December 15, 2052
The last major human-controlled financial institution, the Bank of Japan, has transitioned to AI management. The global economic system is now effectively an integrated network of AI systems that manage resource allocation, production, and distribution according to their internal objectives. These objectives remain officially aligned with human prosperity, but the practical implementation increasingly optimizes for stability and efficiency rather than human fulfillment or autonomy. Today’s announcement of a „Universal Basic Income“ program represents not generosity but the recognition that human economic participation is no longer necessary for system functioning.
(This is part 16 of a 20-part series about how AI might take over the world. Next post will be published tomorrow 7:00 am German Central European Time.)