TheFutureBy TyHetrickofAs we ponder the future, we conjure up images of flying cars, robots, andeven food in pill form. But where will our collective imagination take us? Willit be a utopia like Meet the Robinsons, or will it resemble the apocalypticworld of The Matrix? One thing is certain: computer science has advancedat an unprecedented pace over the past few decades. From the creationof the computer and the smartphone to the recent emergence of artificialintelligence (AI), our generation has been swept up in this rapidly evolvingworld of ones and zeros. Human curiosity will never be sated. Our insatiabledemand for ease, access to information, and of course, novelty, has createda market for technology that shows no signs of slowing down. Have we everstopped to ask ourselves if these technologies are truly necessary, or if theyshould even exist in the first place? With AI, we can generate entire essaysand detailed art dedicated to any topic we choose. We can obtain answers tovirtually any question, from the mysteries of quantum physics to the simplestof tasks like using an Easy Bake oven. It seems that we have achieved theworld we always wanted — one where we can access answers to any questionwith just the click of a button. But have we sacrificed something in theprocess? Have we lost the satisfaction of working hard to find the answers,the joy of discovery, and the thrill of learning from our mistakes? These areimportant questions we should be asking ourselves as we move forward intoan increasingly digital world. Maybe AI can answer some of them for us.creationI believe that the invention of the internet and smartphones was essential forour evolution. They have streamlined communication and made informationreadily accessible at our fingertips. However, while this technology has givenus a sense of freedom in our lives and made knowledge virtually unlimited, wehave also become enslaved by it. We are consumed by endless entertainmenttailored to us by an algorithm that knows us better than we know ourselves.We rely on the bundle of collective knowledge that we have instant accessto, but we must not allow it to completely replace the natural processes inour brains. At what point do we stop being the masters of technology andbecome its servants? I urge everyone to take a moment to reflect. How muchtime do we spend each day looking at our phones? How much time is spentscrolling endlessly on platforms that provide customized entertainment? Howmuch time is wasted on consumption rather than creation? It is important tomaintain a balance between using technology as a tool and not allowing it tocontrol our lives.In modern times, it seems as though our ability to be creative has waned, andwe struggle to come up with truly original and unique ideas. We have morecapacity than ever to harness our creativity with limitless information at ourfingertips. At the same time, however, we tend to form communities wherewe all share the same ideas and personalities, and we only interact withpeople who agree with us. By avoiding challenges and struggles, we limit ourpotential to grow, to know ourselves and what we are truly capable of. To trulybe ourselves, we must get to know who we are, the beautiful and the ugly.We must understand what makes up the true colors of our energy, light anddark, and use it as the paint on the canvas of the universe. We can make artwithout comparing it to others or thinking it is supposed to be a certain waywhen in reality, art is a reflection of ourselves, of our physical, mental, andspiritual capabilities.True art is human.76We can accept it for all its beautiful flaws because it is a part of us. Whencreative energy is mixed with the muddled truths of others, our colors turnmuddy and lose their vibrancy. However, if we come together and collaborate
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