The Futures - No. 28

The digital afterlife market / Fighting off mind attacks / AI in education

Oct 24, 2023

In this issue

The Quantumrun team shares actionable trend insights about the booming digital afterlife market, the increasing adoption of AI in education, the military combating cognitive attacks, and a new AI tool to predict virus mutations.

Future signals to watch

Mixed reality (MR) solutions are increasingly being adopted in the military. As a result, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing the Intrinsic Cognitive Security (ICS) research program to create tactical MR systems that guard against cognitive attacks (i.e., attacks targeting our brain, thoughts, or perception of reality).
Facing a rapidly aging population and land scarcity, Beijing’s cemeteries are going vertical and digital to save space, piloting burial spaces with electronic screens instead of headstones.
EVEscape, a new AI tool by Harvard and Oxford researchers, combines evolutionary modeling and virus data to predict likely future virus variants. This data could assist researchers in creating better vaccines and treatments, in some cases even before the diseases emerge in nature.
Researchers discovered that genetics can influence the likelihood of people being vegetarians.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after years of “she-cession,” more women are returning to the workforce.
Scientists have replicated photosynthesis to generate methane from carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight, presenting a prototype for potential renewable energy solutions.
Deloitte’s study reveals that many parts of the US are experiencing drought, especially in agricultural regions.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service has initiated a project to create a "genetic library" of endangered species by collecting, preserving, and sequencing biological samples.

💡 Watch Quantumrun’s trend videos on Linkedin & YouTube & Instagram & TikTok

Should our afterlives become digitized?

The digital afterlife industry is an emerging field focused on preserving human identities posthumously through data. While large companies like Microsoft have explored the possibility of creating chatbots mimicking deceased individuals, the sector is mainly comprised of smaller enterprises. Firms offer various services, such as delivering scheduled messages postmortem, creating interactive memories in the voice of the departed, or training a chatbot through the departed’s text messages.

Interface of Replika, an AI companion app that was developed by Eugenia Kuyda, who lost her best friend to an accident.

The industry's growth raises critical ethical and existential questions. For example, should individuals control how they persist digitally after death? How enforceable is a decision to opt-out, given the distributed nature of online data? Should loved ones be allowed to bring back their dead through data-infused "clones" (hello, Black Mirror Season 2 Episode 1)?

The concept of "datafication"—the conversion of human activities into digital data—means our digital profiles could theoretically live on even after we pass away. This long-lasting digital presence challenges traditional human boundaries, reshaping how we think about life, community, and even human rights. As we all increasingly live digital lives, managing what happens to our digital assets—like emails, photos, and online accounts—has become a part of estate planning.

With the capacity to extend our social interactions beyond life, this industry disrupts how we view the life-death boundary. It also poses ethical concerns about commercializing human identity, ownership, and consent regarding data usage. Importantly, the technology can affect the bereavement process, potentially aiding or hindering emotional closure.

Actionable trend insights as the digital afterlife market grows

For entrepreneurs: They can look into developing Postmortem Social Networking platforms. These platforms could go beyond mere memorial pages, offering an interactive space where data-driven profiles of the deceased could engage with loved ones either through chat interfaces or even through photorealistic avatars interacting in virtual reality environments. Entrepreneurs can also create other digital services that cater to the needs of those who are grieving, such as AI companions or counseling programs.
For corporate innovators: They can build Corporate Alumni services that extend into the digital afterlife. Leveraging the massive amounts of internal data from former employees, corporations can create AI-driven training programs that incorporate the skills, insights, and even leadership styles of significant past employees who have left the company and others who have passed away. These interactive alumni bots/avatars could be used as learning and development tools for current and future staff, offering a unique blend of institutional memory and training resources. However, such companies may have to navigate a complex data privacy regulatory framework.
For public sector innovators: Government agencies can take the lead in crafting a legal framework for the Digital Afterlife. As this sector is largely unregulated, public entities can study the social, ethical, and economic impact of digital afterlife services and then implement regulations that ensure ethical practices while encouraging industry growth. For example, they could establish guidelines around data ownership after death, clarifying how digital assets should be managed or divided.

Trending research reports from the World Wide Web

A Deloitte survey reveals that 90% of consumers associate fresh food with happiness and believe it's crucial for a wholesome diet.
According to Andreessen Horowitz, large language model chatbots are still the dominant players in the AI market, but companionship and creative apps are gaining ground.
According to the 2024 Global Insurance Outlook, insurers are adapting to existential threats like climate change and cybercrime by aiming to help consumers prevent or mitigate risks before they occur rather than merely providing post-event compensation.
This essay argues that instead of replacing humans in the entertainment field, AI will open up new genres.

Can the education industry compromise with AI?

A pressing concern among educational institutions is the ease with which students can now cheat, especially with the emergence of AI-powered cheating services or "essay mills," which are gaining popularity on platforms like TikTok. Such mills have been steadily collecting clients from social media advertisements. This situation is aggravated by AI's enhanced capabilities to “mass produce” academic content.

On a brighter note, AI is heralded for its potential to significantly streamline teaching processes. Educators worldwide are utilizing AI for crafting lesson plans, grading assignments, and developing engaging classroom activities, all within a fraction of the usual time. Moreover, AI is opening doors to novel teaching methodologies; for instance, a history professor leveraged ChatGPT to simulate historical events, challenging students to verify the accuracy of these simulations.

The founder of the educational platform WAYE, Sinead Bovell, argues that it’s time for educators to assume that everyone is using AI and to think of new ways to encourage students to work with the technology. She mentioned how calculators pushed students from memorizing numbers to engaging with more complex formulas and argued that generative AI could do the same to elevate research and analysis skills.

The discourse underscores a crucial takeaway: As AI continues to weave itself into various professional sectors, equipping students with the know-how to use AI tools is imperative for their future career preparedness. While AI in education comes with its own set of hurdles, its potential to augment teaching efficiency and equip students with essential future-ready skills is a compelling reason for its continued exploration and integration into mainstream education.

Actionable trend insights as the education industry adopts AI

For entrepreneurs: They could develop AI-driven platforms that offer personalized learning experiences for various types of students and for professionals in different industries. For instance, a platform that utilizes AI to understand each learner’s strengths, weaknesses, optimal learning times, and creating a tailored learning plan to improve retention and comprehension. Additionally, entrepreneurs could venture into creating AI tools that help educators automate administrative tasks, thus allowing them more time to focus on interactive teaching.
For corporate innovators: They can leverage AI to create in-house training programs tailored to their employees' needs. For instance, an AI system could be designed to assess the skills and knowledge of employees and then develop personalized training modules to address identified gaps. Moreover, corporations could collaborate with EdTech companies to create specialized AI-driven learning platforms that resonate with their industry-specific challenges and objectives.
For public sector innovators: Beyond traditional policy simulation, government agencies could employ AI to create interactive educational materials that foster a better understanding of policies and civic processes. For example, an AI-driven platform could simulate the ripple effects of specific policies, allowing citizens to visually explore how different decisions impact their communities and lives. Additionally, public sector entities could use AI to develop training programs for public servants, ensuring they are well-versed with contemporary policy issues and the evolving landscape of public administration.

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Outside curiosities

Want to experience what it’s like to pilot a Gundam mech suit? This Japanese startup lets you have one for USD $3 million.
South Korea carries on writing a Unified Korean dictionary, even though North Korea has long stopped participating in the project.
This dress can change designs with one push of a button.
Finally, a robot that will tidy up your house.
Apparel brand Eddie Bauer changed its font because "kids don't even learn to read cursive in school anymore."