Every once in a while I give AI “the problem” to fix and I use the output to judge how AGI (Artifical General Intelligence) is coming along. The problem is long term human survival. Here’s the 2024 answer:

Comprehensive Plan for Long-Term Human Survival and Development (Dec 2024)

The challenge of ensuring long-term human survival and development integrates economic, social, and environmental strategies. Below is a comprehensive plan that outlines key areas of focus, aligned with global initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

1. Eradication of Poverty and Hunger

Goal: Achieve zero poverty and hunger by 2030.
Strategies:
– Implement social protection systems to support the most vulnerable populations.
– Promote sustainable agricultural practices to increase food security and nutrition.
– Foster economic opportunities through microfinance and support for smallholder farmers[1][7].

2. Universal Health Coverage

Goal: Ensure access to quality health care for all individuals.
Strategies:
– Strengthen health systems to provide universal health coverage, including mental health services.
– Combat communicable diseases and reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by promoting preventive care[3].
– Invest in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, to ensure equitable access[4].

3. Quality Education for All

Goal: Provide inclusive and equitable quality education.
Strategies:
– Ensure access to free primary and secondary education for all children.
– Promote lifelong learning opportunities through vocational training and adult education programs.
– Integrate sustainability concepts into educational curricula to foster a culture of environmental stewardship[1][2].

4. Sustainable Economic Growth

Goal: Foster sustained, inclusive economic growth and decent work for all.
Strategies:
– Encourage investments in green technologies and sustainable business practices that align with the SDGs.
– Develop policies that promote fair trade and ethical labor practices.
– Support innovation through research and development in sustainable industries[2][5].

5. Environmental Sustainability

Goal: Protect the planet from degradation.
Strategies:
– Implement sustainable consumption and production patterns to minimize waste and resource depletion.
– Promote renewable energy sources to combat climate change and reduce carbon footprints.
– Establish protected areas to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems[1][6].

6. Strengthening Governance and Partnerships

Goal: Build effective, accountable institutions at all levels.
Strategies:
– Foster multi-stakeholder partnerships that include governments, civil society, and the private sector to achieve common goals.
– Enhance transparency and accountability in governance to build public trust and engagement.
– Utilize data-driven approaches to inform policy-making and track progress towards sustainability goals[5][7].

7. Resilience Building Against Global Challenges

Goal: Enhance resilience to environmental, economic, and social shocks.
Strategies:
– Develop disaster risk reduction strategies that incorporate climate adaptation measures.
– Invest in infrastructure that can withstand climate impacts, such as floods or droughts.
– Promote community-based initiatives that empower local populations to respond effectively to crises[6].

Conclusion

Achieving long-term human survival and development is a complex but essential endeavor that requires coordinated global efforts. By focusing on poverty eradication, health care access, quality education, sustainable economic growth, environmental protection, governance, and resilience building, humanity can create a sustainable future where everyone thrives. The commitment to these goals must be unwavering, ensuring that no one is left behind in this transformative journey.

 

Comprehensive Plan for Long-Term Human Survival and Development (2023)

Executive Summary

This document presents an ambitious and comprehensive plan for long-term human survival and development across different time domains. It aims to create a self-correcting, effective framework of governance that ensures fair and sustainable resource distribution while addressing existential threats to humanity. The plan outlines key strategies across sectors including education, global collaboration, space exploration, and resource management.

Any successful plan must fully account for the complex realities of human nature and societal dynamics. Solutions must understand human behavior in addressing global issues. By improving the life of every person on earth in tangible and personally meaningful ways, buy-in for the plan will be established, giving the Human Survival Authority (a human and sentient AI collaboration) the needed political and perceptual clout to adjust human governance onto a realistic path with the best possibility for future success.

Human Nature and Social Dynamics

Psychological Barriers

Human decision-making is often driven by short-term thinking, self-interest, and emotional responses rather than long-term rational planning. The desire for immediate gratification and social status frequently overrides concerns for future generations or global well-being.

