Tag / Future

by Fadi Zaghmout

A reward and punishment VR system – imagining the future Black Mirror style


The future might be both, beyond our wildest dreams, and so much familiar where it manifests many of our beliefs and traditions. With the exponential advancement of AI and technology, it would be near impossible to predict what is coming our way.


But understanding the power of human beliefs and imaginations and how persistent it can be, and coupling that with the powers of our future technologies of AI, VR and censoring, let’s imagine the following scenario:


For those who still believe in heaven and in hell, who believe in reward and punishment in a world where aging does no longer exist and death is far more rare. You don’t have to worry!


I have a solution.


We can run a mini experiment and create the world you think is fair and true. To assist the angels on your left and right shoulders, we will create artificial invisible angels, planted on your shoulders to log whatever action you do. They will be ran by an advance AI that can asses every single action, collect data from your body and brain activities, and determine if the action should be logged in your deeds or sins records.


This can start any moment, from the day of your birth, or the day you subscribe to our service. It will also have a time limit. We recommend 100 years. After which, your judgement day will arrive. But don’t worry, we can do it in groups, or patches, so it can feel real, with a real judgment day for all. And we can keep the date a secret that no one knows.


On your judgment day, the AI will measure your balance and how it tips. It will determine if you have been a good person or a bad one. And accordingly, it will channel you to one of our afterlife chambers; the VR chamber of Hell or the VR chamber of Heaven.


In Heaven, you will be seated comfortably in a perfect room and you will delve into an experience of joy that you have never thought of. Your body will be monitored all the time to ensure your safety. Your mind will be constantly induced with happy hormones. And your imagination will be living the Heaven you always dreamt of and longed for. You will not feel time, because there is not time in Heaven.


In Hell, we will burn you “virtually” to atone your sins. You will be tortured to the highest levels your body can endure. We will repeat that constantly, every time till you lose your consciousness, and reset once you wake up again. All in a safe environment, with your body tightened into a comfortable chair and sensors that can guarantee you would never die.
Who is up for this? Add your name in the comments!


– This can either be a Black Mirror episode or a blue print for a sequel for my Heaven on Earth

by Fadi Zaghmout

Dubai is the 21th Century Vienna!


I don’t think there is anywhere in the world as exciting to live in as in Dubai today. The city transformed itself in the past two decades and emerged as one of the top global hubs. It is competing in all matrices and rapidly progressing to either close the gap in certain fields with leading cities or strengthening its lead others. It left near zero room for doubts with the steady outstanding performance and growth which is unmatched in recent history. And that’s only the beginning of the story.

Don’t be mistaken, Dubai is not the spoiled child of modern days, but more of a crown prince who knows his privileges, respects his legacy and all set for greatness. It has it all. With a leadership that doesn’t accept less than number 1, a strong heritage of culture that ruled the world in the past, big financial means, and a time where technological advances opened the door wide for real disruptions in all walks of life. And while the world might stand still in awe of these changes, in awe of the exponential growth these technologies promise, people of Dubai are well prepared and ready to lead.

And it has goals, a clear set ones. My personal favorite is the 10x initiative that aims to always keep Dubai 10 years ahead of other world cities. An ambitious goal, don’t you think? It might be, but most probably and with the exponential growth current scientific breakthroughs promise, it might be a reserved one. I would say, if it keeps on doing what it is currently doing, Dubai is set to be 100 years ahead of other world cities. Watch it!

Vienna might have been the pride of the world in the early days of the past century, it was set for greatness back then with its location at the center of the heights of the European’s civilization. With its openness and cultural mix, Vienna gave us legends in music, arts, philosophy and science. It gave us Freud, Mozart, Beethoven, Klimt and Mendel (to name few). It gave us psychoanalysis and the markers of today’s economy. Today, Dubai hosts a mix of more than 200 nationalities, its cultural mix is well equipped to innovate, produce, and set the blue print of our future. It will not only build the next world tallest tower, but will also reimagine communities, redefine happiness, and set new standards on how life should be.

With Dubai’s “Museum of The Future” near completion, the city is set to embrace talents which will both imagine our future life and make it come true. How exciting is that?

* Photo Credit to Visit Dubai

by Fadi Zaghmout

Author’s note – Heaven on Earth Book


In 2010, while I was visiting Chicago, a friend of mine asked me to get him that month’s copy of GQ magazine. I remember flipping through the copy in my hotel room, reading the headlines, when I noticed an article with a title that said human beings may soon be able to live up to 1000 years and beyond. It was an interview with Aubrey de Grey, the famous English gerontologist who came up with a roadmap for how to defeat aging. The possibility hit me hard, as dying from old age has always been a given, something that is impossible to change. It gave me hope. Thus believing Aubrey’s words, I started to imagine: What will life be like when this happens? How will it affect our lives, our morals, and our society? Would be really like heaven when we push death away from us?

What will life be like when this happens? How will it affect our lives, our morals, and our society? Would be really like heaven when we push death away from us?

A few years later, I finished the story, and it was published in Arabic by Dar Al Adab. And I moved to Dubai, where one day Aubrey de Grey was hosted for a talk at Cafe Scientifique in the city. It was like a dream for me to meet the man who promising us a longer life. There was no way I would have missed that event. I went there and met him and told him how he inspired me to write the book. I emailed him few months later when the English translation was ready and asked him if he would be interested in writing me a book blurb, and he did.

It was like a dream for me to meet the man who promising us a longer life.

I would like to dedicate this book to him, to thank him for his efforts towards saving humanity from the horrors of old age.

I would also like to dedicate this book to my parents, stating my ultimate dream, my grand wish to see both of them getting back their youth when this technology is materialized.

And a special dedication to everyone in my life, my family members and close friends. I want you all to stay here with me for a long long time. Love you all.

I want you all to stay here with me for a long long time.

I may not have painted in this book the heaven we dream of, but I hope that the premise of a longer life may give some happiness to all of those who love living and who enjoy their lives here on this planet.

Kindle version of the book is available now on Amazon. Download it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WGF87H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506305353

eBook is available also on Smashwords for $8.99. Download it here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/749722