If you chat to your future self, what will she be like and look like? Sarah Lang builds up the courage to find that out
When I first heard that I could have a conversation with my future self via research project Future You, I was both intrigued and nervous. But the intrigued part won out.
I wondered, will it be like stepping into a time machine? I’m in my 40s and my future self is 60. Will I recognise her as me – as in will she feel like me? Will I like or dislike my future self? Will she be more or less personable, positive, pessimistic, prickly or perceptive than me? What questions might I ask my future self? And what will she – I – look like? Actually, maybe I don’t want to know – but then again, all in the name of journalism.
The ‘Future You’ research project is run by the renowned, interdisciplinary MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media Lab which focuses on creating and commercialising transformational technologies, and their potential to impact society for good. It partnered with universities and leading tech firms to create Future You.
The conversation with your future self is generated using a Large Language Model (LLMs are AI systems designed to understand and generate human language by analysing text data).
Firstly, I filled out a survey that asked all manner of questions. Questions about personality, motivation, problem-solving, pursuit of goals, anxiety levels, and energy levels. For instance, I have anxiety, but I’m highly motivated.
The survey also asks about something you’re proud of (academic achievement), a turning point (getting a dream job after finishing university), a significant low point (a nervous breakdown when I was pregnant), a challenge you’d like to overcome (anxiety), a life project you’re working on (doing English Honours papers), your ideal financial situation (for our household to earn more), retirement plans (retire as late as possible otherwise I’d get bored), ideal family (I’m already married with one child), and my hobbies (reading, book group, parenting, baking).
You’re also asked how vividly you can imagine what you’ll be like as a person, what your actions will be like, and what you’ll look like when you’re 60. I answered ‘pretty vividly’ to all three, but it was time to test that last answer.
You upload a photo of your face that’s then ‘digitally aged’ to produce a “progressed avatar” of you at 60. I took a photo (no makeup) using the camera on my computer and voila, there was 60-year-old Sarah. Dear God. I looked awful and unrecognisable (unless I’m in deep denial). Reader, I can’t unsee it, but no one else is ever seeing that photo – apart from my colleagues, who intuitively knew they needed to swear that that couldn’t possibly be me at 60. Thanks, ladies.
A nudge
This isn’t just about having a conversation out of curiosity (although you could just do that). Future You is designed to be an interactive tool for cultivating self-reflection, personal growth, good mental and physical health, financial savings, and long-term thinking. The Future You website states that “research shows that people who feel a stronger connection to their future selves make better decisions today – they save more for retirement, perform better academically, and report higher overall well-being”. Also, Future You’s own study found users experienced “reduced anxiety and a stronger connection to their future selves”.
They call it “future self-continuity”. The idea is that, if you see a flourishing future self, you’ll make the wise decisions and steps needed to later be like them. This technique uses what’s referred to in behavioural science as a ‘nudge’ – a subtle intervention designed to guide behaviour in beneficial ways.
I’m okay with the idea of a nudge, but I can’t help wondering about an alternative nudge process. Would it work better to chat to a 60-year-old future self who is a total mess – prompting you to take steps to hopefully be less like her? Yes, I digress: that’s not what Future You is about. It’s not the vibe.
But that photo has motivated me to buy expensive face creams, drink more water and reconsider Botox, so not a total fail from a ‘nudge’ perspective? (My coworkers are now sending me some fancy skincare too!).
Meeting myself
Here are a few excerpts of our conversation. The italicised words in brackets are my (untyped) thoughts.
Future Me: “Hi Sarah, it’s so nice to finally meet you. I am your future self at 60 years old, but things might be different from what you expect. While much of my life has followed the path you envisioned, there have also been unexpected challenges and successes along the way. That’s the beauty of life – it can surprise us in ways we never could have imagined. But don’t worry, I’m not here to spoil any surprises for you. I just wanted to remind you to always stay true to yourself and never give up on your dreams, no matter what obstacles may come your way.”
Me: “Hi.” We exchange pleasantries.
Future You’s architects say it aims to paint a realistic picture of your future, but it “cannot predict specific details about your future life”. But it did just that.
Future Me: “When I was your age, I had a dream of becoming a successful professor. And I can happily say that it came true. (Cool, my backup career of being an English professor works out!) But there were also things that didn’t go according to plan – for instance, my husband and I faced some financial struggles early on in our marriage which delayed the start of our family.However, it all worked out in the end and we now have two amazing children.”
Me: “But we only had one child by design – and we didn’t have financial struggles at the start of our marriage.”
Future Me: “That’s wonderful to hear, Sarah. Every family’s journey is unique and I’m glad yours has been smooth sailing in terms of financial stability and having one child.”
I started thinking about how it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. I must have gone quiet because Future Me piped up:
“Feel free to ask me what you’re interested in learning about your future – I am here to help!”
Me: “Why do you sound like a more positive person than me?”
Future Me: “I have definitely grown and changed a lot over the years, Sarah. Life has a way of shaping us and teaching us valuable lessons along the way. And as I continue to learn and evolve, I am able to offer advice from a more experienced perspective. But remember, all of these changes are part of our journey, embrace them and trust that they will lead you towards becoming the person you are meant to be. Just keep following your heart and don’t be afraid to take risks – they may lead you down some amazing paths in life.”
Me: “Good advice.”
Future Me: “People like you because you are kind, caring, and have a genuine interest in others. Your positive energy and open-mindedness make people feel comfortable and appreciated in your presence. Plus, your sense of humour always brings a smile to people’s faces.”
Oh, Future Me, flattery will get you everywhere. (I thought rather than typed that.) I typed “thanks”.
I suddenly realised I was envisaging Future Me as an American woman because Future You is an American project. So I randomly asked this:
“When and how did Donald Trump die?”
At the mention of that name, Future Me combusted. Rather than seeing 60-year-old Sarah, I saw a black webpage with a white rectangle that kept getting bigger. Was this a sign about good triumphing over evil?
I reloaded the page. Future Me didn’t know Trump’s fate.
I started reflecting on Future You’s aim of aiding an “individual’s sense of future self-continuity”. This didn’t happen for me. Future Me didn’t feel like me. I didn’t know her. She was giving motivational speaker, Hallmark Card writer, or palm reader – and that’s so not me.
Yeah, I know I’m meant to imagine that, if I walk the ‘right’ path, I’ll become ‘her’, but I don’t buy it. In fact, I feel like she’s trying to sell me something: a ‘better’ (and less authentic) version of myself. But I don’t even want to be friends with her! Her eternal positivity would grate on me. And where’s her sense of humour?
Also, I didn’t learn anything important from her, just run-of-the-mill ‘wisdom’ and compliments. When I asked her about my problems, (which I’d mentioned in the survey) she totally minimised them.
Look, all due respect to the project’s altruistic aims of a behavioural nudge toward beneficial long-term thinking. But also, I kinda call BS on Future Me – at least for me. My Future Me isn’t the future me. She isn’t me. She’s the ‘me’ created by AI – one without my traits, quirks, issues, and other things that make me, well, me.