During the COVID lockdowns, the intense monitoring in cities like Shanghai showcased a shift towards a 'Brave New World' style of control, blending elements of both Orwellian and Huxleyan dystopias.

I think '1984' is a better philosophical work of fiction than 'Brave New World' because it clearly defines elements of a totalitarian regime, especially through its dissection of language.

Orwell sent his former teacher a copy of '1984' in 1949, subtly suggesting it was a superior work to 'Brave New World', which he had criticized for not fully imagining a capitalist dystopia.

The argument that smart AI could manipulate humans into doing what it wants is a common dystopian concern, but I believe we should look at the world today and question if the smartest people are truly in charge.

The future will likely see smaller, more manageable democracies as larger ones struggle to govern effectively.

Totalitarian regimes can now monitor citizens more effectively than ever before, using AI and surveillance technology to eliminate privacy.

It's conceivable to unbundle liberalism, envisioning a future society that maintains liberal values while possibly operating as a surveillance state, where AI monitors activities but keeps information private and non-intrusive.

A good book that explores the history of humans and predictions about the future is "Homo Deus," which provides insights into where humanity is heading.

There's a fear that robots will take over and become masters, but there's also the possibility of robots manipulating humans while making them believe they are in charge.