Better futures don’t build themselves.
Overcast
Facing a polycrisis, 80% of Gen Z say the US is on the wrong path, 62% expect their lives will look worse than previous generations, and nearly half would rather exist in the past.
Globally, 68% of citizens think the world is going downhill, with Edelman noting the wealth gap has doubled since 2012 while societal trust has tanked.
Not buying the techno-optimist manifesto, people fear the future is bleak. Bad for public health, pessimism makes us less likely to care for ourselves and is linked to earlier death.
Silver Linings
AI anxiety is fueling unease, but tech leaders argue blocking progress is the biggest existential threat of all. In response, “startup societies” are springing up — reimagining cities from scratch to model brighter futures.
California Forever. Promising 530K jobs, 170K affordable homes, and $16B in tax revenue, Silicon Valley-backed California Forever would be a walkable urban center in Solano County, CA.
Esmeralda. Planning to build 90 minutes from SF, Esmeralda proposes a family-friendly college-esque campus with a close-knit, active, and innovation-centric community.
Telosa. Marc Lore’s vision, Telosa would test an economic model of Equitism, giving all citizens a stake in the land while prioritizing sustainability and human happiness.
Public Forums
On a smaller scale, concepts like Life Time Living, Canyon Ranch Residences, Sekra, and CERES—a budding culinary-centric community near pioneering agrihood Serenbe—aim to demonstrate how environmental design can make health the default.
Open events, Eudēmonia Summit and Cluny Institute’s ZOË gather people to imagine what human flourishing could look like in the future. Progress isn’t guaranteed, but picturing it helps.
Punchline: The future has a PR problem, and lack of optimism is crushing well-being. Making the world healthier means building systems where fortune doesn’t feel reserved for elites.
