New Earth: When Technology Moves Faster Than Wisdom
Chapter 5 Continues: After the hyperdrive appears, The Formation realizes it has lost control
In this week’s entry of New Earth, you learn more about The Formation, formed to prevent humanity from moving too fast. When a forbidden technology slips through unnoticed, The Formation faces a truth they’ve long feared: deep space exploration can no longer be slowed.
These are the very implications being contemplated today about AI, AGI, the singularity (the merging of man and machine) and space travel. As technology surrounds and then enters us, will our soul be left intact?
You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the entire series all the way through here.
The new entry is below.
Peace.
Chapter 5 Continues
Zhee and Lysa were troubled as they waited for their ride outside the congressional building. How had a working hyperdrive been deployed without their knowledge? Such a technological leap was the very reason The Formation existed—to slowly guide humanity through the moral implications of progress. And yet the hyperdrive had happened. Undetected.
Hyper-jumps had been possible for decades. But they required massive space bays to launch and “catch” ships upon arrival. Thanks to The Formation’s ability to subtly bend the perspectives and motivations of entire societies, advancement had been slow and deliberate. Only a handful of bays had been constructed, keeping humanity tethered close to Earth.
Humans were not ready for deep-space exploration. Throughout every progression, they proved it. First came AI enslavement, then robot wars, then androids and human–technology merging. Each step pushed humanity into a constant and dangerous state: fear. Every nation demanded protection. And victory—absolute victory—was the only protection they trusted.
Through deep meditation and their connection to both the universe and humanity, The Formation knew that such power, placed in the hands of a single government, would lead to enslavement. Governments acted as gods—demanding worship, and never worthy of it.
“The Wisp is here,” Lysa said, pointing.
The vehicle slid silently in front of them.
Zhee stared thoughtfully at the congressional building from the back seat as they sped toward home. He sat across from his wife in the comfortable, booth-shaped seating.
“Welcome,” the vehicle said. “You are riding the Max 7, a frictionless vehicle—the most energy-efficient road transport available. Your ride includes complimentary sessions with Ask Max. The Corporation is always here, Making Everything Better.”
Maxwell Rhodes—the king of New Earth, the second planet settled by humanity—was now in space, deploying hyperdrives to mine the galaxy with his clones. His power would soon be immeasurable.
Of course he had made the hyperdrives.
Zhee and Lysa wanted to speak, but feared anything they said might find its way back to Max. Instead, they closed their eyes.
Zhee’s voice sounded inside Lysa’s mind.
“Our job—The Formation’s very purpose—was to slow humanity’s progress. We are failing.”
“We are in a very dangerous situation,” Lysa replied, her panic echoing inside him. “We must try to reach him.”
“Tao? Now?” Zhee took a slow breath. “That would be… unwise.”
Lysa’s eyes tightened. “Unwise? Our son is missing—or worse. We should contact—”
“—Lysa, our son is a Master in The Formation, like us. Other than the Chair, it is the highest honor. We trained him for moments exactly like this.”
“But—”
“—Tao will be fine. It is dangerous to reach out. Whatever allowed the hyperdrive’s development without our knowledge is still out there. Listening.”
Lysa pulled her hand away from her husband. The high-pitched air trail of the Wisp soothed her. She knew he was right.
Still, she had to do something to save her son.
Perhaps a different meeting should be called.
She smiled.
The Formation must meet.