There are Four Horsemen, right?

Death
Conquest
Famine
War.

Pale Horse
Red Horse
Black Horse
White Horse

These are mentioned, I think, in the Old Testament and are supposed to be indicators of the End of Times and the Second Coming.

After some thought, I think I’ve identified the up-to-date version of the Four Horsemen.

.
big data
3d printing
ai
robotics

I’m kind of going off the rails with this, so stick with me.

Big Data is everything.
It’s who we are, where we go, what we spend, where we spend it, our interests, our dislikes, our mental health. It’s used to emotionally manipulate us, sell ideologies, stereotype, judge, and departmentalize.

It’s gathered through credit card usage, online activity tracking, bank transactions, and wearable devices (like what RFK wants us to wear). It’s abundant in public records and through data brokers.

It’s developing further through facial recognition, biometrics, and neuroscience.

So, unless you’re in the heart of Africa or on a mountain, there is some data about you floating around.

Your agency, uniqueness, and privacy are a solid illusion. It doesn’t exist.

3D Printing is in development.
I know it’s been around for a while and probably feels more like a toy or a novelty.

But, think about it.
It can take something and turn it into something else without consideration for the elements or the labor. It can (as far as I know) perfectly construct the same items over and over.

It creates ghost guns, bombs, counterfeit products, medical devices, and surveillance items (think hidden cameras and mini drones). At some point, it could probably create food, If it can create meat, it can create body parts like hearts, lungs, and liver that could be used for transplants.

Society craves standardization.
That’s why McDonalds uses the same colors. Wonder bread has the same consistency, regardless of where you buy it.

Assembly lines and mass productions exist for a reason.

It makes creation simple, provides standards, and – to be honest – comfort. The Bob Evans in Indiana has the same look, feel, and atmosphere of a Bob Evans in California.

3D printing provides that – on demand – to whoever has the materials and whatever they need.

Assembly lines are not required.

Artificial Intelligence is active in destroying wealth and what’s little left of critical thinking. Despite the hallucinations and other ‘hiccups,’ it’s reducing the labor force, writing (so called) peer-reviewed articles, and mental health support.

It’s supposed to free up time to connect and concentrate on what matters. Humanity will be better for it. It’ll help everyone achieve a “higher quality of life” so we will all live like gods.

It reminds me of the “promises” social media when it first started. Connect with friends! Join communities! Explore! Create with anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Sure.
Social media promotes identity theft, harassment, cyber bullying, and depression. It facilitates excess consumerism distorts reality, and provides access for bad actors, and job loss.

Artificial Intelligence is just getting started and, with each advancement it becomes more … intelligent. I guess.

Artificial intelligence can exceed humanity as our critical thinking, reading level, and general IQ continue to decline.

The lack of mental acuity coupled with increasing co-morbidities and mental decline, will make it ripe for AI take over.

Human intelligence — superior human intelligence – sold to the highest bidder and created by flawed humans,…. yeah.

With 3d printing and big data, humanity is all but crippled.

But it’s not over.

Robotics, although I think is the weakest of the four, will make unbelievable jumps in evolution. The safe jobs – like plumbers, electricians, and teachers, will be replaced with safe Megan type robots.

AI will design it. 3D printing will make it. Big Data will train it.

Game over.

There will truly, at some point, not be a reason for people to leave their houses.

Connected to the internet, people will live in a virtual world from crib to grave.

And, eventually, humanity won’t live at all. And it’ll be for the good of the planet. For the environment. For mental wellness. For all the reasons that are uncomfortable and considered harmful that, apparently, cannot be solved or even agreed upon otherwise.

Humanity won’t exist.

The end will be glorious in our heads but nothing more than a coding error on a spreadsheet.