Geofutures
@geofutures.bsky.social
Foresight in geopolitics and social issues, with an eye on science fiction
"AI-enabled power concentration would mean the political disempowerment of almost all humans. For the vast majority of people, this would mean having no meaningful say in decisions that shape their lives and futures." 80000hours.org/problem-prof...
Extreme power concentration
Advanced AI technology may enable its creators, or others who control it, to attempt and achieve unprecedented societal power grabs. Under certain circumstances, they could use these systems to take c...
80000hours.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:07 PM
"AI-enabled power concentration would mean the political disempowerment of almost all humans. For the vast majority of people, this would mean having no meaningful say in decisions that shape their lives and futures." 80000hours.org/problem-prof...
"A majority of Americans (53%) now think artificial intelligence is likely to “destroy humanity” someday" www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Poll: Most Americans think AI will 'destroy humanity' someday
A new Yahoo/YouGov survey finds that real people are much more pessimistic about artificial intelligence — and its potential impact on their lives — than Silicon Valley and Wall Street.
www.yahoo.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
"A majority of Americans (53%) now think artificial intelligence is likely to “destroy humanity” someday" www.yahoo.com/news/article...
"Emigration rises as countries approach around $5,000 in income per person, peaks at around $10,000 and declines thereafter." "Meanwhile 94% of sub-Saharan Africans—1.1bn people—live in countries with a GDP per person of less than $10,000." www.economist.com/briefing/202...
Emigration from Africa will change the world
As other countries age, they will need African youth
www.economist.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
"Emigration rises as countries approach around $5,000 in income per person, peaks at around $10,000 and declines thereafter." "Meanwhile 94% of sub-Saharan Africans—1.1bn people—live in countries with a GDP per person of less than $10,000." www.economist.com/briefing/202...
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Mockingjay II," which came out today in 2015. This Hunger Games sequel was another in the standout crop of 2015 futurist films.
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Mockingjay II," which came out today in 2015. This Hunger Games sequel was another in the standout crop of 2015 futurist films.
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Ghost in the Shell," which came out 30 years ago today, and is the best of 1995's futurist films, and one of the best of the decade.
November 18, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Ghost in the Shell," which came out 30 years ago today, and is the best of 1995's futurist films, and one of the best of the decade.
"China is helping governments not only combat crime, but also control their citizens and stay in power—and that is proving stunningly popular." www.economist.com/internationa...
China’s creepiest export surge
Countries are queuing to buy the tools and techniques of the CCP’s security state
www.economist.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
"China is helping governments not only combat crime, but also control their citizens and stay in power—and that is proving stunningly popular." www.economist.com/internationa...
Futurist at the movies microreview: "The 6th Day," which came out 25 years ago today. Even regular human cloning has (probably) not happened yet, much less this adult insta-cloning. But we do now have self-driving cars.
November 17, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Futurist at the movies microreview: "The 6th Day," which came out 25 years ago today. Even regular human cloning has (probably) not happened yet, much less this adult insta-cloning. But we do now have self-driving cars.
"To understand the task before them, Democrats must trace how the terms “liberalism” and “conservatism” have diminished profoundly in their capacity to reflect the preferences, aspirations, and fears shaping the post-Great Recession electorate." www.liberalpatriot.com/p/liberalism...
Liberalism Failed to Stop the Trump Realignment. Is There A Way Back?
It is a common assumption of the Trump era that America is undergoing a turbulent and protracted political realignment that could reverberate for decades.
www.liberalpatriot.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"To understand the task before them, Democrats must trace how the terms “liberalism” and “conservatism” have diminished profoundly in their capacity to reflect the preferences, aspirations, and fears shaping the post-Great Recession electorate." www.liberalpatriot.com/p/liberalism...
Futurist at the movies microreview: "The Running Man" (1987). Let's hope the new version is better than this shoddy Schwarzenegger vehicle.
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Futurist at the movies microreview: "The Running Man" (1987). Let's hope the new version is better than this shoddy Schwarzenegger vehicle.
The 1982 Stephen King novel The Running Man was set in 2025.
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The 1982 Stephen King novel The Running Man was set in 2025.
I guess my plan -- to fire grappling hooks onto the roof of the US Mint in Philadelphia (seen here) and steal 50 pounds of pennies -- has been foiled.
November 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I guess my plan -- to fire grappling hooks onto the roof of the US Mint in Philadelphia (seen here) and steal 50 pounds of pennies -- has been foiled.
A neighbor has political thoughts involving the game The Oregon Trail
November 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A neighbor has political thoughts involving the game The Oregon Trail
A soldier who died November 11, 1918, the last day of WW I, commemorated in a local DC church.
