The apocalypse has been Sci-Fi and horror fodder for a century. Some of it, of course, seems wildly unrealistic (it’s unlikely that Cthulhu will be tearing up your neighborhood). Other possibilities seem terrifyingly possible, like nuclear war and an irrevocably ruined planet due to climate change.
The Doomsday Clock, managed by the Science and Security Board, moved one second closer to midnight at the beginning of the year, which they call an indicator of extreme danger.
There’s the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine after Russia’s invasion.
And Polymarket traders have been keeping an eye on the chances that India and Pakistan declare war — both have nukes.
Is the apocalypse around the corner? No. Well, probably not. Maybe. Who knows.
Here are 10 dystopian things you’re already living through.
You’re Being Watched — Constantly
From Ring cameras to AI-powered facial recognition, surveillance isn’t some Orwellian fantasy — it’s your front porch. Governments, corporations, and your neighbor’s doorbell all track your movements. China runs citywide facial tracking. The U.S. has police using Clearview AI. And don’t forget: your phone sells your location to the highest bidder. Privacy’s not eroding — it’s extinct.
Billionaires Are Hoarding Immortality
While you’re scraping together cash for dental work, tech billionaires are funding age-reversal startups, plasma transfusions, and brain-uploading fantasies. Altos Labs, backed by Jeff Bezos, is chasing cellular rejuvenation. Meanwhile, Peter Thiel thinks death is a tech problem. They’re not planning to save us — they’re planning to outlive us.
Climate Collapse Is Already Here
Wildfires turn cities to ash. Oceans are rising. Summers are lethal. This isn’t a warning — it’s the opening act. Entire towns have become uninsurable. Billion-dollar disasters are monthly. Meanwhile, oil execs sponsor climate denial and politicians debate if it’s “real.” The planet’s breaking, and the people in charge brought a hammer.
AI Can Fake a President’s Voice
Deepfakes are no longer clever TikToks — they’re political weapons. Voice cloning tech lets anyone create fake audio of Biden declaring war, or Trump confessing to crimes. It’s already been used to interfere with elections. Don’t take anything at face value … so to speak.
Mass Extinction
We’re in the middle of the sixth mass extinction, and barely anyone blinks. Wildlife populations have plunged 70% in 50 years. Insects are vanishing. Coral reefs are ghosts. But hey, at least you can still buy a plastic dolphin at the gift shop.
The Rich Are Eating Better Than You
Food inequality is now literal. Ultra-processed junk floods working-class neighborhoods while billionaires eat lab-grown steaks and farm-to-jet meals. Nutritional gaps are killing people. And thanks to climate change and tariffs, fresh produce is becoming a luxury item.
Wages Stagnate, Rent Explodes
Working 40 hours a week won’t cover a one-bedroom apartment in most American cities. Home ownership? That’s for hedge funds and boomers. We’re living in a cyberpunk economy — but without the neon or cool jackets.
Algorithms Are Running Your Life
Your feed, your job prospects, your credit score — they’re all shaped by black-box algorithms. You don’t know how they work. Neither do the people who made them. But they decide what you see, who you date, and whether you get hired. That’s not tech — it’s soft authoritarianism.
Medicine Only for the Rich
In the U.S., basic health care is a luxury. Insulin prices are criminal. Ambulances cost more than rent. Meanwhile, VIP hospital suites cater to celebrities and CEOs. If your body breaks, you better be rich — or lucky.
War by Videogame
From drone strikes managed via Xbox controller to private military companies selling war as a service, the battlefield is now digital, outsourced, and sanitized. But there are real consequences, and real bodies.
