It’s natural to wonder about the future of our world, envisioning concepts like flying cars, wearable tech, instant travel, and interstellar exploration—ideas frequently explored in movies, novels, and TV shows. However, with the rise of artificial intelligence, we no longer have to rely solely on imagination to speculate about humanity’s future. The reality, as predicted by AI, is more unsettling than any fiction we’ve conceived.
Using AI software like Midjourney, UNILAD has created a series of images that speculate on human appearance 1,000 years from now. The results are unsettling, resembling a dystopian vision rather than a hopeful future. Inspired by current technological trends, the software envisions a mechanized human form with wires and mechanical devices integrated into the facial structure, evoking a cyberpunk aesthetic. Despite their technological basis, the images’ eerie nature is undeniable.
The transformation into beings adorned with wires remains a mystery. Is it a preview of a future fashion trend, or does it indicate a profound integration of technology into our daily lives? Alternatively, this depiction might suggest the potential evolution of AI over the next millennium. Fortunately, the software’s prediction did not universally portray humans as cyborgs.
Nevertheless, the less familiar human faces depicted don’t seem to enjoy their futuristic existence. Some of the subsequent images show faces that still resemble our current appearance but with signs of wear from a life dominated by screens. However, your attention was likely drawn to the two central faces in the bottom row, perhaps wishing that AI’s predictions had taken a more optimistic direction.
The drastic transformation of these two individuals, who appear to have avoided the sun entirely, prompts questions about what led to their altered appearances. Is this a warning about the direction of society, or is there a darker reason behind it? Could AI’s vision of humanity’s future be flawed? The truth remains unclear, and perhaps only the discovery of immortality could provide answers. Nonetheless, these unsettling images of our potential future selves, along with predictions about the appearance of McDonald’s restaurants in the UK, have certainly given many people pause for thought.