November 11, 2025 at 6:44 PM
A soldier who died November 11, 1918, the last day of WW I, commemorated in a local DC church.
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Skyline," which came out 15 years ago today --
November 11, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Skyline," which came out 15 years ago today --
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Red Planet," which came out 25 years ago today -- and we still aren't a great deal closer to humans landing on Mars.
November 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Red Planet," which came out 25 years ago today -- and we still aren't a great deal closer to humans landing on Mars.
"The correlation between inequality and state failure often rests on whether its institutions are inclusive, involving democratic decision-making ..., or extractive: 'designed to extract incomes and wealth from one subset of society to benefit a different subset.'” www.noemamag.com/humanitys-en...
Humanity’s Endgame | NOEMA
A new history of societal collapse by an expert in existential risk argues that our globalized society is edging toward the precipice.
www.noemamag.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:37 PM
"The correlation between inequality and state failure often rests on whether its institutions are inclusive, involving democratic decision-making ..., or extractive: 'designed to extract incomes and wealth from one subset of society to benefit a different subset.'” www.noemamag.com/humanitys-en...
Reposted by Geofutures
Destroying the scientific research capacity of universities just because you hate the Middle East Studies department is definitely going to help the U.S. beat China in the race for technological dominance. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Why Trump’s cuts to scientific research are a big win for China
China is attracting American scientific talent, especially in STEM fields, partly due to funding cuts and immigration restrictions under President Donald Trump.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Destroying the scientific research capacity of universities just because you hate the Middle East Studies department is definitely going to help the U.S. beat China in the race for technological dominance. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
"In Silicon Valley, such reasoning has generated a peculiarly dystopian variant of hustle culture: Make your fortune in the next five years, and you’ll claim a place in the perpetual aristocracy of AI owners — fail, and you’ll forever be at their mercy." archive.is/oAYM7
archive.is
November 6, 2025 at 7:05 PM
"In Silicon Valley, such reasoning has generated a peculiarly dystopian variant of hustle culture: Make your fortune in the next five years, and you’ll claim a place in the perpetual aristocracy of AI owners — fail, and you’ll forever be at their mercy." archive.is/oAYM7
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Annihilation," one of the better futurist movies of 2018
November 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Futurist at the movies microreview: "Annihilation," one of the better futurist movies of 2018
The meaningful aspect of this polling is that independents are much more aligned with Democrats in their views of Trump's treatment of rights and the law -- wapo.st/49ypWx6
Poll finds most Americans doubt Trump’s commitment to free speech, fair justice
The American people also don’t seem to know quite what to make of the criminal cases against two of Trump’s perceived opponents.
wapo.st
November 5, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The meaningful aspect of this polling is that independents are much more aligned with Democrats in their views of Trump's treatment of rights and the law -- wapo.st/49ypWx6
The sandwich-thrower (now on trial) has provided Washington DC with a new protest symbol.
November 5, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The sandwich-thrower (now on trial) has provided Washington DC with a new protest symbol.
Four scenarios for American democracy. We are currently in the first scenario, but with many precursors of the second occurring.
November 4, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Four scenarios for American democracy. We are currently in the first scenario, but with many precursors of the second occurring.
Nigeria: "A U.S. military intervention will be disastrous. It would sow distrust, exacerbate divisions, fuel conspiracy theories, and would not end the insurgency in the northeast" foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/03/t...
Why Is Trump Suddenly Talking About Invading Nigeria?
A U.S. military intervention would be a disaster in an already divided country.
foreignpolicy.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Nigeria: "A U.S. military intervention will be disastrous. It would sow distrust, exacerbate divisions, fuel conspiracy theories, and would not end the insurgency in the northeast" foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/03/t...
Futurist at the movies: "Don't Worry Darling," an interesting 2022 film, is arriving on Netflix today. Here's my microreview.
November 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Futurist at the movies: "Don't Worry Darling," an interesting 2022 film, is arriving on Netflix today. Here's my microreview.
Reposted by Geofutures
“The only countries that will really learn more if [U.S. nuclear] testing resumes are Russia and, to a much greater extent, China,” says Jeffrey Lewis, an expert on the geopolitics of nuclear weaponry
Resuming U.S. Nuclear Tests Would Only Help China, One Expert Says
“The only countries that will really learn more if [U.S. nuclear] testing resumes are Russia and, to a much greater extent, China,” says Jeffrey Lewis, an expert on the geopolitics of nuclear weaponry
www.scientificamerican.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
“The only countries that will really learn more if [U.S. nuclear] testing resumes are Russia and, to a much greater extent, China,” says Jeffrey Lewis, an expert on the geopolitics of nuclear weaponry