If all goes wrong, there is a silver lining

A study on Ukraine compared citizens’ attitudes after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent invasion in 2022. Despite extensive destruction, suffering, and death, Ukraine’s happiness levels in September 2022 were surprisingly higher than after the 2014 annexation. This boost was attributed to the nation’s stronger sense of common purpose.

Similarly, studies during the COVID-19 pandemic show that global happiness statistics saw only minor differences from previous years. Attitudes remained surprisingly positive despite the virus affecting over 687 million people and causing 6.8 million deaths.

Humans seem wired for survival, and I believe the new hardships we face will make us more resilient. I hope the development of AGI will compel us to better understand our own intelligence and reevaluate which ideals and purposes are worth dedicating our lives to pursue.

This could be a once-in-a-civilization opportunity to reinvent ourselves—a historic pivotal moment representing both the abyss and the turning point in humanity’s path through its own hero’s journey.