Futurist Monika Bielskyte warns of technology’s role in amplifying inequality, calls for ethical frameworks

Futurist Monika Bielskyte
Photo credit: Ralina Jakisheva / Kazinform

Monika Bielskyte, a futurist, a speculative designer and a scientific consultant for Marvel, Disney, BBC, DreamWorks, Google and founder of Protopia Futures, delivered a powerful critique of how emerging technologies are often misperceived as solutions to societal problems, Kazinform News Agency reports.

Speaking on the dangers of positioning artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other digital innovations as “magical panaceas,” Bielskyte emphasized that those technologies are not transformative on their own. Instead, she argued, they merely magnify the values and systems that already exist.

“Artificial intelligence won’t solve our problems,” Bielskyte stated. “It amplifies the tendencies already present in society—both the good and the bad. Every powerful technology is an amplifier, not a change maker.”

Bielskyte also urged the public to look beyond the perceived intangibility of digital infrastructure, pointing out its significant environmental cost. “The cloud is very physical. It is made of electrical grids, rare earth minerals, and plastics,” she explained, highlighting the often-overlooked impact of tech on the planet. “We have to ask ourselves, is the impact it is achieving worth the impact it is having—on us and on our ecosystem?”

Addressing the growing challenge of disinformation, Bielskyte argued that society’s vulnerability to conspiracy theories is not merely a technological issue but also stems from a lack of scientific and geopolitical literacy.

“Our collective imagination has been rendered fertile ground for conspiracy theories,” she said. “Unless we can dream better, we cannot do better.”

Bielskyte also expressed concern about the binary thinking that dominates our visions of the future—whether dystopian or utopian. “Dystopias are no longer cautionary tales,” she warned, “they become product roadmaps. There will always be those who see an opportunity to make money not just as the world burns, but also by setting the world on fire.”

She critiqued utopian visions as well, describing them as historically exclusionary. “If we scratch beneath the surface of every historical utopia, what we find is the flesh, blood, and bones of someone else’s dystopia,” she explained, citing examples from colonial projects to eco-fascist movements.

Her message is clear: instead of chasing utopian ideals or fearing dystopian futures, Bielskyte advocates for “protopia”—a vision of gradual, inclusive progress that prioritizes diversity, equity, and sustainability. “We need to translate dreams of a better future into action, into policy, into designs that truly serve the needs of all people, not just the privileged few.”

Her words serve as a timely reminder that navigating the future will require more than just technological innovation—it will demand a fundamental rethinking of the systems, values, and imaginations that shape our world.

Earlier it was reported that the international conference "CONNECTED-2024: Conceptualizing the Vision of the Future", held in Astana on October 18-19, 2024, became a unique platform where globally recognized experts presented their visions for the future of humanity.

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