I am terrified of the future you want

01 May, 2025

I just read this blog post about operating systems. I have some mixed feelings.

First up. I get it. I really do. Life is hard, sometimes we just want to relax and have someone take care of stuff for us.

I had a long day, gotta relax—the OS plays YouTube for 15 minutes, and orders my favourite snack from Swiggy using the best credit card offer because that’s what I do on a stressful day.

(...) I want an OS that is fluidic and emergent,

It lets me build my own apps that solve my own problems.

This sounds great, right? Shut your brain off, let the OS handle everything.

Welll... It's not as cut and dry as that. Because like with all technology, we need to consider The Implication™.

I don't like the idea of a machine knowing exactly what I want. Because, in turn, that would mean that the tech company controlling the machine knows as well.

At first, i thought that was the entire reason why I'm so adverse to this idea.

But there's something else. The thing that makes the most deeply uncomfortable about this is the fact that this promotes just turning your brain off. Just consume, let the machine do the thinking for you.

You trust the giant tech corporation to decide what's best for you, right?

Just lay down. You won't even have to press a button.

We'll order the food for you. Don't worry about what to pick. We know you best anyways. We've been watching this whole time, after all.

We've got the perfect video lined up for you. Don't worry about how we chose it. It's what's in your best interest, we assure you.

Oh, that app you wanted to build? To manage your notes? We built it for you. Don't worry, it's right there on your desktop. You don't need to challenge yourself when everything is right here. Just leave it up to us. You don't need to waste time developing those skills.

Just consume what's in front of you. There's no need to think. Not anymore.

I am aware that this is already the case to some extent, recommendation algorithms and all that. The removal of all choice is what scares me. Because as much as i hate this, and as much of a privacy nightmare that a fully AI controlled operating system would be...

I'm not sure i wouldn't cave into the convenience eventually.

I don't want big tech companies to keep removing all choices, all friction from our lives. Sanding it down until we're left with nothing. Having to decide what to get for dinner might be annoying sometimes, sure. But I'd much rather know that i made that decision instead of having Jeff Bezos make it for me so he can maximize shareholder value™.

Also, let's be honest. This would waste completely absurd amounts of energy. AI¹ is literally making us run out of electricity. Yes, that's as ridiculous as it sounds. What would decidedly not improve the situation is having everyone on earth interact with one every time they want to do anything with their computer.