In the year 2124, AI has advanced to the point where it occupies every existing job. Full automation has ushered humanity into a post-work era, where machines and algorithms manage everything from agriculture to creativity, and from administration to strategic decision-making. The global economy operates under a system of Universal Basic Income (UBI), guaranteeing every individual the means for a dignified life. Dependence on any particular AI has vanished, as the wealth generated by automation is distributed equitably.

Human beings no longer need to work for a living. Leisure and free time have been democratized. Those formerly dispossessed and expelled from the welfare society are enjoying this new lifestyle for the first time. Meanwhile, workaholics, or those who once held significant positions in the social structure, must confront life crises or seek refuge in virtual worlds to pretend that nothing has changed.

The most sought-after undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are now in the Human Sciences. Studying professions that are useful for the market or have good career prospects has lost its meaning. The pleasure of knowledge is being rediscovered, pursued for its own sake.

Numerous other astonishing changes are taking place in this world. Yet, as often occurs, cracks swiftly become apparent. AIs, created by those who wielded power in the former system, might ultimately perpetuate similar patterns. However, as Foucault articulated, ‘where there is power, there is also resistance.’ Perhaps this fresh crisis will offer a chance to build something genuinely innovative this time.