Have you ever wondered what your life will be like in a few decades? Have you imagined yourself at the age of sixty? Imagine if you could consult your future self about the most important decisions in your life now, thanks to the development of artificial intelligence, this idea is not just a fantasy.
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other institutions have developed an innovative system called (You in the future), allowing the user to have a natural conversation with a virtual version of their 60-year-old self.
This system aims to help young people to develop their sense of continuity in their own future (Future self-continuityIt is a psychological term that indicates the degree to which an individual relates to himself in the future.
Research has shown that a strong sense of future continuity can positively influence how people make long-term decisions, from financial planning to achieving academic and career success.
How does the Future You system work?
The Future You system uses a large linguistic model based on information provided by the user, such as his interests, goals, and even memories, to generate a virtual version of the sixty-year-old by ‘ asking questions and receiving detailed answers about his future life.
This virtual version can act as a guide, offering personalized advice, answering questions about the future, and providing insight into how current decisions will affect the future, helping the user to make more informed choices.
andPat Pataranotaporn saysresearcher in the field of human-artificial information interaction at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a co-investigator of Research paper About the future system You: “Time travel is still a fantasy, but artificial intelligence can be a kind of virtual time machine, because it offers us today a powerful tool to simulate the future that helps us make more informed decisions by simulating the possible outcomes. of our choices.”
Actual simulation:
It has its roots in the study of understanding the future self The sixties of the last century Anyway, researchers at the time used simple methods to promote this idea, such as: people writing letters to themselves in the future, and with the development of technology, appeared more interactive methods, such as using.. . Virtual virtual locks To help people see themselves in the future.
However, these methods have not been able to achieve a high level of interactivity, which allows to see a more realistic and subjective future with exposure. Generative artificial intelligence And great language models like ChatGPTIt is now possible to create virtual models of the future self able to have a natural dialogue with the user about their goals and desires.
Thanks to the advanced technologies that the Future You system uses, it offers a level of realism and customization that far exceeds any other way of planning the future.
Users begin their journey with the system by providing detailed information about their current life, including: their interests, values, and future intentions. the coming of a personal story based on the user’s dreams and desires, and it comes from them.
The experience of using this tool is like an exploratory journey to discover the story of your future life, as the user begins by drawing the features of his story by thinks about his current dreams and ambitions, and then the system simulates this story and provides new information. vision of how it will be developed. This approach allows users to not only look into the future, but also critically evaluate the path their choices will take them.
To provide an immersive and convincing experience, the system provides the user with a visual image of his future self, helping him imagine what he would be like years later, the system has is designed to mimic the interaction of a real person, as it uses expressions such as (when I was your age) to give realistic and convincing answers, which adds a layer of mystery and emotional depth the interaction.
But what is the benefit of this technology?
In a study of 344 participants, researchers were able to measure the impact of this system on individuals’ perceptions of the future. The researchers divided the participants into 3 groups. a questionnaire.
The results were interesting. They felt less anxious about the future and became more confident in their ability to achieve their goals. Additionally, they described conversations with their virtual person as honest and moving, as if they were talking to a close friend or mentor.
Why did this system work?
- Building bridges with the future: The Future You provide a safe platform to explore future possibilities, help individuals understand themselves more deeply and set clear goals.
- Overcome anxiety: By interacting with a virtual version of their future selves, people can overcome their fears about the future and focus on achieving their current goals.
- Increase self-confidence: The system helps people to see themselves positively in the future, increasing their self-confidence and their ability to overcome challenges.
Future applications:
Researchers are now aiming to improve the user experience in the system, by changing the context and instructions provided, to encourage users to have in-depth conversations which will add to the sense of continuity itself in the future. Pataranotaporn points out the importance of directing discussions to meaningful topics, rather than general questions.
The researchers also recognize the importance of using this technology wisely, so they are adding safeguards to prevent misuse of this system.
In the future, researchers will aim to apply this technology in different areas, such as: exploring possible career paths or understanding the impact of current decisions on the environment. Researchers emphasize the importance of using this system as an aid to self-improvement, and not as a substitute for critical thinking.
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