One Leg in Two Worlds
In this moment of our collective evolution, we have one leg in two worlds. One leg is still grounded in the systems we’ve grown accustomed to – traditional work structures, familiar economic models, and long-standing expectations about stability. Yet the sense of security these systems once promised is shifting as a new world begins to emerge. The rapid technical and economic changes underway are reshaping how we work, live, and understand what it means to be human. This transition will not be seamless; we are experiencing an intense and sometimes uncomfortable period of transformation.
With many people moving in and out of the workforce and wealth becoming increasingly concentrated, it is natural to grasp for familiar forms of stability. However, this moment also offers a rare opportunity to rethink how our systems function. Rather than reacting to each wave of change, we can begin imagining what becomes possible on the other side of this transition.
As Artificial Intelligence becomes capable of completing tasks long considered uniquely human, many are asking: What roles will we play? How will we make a living? And perhaps most importantly, what will bring us purpose? These questions are keeping many awake at night.
Being in this liminal space is both thrilling and daunting. Our current ways of living and working have supported many people, yet they also leave a quiet sense of misalignment, even among those who outwardly appear to have “made it.” Feelings of disconnection and longing have been building for years. Our human need for belonging has often taken a back seat in systems oriented around growth and efficiency, shaped by norms that no longer reflect the realities or aspirations of most people.
We have long passed the point where a 40-hour workweek is necessary for most forms of labor, yet the expectation remains. Cultural narratives around productivity and success have limited our ability to imagine new ways of organizing society, even as technological advances make those possibilities more realistic.
At SLA, we see this narrow window of transition as a chance to design ways of living and working grounded in ecological and social well-being. We do not claim to have all the answers, but we believe that asking bolder questions is where meaningful progress begins. Questions such as: How can we pursue a large-scale Just Transition while integrating the technological progress that is here to stay? What new structures, supports, and forms of collaboration will be needed to help people thrive in the decades ahead?
There are many components this emerging future will require, from innovative economic models to renewed approaches to community, while also calling each of us to build the internal capacity to inhabit new ways of being.
Take this as an invitation to imagine what is possible, and live into new alternatives where available to you. In our next thought piece, we will explore mankind’s history building something from an idea, raw materials, and the belief that our material conditions can evolve.
