I enjoy the sci-fi genre and the cyberpunk subgenre in literature, film, and games. This is likely because I'm interested in the possibilities of technology and how we can utilise it to improve our lives. However, I'm also interested in political economy and the well-being of humans, both now and in the future.

We must work towards building a more equitable and sustainable economic system if we want a future that resembles the potential of technology rather than its warnings. All that is needed is the will and determination to change course because those in power definitely do not have the incentive to do so. Though cyberpunk serves as an optimistic yet anarchistic caricature of a cautionary tale, it does not have to be our fate. With awareness comes the ability to choose a different path.

Cyberpunk worlds depict a future in which corporate power has run amok, technology has advanced to fundamentally alter human society, and inequality has reached staggering new heights. But these futures are not fantasy — we already live in such times even though the technology isn't as advanced. Nevertheless, the cyberpunk world does result from a failure to implement real safeguards and ensure that progress benefits all of humanity. If we continue down the path we're on without change, the cyberpunk vision isn't as bad as it gets.

With many elements, we can give the old cyberpunk a pass — it envisioned a future where things were decidedly worse than they were at the time. Think of the novels written during the Cold War, when a legitimate alternative to liberal capitalism existed in multiple nations worldwide.

Compare that to now. We haven't updated the model given what's happened over the last half-century — we're still running off the "predictions" and fears from all those years ago without including all the new methods of exploitation we've devised and the state of nations.

Though cyberpunk is often portrayed as a dystopian genre, it can be seen as an optimistic vision of where capitalism may lead us. By examining the current trajectory of capitalism and extrapolating how things could worsen if left unaddressed, we can see how cyberpunk is overly optimistic in its portrayal.

When Cyberpunk 2077 came out, I played it because I was interested in the setting and the tabletop RPG it's based on. The developers had the opportunity to build a genuinely modern cyberpunk world but fell short. Interesting ideas were there but needed more depth and nuance.

Cyberpunk Red was rewritten to be updated for modern times and accommodate the video game. It did a decent job of reflecting current issues, though it still felt superficial. Earlier this year, I also watched Cyberpunk Edgerunners, which is how we ended up here talking about this. It failed to provide meaningful social commentary, instead prioritising style over substance.

In cyberpunk stories such as these, corporations have amassed so much power that nation-states have become irrelevant. Wealthy executives and the AI systems they create have far more control and influence over people's lives than any elected government.

This is the logical result of capitalism's relentless pursuit of profit and growth above all else. When the drive for efficiency, productivity, and shareholder returns becomes the sole purpose of an economic system, it inevitably leads to the concentration of power in the hands of a tiny elite. The interests of corporations and their leaders come to supersede all other concerns, including the well-being of citizens or the health of society.

National governments are powerless to regulate these massive multinational corporations, which have become like sovereign states themselves, mainly because even now, the role of the government is to protect the interests of the wealthy and powerful. They are able to exploit loopholes, avoid taxes, suppress dissent, and manipulate markets to further enrich themselves with no accountability. But the consequence is that individual people have lost control of their lives, destinies, and even their physical and mental selves as they are subjected to constant surveillance, propaganda, and manipulation by the corporations that rule over them.

People can reclaim their agency, autonomy, and humanity only by dismantling the system that created this nightmare scenario. The cyberpunk genre serves as a warning about the future we could make if we don't change course from the path we're on. It highlights the need to put people's well-being before profits, recreate government organisations that no longer serve private corporations, and work towards a more equitable future.

Advanced technologies like cybernetics, genetic engineering, and virtual reality are used primarily for marketing and increasing profits rather than the betterment of humanity. People modify their bodies and minds and spend more time in simulated realities not because these innovations enrich life but because they've been commercialised — out-of-control commodity fetishism.

Little thought is given to how these advances might benefit society or promote well-being. Companies that develop these technologies are focused on generating revenue rather than solving human problems or improving the human condition. They seek to exploit people's insecurities, vanities, and desires for pleasure and escapism rather than empowering them or helping them lead more fulfilling lives.

The potential of these technologies to positively transform civilisation remains untapped. They could eradicate disease, improve human capabilities, promote peace and understanding, enhance creativity, and expand human flourishing in profound and meaningful ways. But instead, they are used superficially and selfishly to make money, feed consumerism, and keep people distracted and sedated.

There is a failure to consider the deeper implications and responsibilities of developing technologies that can so profoundly impact the human experience. We worry so much about an AI-driven Terminator movie future and give little thought to the ethics or values we work with. We must ensure that advanced technologies are aligned with human dignity and the common good rather than corporate profits if we want to build a future worth living in.

While cyberpunk depicts a grim future, it is one that we can choose not to inhabit. By recognising the dangers of capitalism, we can steer away from the dystopia of cyberpunk and toward a future of abundance, community, and shared purpose. The first step is to educate ourselves to stop falling for the propaganda that makes us think this system is sound and that the only problems are the government and what US-backed propaganda calls "the left".

Capitalism promotes competition through the need to generate profit while pitting groups against one another to divide and conquer and constantly create new markets. It concentrates power and wealth in the hands of the elite bourgeois class that exploits the masses for profit and control. They then perpetuate the myth of meritocracy and equal opportunity to justify rising inequality while rigging the system in their favour through political influence, control of resources, and threats of violence.

This results in a mentality that values material excess and consumption over human well-being. People are treated as consumers and workers to be exploited for maximum profit and efficiency rather than as individuals.

The capitalist drive for constant growth and "progress" also leads to environmental destruction, pollution, and depletion of resources to unsustainable levels. Natural ecosystems are degraded, and future generations are threatened by the quarterly-focused mindset.

We have the scientific knowledge and technological capabilities to provide basic necessities like food, shelter, healthcare, and more for everyone inhabiting this planet. However, we lack the incentive to prioritise that within our global political and economic systems.

Understanding our history and how we got to this point is essential. Gaining a deeper appreciation for the events, experiences, and struggles that shaped our society and culture over time provides crucial context for the present moment.

By understanding the long journey that brought us to today, we can better understand why things are the way they are and how we might chart a different course for the future. Many of the systems, institutions, beliefs, and structures that make up the world we live in today were built on the foundations of the past. For good or for ill, they are the inheritance of history.

Awareness of history prevents us from seeing the current state of affairs as inevitable or immutable. It shows us that things could have unfolded differently and that different paths remain unforeseen but possible ahead. A historical perspective is necessary to imagine and build alternative futures.

While we cannot change the past, we can learn from it. By understanding the cycles of progress and pitfalls and the efforts and failures of our forebears, we expand our options and increase the likelihood of choosing a wiser course. The past shapes but does not determine our destiny. With knowledge comes freedom.

We can change course and steer toward a future of peace, prosperity, and purpose for all. We can choose abundance, or we can choose scarcity. We can choose community, or we can choose isolation. We can choose wisdom, or we can choose ignorance.

Despite its flaws, cyberpunk can help us recognise the need for systemic change when talking about real life is too difficult. Its warnings shape the anxieties of the present moment, allowing us to see the future consequences of current policies and priorities. By examining the world it portrays, we can discern what must be reformed and what new values must guide us.

When basic human needs are met, and everyone has access to opportunities to lead healthy, fulfilling lives, we will unlock the true potential of humanity.