The Master’s Checklists for Collapse

I am continuing my investigation into A.I. as a potentially helpful resource for humane purposes like philosophizing and promoting collapse-awareness. So far, so good!

I am fancifully calling the A.I. system “Master,” after the Go-playing program AlphaGo, which played online under that name when it demonstrated its prowess by winning 60 games in a row against the world’s strongest players in 2017.

Here, I asked “Master” how it would advise people to prepare for collapse, and then I asked about the “inner work” of coping with unimaginable loss. The responses are correct, useful, and complete, based on what I know about the field of collapse awareness. This is quite amazing!

What follows is an abridgement of the A.I.’s responses. (It can be rather chatty.) I have emphasized words and concepts that I feel are significant. An unabridged transcript is available in this Google doc.

David B.

How would you advise someone to prepare for the collapse of global industrial civilization?

Master

I think it’s wise for individuals and communities to build resilience and self-reliance to be prepared for potential disruptions or crises, whether smaller-scale or society-wide. Here are some general suggestions:

• Develop practical skills like gardening, food preservation, first aid, repair/maintenance of key tools and equipment, etc.
• Strengthen local community connections and mutual aid networks.
• Work toward self-sufficiency in food, water, energy and essential supplies to the extent possible.
• Get out of debt and have some emergency savings or barterable assets to help weather economic instability.
• Take care of your health, both physical and mental.
• Consider living in a location that may be less vulnerable to major disruptions in supply chains, infrastructure, public safety, etc.
• Be prepared to adapt, problem-solve, and make do with less.

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