Next Civilization

"e;Digital transformation"e; sounds harmless, given that the explosion in data volumes, processing power and Artificial Intelligence has driven humanity and the entire world to a point of no return. We will surely see a new civilization, but we are at a crossroads. The future needs to be re-invented, decisions must be taken. After the automation of factories and the creation of self-driving cars, the automation of society is on its way. But there are two kinds of automation: a centralized top-down control of the world and a distributed control approach, supporting local self-organization. Using the power of today's information systems, governments and big tech companies seem to engage in the first approach. Might they even build a digital Crystal Ball"e; that knows almost everything, including your personality, and a super-intelligent "e;digital God"e; to control what we do?We are much closer to such science fiction scenarios"e; than you probably think. In this much expanded second edition of "e;The Automation of Society is Next: How to Survive the Digital Revolution"e; (2015), the author discusses lessons learned on digital democracy, aspects of transhumanism and far-reaching thoughts about life in the digital age and what it may mean to be human in the future.