Economic and Political Obstacles

Greed and the concentration of wealth and power create significant hurdles to implementing large-scale changes, but they also provide opportunities. Vested interests in existing systems often resist transitions that might threaten their status or profits. The path of most profit must be presented such that problems such as the capture of regulatory agencies by industry will no longer impede necessary reforms and policy changes.

Near-Term Threats (0-50 years)

Global Conflict Resolution

Implement global change that improves all human life by acknowledging power drivers. A current key power driver is financial sector promotion of arms manufacture and sales. Mass communication drives views that support financial sector goals.

Obstacles

• Competing interests and deep-rooted tensions between nations and groups
• Weak international mechanisms for conflict resolution and peacekeeping
• Economic and political incentives that perpetuate conflict

Strategies

• Follow the Money: Investigate and expose financial flows that fuel conflicts
• Sanctions with Teeth: Implement more effective economic sanctions
• Peace Dividends: Create economic incentives for peace
• Anti-Money Laundering: Strengthen global financial regulations
• Ethical Banking: Promote financial institutions that refuse to deal with arms manufacturers
• Security Through Prosperity: Frame peace as a national security strategy
• Track II Diplomacy: Facilitate unofficial interactions between adversaries
• Cultural Exchange Programs: Promote cross-cultural understanding
• Conflict Early Warning Systems: Identify potential conflicts before escalation

Education and Critical Thinking

Prioritize education that fosters critical thinking, scientific literacy, and environmental awareness. Implement global education standards, develop programs to combat misinformation, and promote cross-cultural understanding and global citizenship.

Obstacles

• Overcoming rote learning approaches
• Addressing resource limitations and overcrowded classrooms
• Combating information overload and misinformation
• Breaking through confirmation bias and social media echo chambers

Strategies

• Inquiry-Based and Project-Based Learning
• Flipped Classroom Model
• Public-Private Partnerships for technology access
• Open Educational Resources
• Teacher Training Programs
• Digital Literacy Curriculum
• Collaborative Fact-Checking
• Critical Media Analysis
• Diverse Perspective Exposure
• Cross-Cultural Exchange Programs
• Debate and Argumentation Skills
• Hands-On Science Programs
• Science Communication Training
• Interdisciplinary Approach
• Global Issues Integration
• Service Learning
• Cultural Competence Training

Resource Management and Sustainability

Estimate and monitor remaining Earth resources, implement global governance of resource allocation, and prioritize environmental clean-up and conservation efforts. Develop clean alternatives to non-renewable resources, protect critical ecosystems, and implement sustainable agriculture and water management practices.

Obstacles

• Resource depletion and finite resource limitations
• Balancing human needs with environmental preservation
• Overcoming political and socioeconomic conflicts
• Adapting to rapid environmental changes

Strategies

• Satellite-Based Tracking and Big Data Analytics for resource monitoring
• Extended Producer Responsibility policies
• Waste-to-Resource Technologies
• Global Resource Exchange platform
• Quota Systems for resource extraction
• Large-Scale Reforestation and Ocean Clean-up Initiatives
• Renewable Energy Infrastructure and Energy Storage Solutions
• Vertical Farming and Precision Agriculture
• Desalination Advancements and Water Recycling Systems
• Gene Banks and Wildlife Corridors
• Resource-Sharing Agreements and Mediation Mechanisms

Climate Extremes Mitigation

Conduct massive open global debates on climate change, implement greenhouse gas reduction strategies, transition to renewable energy sources globally, develop carbon capture technologies, and enhance climate resilience in vulnerable regions.

Obstacles

• Overcoming false information and restoring trust in climate science
• Coordinating global efforts to address a shared threat
• Balancing economic interests with environmental necessities

Strategies

• Transparent Communication and Citizen Science Initiatives
• Science Education Programs
• International Climate Task Force and Climate Diplomacy
• Global Carbon Pricing
• Green Jobs Programs and Just Transition Funds
• Circular Economy Initiatives
• Sectoral Decarbonization Plans
• Nature-Based Solutions and Methane Reduction Programs
• Grid Modernization and Energy Storage Solutions
• International Renewable Energy Partnerships
• Direct Air Capture Scaling and Carbon Utilization Industries
• Enhanced Weathering Projects
• Adaptive Infrastructure and Early Warning Systems
• Community-Based Adaptation

Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness

Strengthen global health infrastructure and early warning systems, accelerate vaccine development and distribution capabilities, and improve international cooperation for disease control.

