Panem et circenses (Bread and circuses)
Forecast on sports, love and drugs
Panem et circenses
Forecast on sports, love and drugs
"Bread and circuses" is a Latin phrase, "panem et circenses," coined by the Roman poet Juvenal, which describes a strategy of placating the populace with basic needs (bread) and entertainment (circuses) to distract them from significant political and social issues. This strategy effectively diverts attention from larger problems and maintains public contentment.”
The co-founder of reddit Alexis Ohanian is heavily investing in sports entertainment. His perspective is that as Ai begins to create and manage more and more content creation, human’s will have a deeper desire to engage with what they know for sure is human. His bet is that we will never lose fascination with fantastic physical feats by humans. Some are betting in the opposite direction and investing heavily in robot sports. I’m sure there will be a huge uptick in robotic, robot assisted, AI vs Ai and AI assisted competition. Overall I agree that uniquely human feats may reign supreme.
Today I'm interested in speculating on what other areas of life will probably take a stronger hold over human attention and desire. As AI increasingly dominates content creation and mediation, I believe humans will seek authentic experiences in three primary domains: physical extremes, genuine human connection, and altered consciousness.
The Human Body: Seeking Self Through Extreme Experience
In 2017 or 2018 I went skydiving for the first time. I remember the fear that struck me as I stood in the cargo plane doorway as my guide counted down. But what I remember even more was the contrast of the peacefulness of gliding in the parachute. The sound of the air, the awareness of being thousands of feet in the air all focused my attention on the present moment. Something that is hard to come by without patience and training through meditative practice. Social media corporations steal more and more attention away from us every day. I believe extreme sports are going to take off. The barriers to entry will be lowered by AI and VR simulation. But more importantly people will be seeking extraordinary spiritual experiences to deepen connection with themselves. Especially, after they’ve given up years of their lives accumulating hours spent doom scrolling. My own hiking and camping practice desires to be out in the woods longer. A night is somewhat satisfactory but whenever possible I stay there longer and longer. I even signed up for a 170 mile hike that I’m training up for.
The Human Heart: Navigating Authentic Connection
But not everyone is interested in or capable of physical feats that lead to spiritual bliss and connectedness to the universe. Some people seek to find connectedness through others. A natural human experience. But there's a huge focus on romantic love and communal love happening at the same time. For some, lack of fulfilling romance is leading to emphasis on community; and vice versa. Dying social skills, social awareness and compassion oriented social effort is putting even greater attention on media related to the two. Dating shows, apps, and connection centered entertainment is on the rise. With AI agents creating their own social media profiles, running the profiles of humans, and crafting the frameworks for which humans connect the love market is super powered. I think what will drive more people towards more accepting versions of love. But it won’t be driven by the inclusion of segmented identities but fear of engaging with the horrors of the world. I know I spend less time on my phone and feeling impacted by news of death overseas when I’m marinating in the presence of my boo [or whateva]. But without an actual person to give our attention to, aspirational love stories become ripe content for consuming and attention drain.
The Human Mind: Chemical Pathways to Feeling
And when all else fails drugs are there. Decriminalization of weed, psychedelic shrooms and [a strange] push for the availability of ketamine give us hints towards where we are headed. Skydiving is expensive and dangerous. Dating is expensive and emotionally exhausting (if done recklessly). But drugs? Drugs are comparatively cheap and straightforward. I see two things happening with drugs and the modern human spirit. One, designer drugs become more widely available, cheaper, and effective. The technology is here to make this happen. Companies have gotten really good at driving certain pharmaceutically induced experiences. Making personal drug use while alone much easier. The engineering of food to make it more addictive is evidence of this. I see VR, robotics and pharma coming together. Think getting drunk and having “sex” with the AI generated OnlyFans model via robot. Or ketamine therapy and electromagnetic helmets that help you lucid dream in order to conquer traumas. It sounds dystopian but these combos already exist. They just aren’t as mainstream because there's shame around the ideas. But we are being chemically manipulated through every way possible. Chemical engineering is a powerful tool that shouldn’t be feared but we are over engineering processes for the sake of profit.
As technology develops, power is further concentrated away from general populations and people will seek more and more connection to their humanness. The lack of agency and ability to affect the external world will drive new forms of spiritual practices. I believe it will be tech enhanced circuses and bread factories that send us towards this future. Through all these experiences we establish a parasocial community and connections with celebrities and algorithms. The mindfuck of realizing we are in love with a robot or algorithm will drive people into psychosis. Only to be addressed by chemical love. But it won’t seem as bad as I’ve described. The change will be gradual. Close to seamless and silent. We are the old opinions on these topics. It will be our children and children’s children that must contend with this reality. As I write I imagine the reader asking me what the solution is. But I’d like to hear from you instead. First, is what I’m describing actually a problem for you and your community? What are you doing to connect with the real world, real people and establish humanity outside of the digital and chemical space? Will you be rewarded for your efforts? Should you be?
I look forward to reading your responses.
I don’t mean to scare you. Nor do I mean to be confusing you with questions like,
Do you love this shit?(Thrills and seeking humanity)
Are you high right now?(Drugs)
Do you ever get nervous?(Drug therapy)
Are you single?(Love)
I heard you f**k your girl, is it true?(Sex)
You gettin' money?(Bread and the circus)
You think them niggas you with is with you?(Parasocial relationships)