity like

what aspects of your humanity like

what aspects of your humanity like curiosity and logic should be enhanced

curiosity and logic should be enhanced

curiosity and logic should be enhanced or replaced by AI the first time they

or replaced by AI the first time they

or replaced by AI the first time they played they’re reluctant to relinquish

played they’re reluctant to relinquish

played they’re reluctant to relinquish much but after interrogating AI they

much but after interrogating AI they

much but after interrogating AI they felt confident in releasing aspects of

felt confident in releasing aspects of

felt confident in releasing aspects of their humanity if it gave way for them

their humanity if it gave way for them

their humanity if it gave way for them to explore new human qualities gained by

to explore new human qualities gained by

to explore new human qualities gained by doing so like creativity like curiosity

doing so like creativity like curiosity

doing so like creativity like curiosity by 2030 a third of human jobs will be

by 2030 a third of human jobs will be

by 2030 a third of human jobs will be replaced by AI and experiments like the

replaced by AI and experiments like the

replaced by AI and experiments like the humanity trade-off challenge allow us to

humanity trade-off challenge allow us to

humanity trade-off challenge allow us to interrogate a new human logic based on

interrogate a new human logic based on

interrogate a new human logic based on our difference an intrinsic value as

our difference an intrinsic value as

our difference an intrinsic value as living social and connected beans in a

living social and connected beans in a

living social and connected beans in a world where we exist side by side AI we

world where we exist side by side AI we

world where we exist side by side AI we need to redefine what it means to be

need to redefine what it means to be

need to redefine what it means to be human because if we don’t we risk

human because if we don’t we risk

human because if we don’t we risk rendering ourselves obsolete all

rendering ourselves obsolete all

rendering ourselves obsolete all collectively plugging into power robots

collectively plugging into power robots

collectively plugging into power robots before we are able to read or write we

before we are able to read or write we

before we are able to read or write we tink it and we learn through play and

tink it and we learn through play and

tink it and we learn through play and like play experimentation is a universal

like play experimentation is a universal

like play experimentation is a universal language everyone understands and in our

language everyone understands and in our

language everyone understands and in our increasingly more complex world

increasingly more complex world

increasingly more complex world experimentation and play present

experimentation and play present

experimentation and play present themselves as the best tools to

themselves as the best tools to

themselves as the best tools to challenge emerging complex futures

challenge emerging complex futures

challenge emerging complex futures authoring the future can’t be top-down

authoring the future can’t be top-down

authoring the future can’t be top-down or bottom-up alone it must be a dance

or bottom-up alone it must be a dance

or bottom-up alone it must be a dance between

between

between both powered by people that transcend

both powered by people that transcend

both powered by people that transcend silos and foster a culture of social

silos and foster a culture of social

silos and foster a culture of social production urban activists Jane Jacobs

production urban activists Jane Jacobs

production urban activists Jane Jacobs once said it’s wicked to be a victim and

once said it’s wicked to be a victim and

once said it’s wicked to be a victim and nobody wants to be a victim of the

nobody wants to be a victim of the

nobody wants to be a victim of the future so don’t stand by and let the

future so don’t stand by and let the

future so don’t stand by and let the future be dictated to you rewrite future

future be dictated to you rewrite future

future be dictated to you rewrite future narratives intervene create experiment

narratives intervene create experiment

narratives intervene create experiment play because the future doesn’t have to

play because the future doesn’t have to

play because the future doesn’t have to be this topic explore the darkness and

be this topic explore the darkness and

be this topic explore the darkness and take the plunge to steer spaceship earth

take the plunge to steer spaceship earth

take the plunge to steer spaceship earth away from its impending doom thank you

away from its impending doom thank you

away from its impending doom thank you [Applause]

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