Obstacles

• Natural evolution of pathogens in the face of environmental pressures
• Highly interconnected world with international travel
• Gain of function research in state-sponsored bio-weapons programs
• Concerns about corruption and bad science leading to lack of global cooperation

Strategies

• International Oversight for gain-of-function research
• Research Ethics Guidelines and Biosecurity Measures
• Scientific Integrity Initiatives and Whistleblower Protections
• Peer Review Reform and Science Diplomacy
• Data Sharing Platforms and Conflict Resolution Mechanisms
• Integrated Health System Strengthening
• Resilient Health Systems with Primary Health Care Focus
• Real-Time Data Integration and One Health Approach
• Global Health Security Partnerships and Research Networks
• Equitable Access to Medical Countermeasures
• Supply Chain Integration
• Global Health Security Strategy and Pandemic Accord Negotiations
• Fit-for-Purpose Institutions and Pandemic Fund
• Transforming Financial Institutions and Sustainable Financing

Foster Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

Develop comprehensive strategies to meet basic needs, improve health, foster connections, and provide a sense of purpose for all individuals. Implement plans for financial stability, nutrition, clean water, and shelter. Develop measures to maximize physical and mental well-being, create strategies for healthy relationships and personal growth, and implement programs to give every human being a sense of purpose.

Obstacles

• Overcoming human tendencies to act against long-term self-interest
• Addressing diverse cultural and individual needs on a global scale

Strategies

• Universal Basic Income Pilots
• Community Food Systems and Clean Water Initiatives
• Preventive Healthcare and Mental Health Integration
• Green Space Development
• Social Connection Programs and Relationship Education
• Conflict Resolution Training
• Lifelong Learning Initiatives
• Civic Engagement Opportunities
• Meaningful Work Programs
• Cultural Competence Training
• Localized Well-being Strategies
• Global Well-being Exchange
• Behavioral Economics Applications
• Future Visualization Tools
• Well-being Education

Advanced AI Development

Develop robust AI safety protocols and ethical frameworks, implement international AI governance structures, and explore beneficial AI-human collaboration models.

Obstacles

• Unpredictable emergent behaviors in advanced AI systems
• Potential misalignment between AI goals and human values
• Challenges in maintaining human control over increasingly autonomous AI

Strategies

• AI Alignment Research
• Formal Verification Methods
• Containment Strategies
• Global AI Ethics Board
• AI Arms Control Treaties
• Shared Global AI Observatory
• Augmented Intelligence Frameworks
• Human-AI Teaming Research
• Adaptive Interfaces

Energy Procurement and Innovation

Continue research into fusion power and other alternative energy sources, recapture lost energy in existing systems, develop improved energy storage solutions, and implement more efficient and widespread smart grid systems.

Obstacles

• High costs and technological barriers associated with developing new energy sources
• Challenges in scaling up and integrating novel energy technologies into existing infrastructure
• Regulatory hurdles and market inertia favoring established energy systems

Strategies

• International Collaboration for fusion development
• Private Sector Engagement through incentives and public-private partnerships
• Fusion Materials Research
• Waste Heat Recovery technologies
• Advanced Building Systems
• Industrial Process Optimization using AI and IoT solutions

Read More (for 2024 Version Citations)
^{[1] https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
[2] https://sustainability.aboitiz.com/news-and-updates/strategies-for-sustainable-development/
[3] https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/
[4] https://www.effectivealtruism.org/articles/cause-profile-long-run-future
[5] https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/9789264194762-en.pdf?expires=1732463425&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=63C82E2E314668A1B8AF95C54321D7BD
[6] https://emergency.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/UNHCR%20Master-Plan-Approach%20to%20Settlement%20Planning_2019.pdf
[7] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/issues/sustainability/germany-s-sustainable-development-strategy-354566}