Future Narrative #8 - Digital Twin
This narrative was inspired by discussions between Catalonia's Tech Tourism Cluster and TravelTech for Scotland at a 2022 event. Over a few days in Scotland, we collaborated on a range of initiatives that culminated in a travel Tech Futures Workshop. This Futures Workshop explored the future of travel in 10 years time, particularly the relationship between Catalonia and Scotland. The main character Jet delegates language translation, schoolwork, data analysis, and life optimization to their digital twin in the Metaverse, raising questions of agency, half-realities, and global living in 2035 in Catalonia.
Illustrated by James Albon and written by MĂĄire Ryan.
Digital Twin - Illustrated by James Albon
Jet straightens a chair in the future, positioning it just so against their dining table. Habitually running a hand along the polished mahogany, they permit themselves a couple of seconds to gaze across to the hazy outlines of the Pyrenees, the physical endpoint of Catalonia. Noting the gentle ping of the Metaverse, Jet attends their first lecture of the day.
A digitally nomadic 30-year-old, Jet orchestrates an online existence they fondly refer to as their âdigital twinâ. As global universities (waterlogged with oversubscription and fettered by financial constraints) were turning to AI, Jet did not have the intellectual liberty to imagine that they could pursue further study. Commitmentsâto family, community, to the taxmanâanchored Jet to their domicile. The virtual realm of the Metaverse, once it was tried, tested and tweaked, invited Jet to conceptualise a digital mobility which not only seemed possible, but profitable.
The inevitable breakout portion of Jetâs lecture occurs; exactly when the familiar yearning for a coffee begins to vie for place in Jetâs thought stream. They like to be seated for the main portion of their studies; ensconced with tablet and stylus ready to scribble key dates, fancier sounding words, and to underline anything the lecturer places that special This Will Come Up In Your Exam emphasis upon. For breakouts, where students are offered freedom of thought, Jet sprinkles in freedom of movement, moving to a phone-and-lens combo and wandering to the coffee shop down the street. Digital twin remains seated, shivering slightly in the frigid lecture hall draft, gently nodding as a peer raises issue with a formula explored within the literature. Catalonia-based Jet orders cafè amb mel and posts up against the checkout, squinting against the greying winter sun.
Aside from empowering Jet to pursue further education, their AI companion has been co-worker, problem-solver, ideas-bringer, politely inviting Jet to streamline the juggling act of supporting family, work and study. The data the twin collected opened avenues between time and productivity that Jet still marvels at. A real-synthetic cheerleader, the twin carefully isolates professional opportunities, and is able to demonstrate Jetâs viability per new role revealed. Data-driven understanding of Jetâs capabilities, potentials and limitations have built a twin who can guide Jet along their fluctuations in productivity, ambition and mood. The effect on Jetâs life has been transformative: Salut i força al canut, as the saying goes. Indeed: digital twin ensures Jet has âhealth and strengthâ in their digital purse, but these values transcend beyond money nowadays.
Behind the scenes, this was not a flawless dream sequence. Developing a sophisticated AI entity that could effectively mimic human behaviour (and also navigate the complexities of the virtual and physical worlds) was no small feat. A well-regulated framework and ethical, reliable platforms were crucial to ensure the safe and ethical use of this emergent technology. The constant friction between inevitable product flaws and the trust of its usership threatened the Metaverseâs realisation on more occasions than its builders would like to count.
They persevered, and now Jetâseated with one arm protecting their caffeineâcancels external noise so that their digital twin can posit, asserting their stance as a fellow student seems set to veer into a rant on semantics. Translation software ensures every syllable is communicated perfectly to a host of international ears: Jet does not have to double-edit their thoughts in order to be understood. Their point well made, the lecture ends as the final swirls of sweetness materialise at the bottom of Jetâs cup.
Jet's life as a digital nomad, augmented by their digital twin, exemplifies the fusion of human and AI capabilities. With the Metaverse providing a virtual space for education, and Jetâs digital twin facilitating hybrid working and activation models, the future of work and learning has achieved a new, egalitarian and ambition-driven reality.
Provocation Questions
What do you think Jet has to give up in their Catalonian "real" life to dedicate so much time to their Scottish Digital Twin?
How do you think Jet's Catalonian friends and family feel about this?
Do you think others are doing similar things?
How far away - or close - are elements of this reality?