The Future of You: Can Your Identity Survive the Technology of the Twenty-First-century?

"'Who am I?' is one of the most fundamental questions we ask of ourselves throughout our lives. But in the twenty-first century, this is becoming increasingly difficult to answer as technology forces us to negotiate different versions of ourselves distributed across a digital world. Now, Facebook gets a say in verifying who we are, science can alter our biology and reinvent us over time, and advances in AI are revolutionizing how we interact with the world around us. Understanding and defining who you are has become confusing and chaotic and in some ways is already out of our control. In an age of digital disruption, creativity and innovation, Follows argues that we need to find a way to embrace a new era of personal identity, while ensuring we preserve our autonomy from state authorities, technology platforms and emergent social systems. From surveillance and identity hacking to social media and our legacies beyond the grave, The Future of You is a fascinating and urgent exploration of what personal identity will mean for all of us in the coming decades"--Publisher's description In the future, how many identities will you have? How many do you want? Digital technology is causing us to think differently about who we are and who we could become, but with the right knowledge we can turn this incredible capacity to our advantage. 'Who am I?' is one of the most fundamental questions of all. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to answer as technology enables us to negotiate and create many different versions of ourselves. In our digital, data-driven world, Facebook gets a say in verifying who we are, science can alter our biology, and advances in AI are revolutionizing not only how we interact online but with the physical world around us. Understanding and defining ourselves is becoming confusing but, as this fascinating book argues, it is possible to embrace this new era of transformation while preserving our autonomy. In The Future of You, Professional futurist Tracey Follows shows how our personal freedoms and potential will be transformed over the coming decades. From health passports, bio-hacking and relationships with machines to mind clones, digital voting and virtual legacies beyond the grave, we need to understand these vital issues today so that we might design the future of our identity tomorrow. 'This fascinating book explores the way that emerging technologies such as AI might affect the nature of personal identity and personhood. It paints an intriguing, thought-provoking, and occasionally disturbing picture.' Michael Wooldridge, author of The Road to Conscious Who Am I?' Is One Of The Most Fundamental Questions We Ask Of Ourselves Throughout Our Lives. But In The Twenty-first Century, This Is Becoming Increasingly Difficult To Answer As Technology Forces Us To Negotiate Different Versions Of Ourselves In A Digital World. Now, Facebook Gets A Say In Verifying Who We Are, Science Can Alter Our Biology And Reinvent Us Over Time, And Advances In Ai Are Revolutionizing Our Role In The Workplace. Understanding And Defining Who You Are Has Become Confusing And Chaotic And In Some Ways Is Already Out Of Our Own Control. In An Age Of Digital Disruption, Creativity And Innovation, Follows Argues That We Need To Find A Way To Embrace A New Era Of Personal Identity, While Ensuring We Preserve Our Autonomy From State Authorities, Technology Platforms And Emergent Social Systems. From Artificial Intelligence To Surveillance, And From Relationships To Our Legacies Beyond The Grave, The Future Of You Is A Fascinating And Urgent Exploration Of What Personal Identity Will Mean In The Coming Decades And Of A 'self' That Can Be Created, Shaped, Managed, And Even Owned.