Joy Zhang

In late March, I had the pleasure of participating in GESDA’s Third Villars Anticipation Workshop, Planetarized Humanity: Rethinking Identity, Society, and Governance in a Technology-Driven World. Set in the stunning alpine village of Villars, Switzerland, the workshop brought together an interdisciplinary group to reflect on how emerging technologies—especially AI—might reshape our societies and our sense of humanity over the next 5, 10, and 25 years.

True to its name, the workshop unfolded—quite literally—in the clouds. Perched high in the Swiss Alps, Villars offered not just a breathtaking view but also a perfect vantage point for thinking expansively about the future. On my first day, I took the train up to Bretaye, planning to hike to a nearby lake. But the snow-covered paths were too slippery—so instead, I settled in with a glass of wine and took in the panoramic view. I found myself wondering: does seeing the world from above help us feel more connected to it—or does it create a sense of distance, making us feel somehow outside of it all?

My expertise lies in the governance of the life sciences, not in AI. Yet as someone interested in epistemic (in)justice, I’m struck by how the challenges posed by AI differ fundamentally from those of the nuclear age. Unlike nuclear physics, governed by relatively universal laws, AI systems are constructed on vastly different assumptions, values, and data. One need only compare ChatGPT and DeepSeek to grasp just how varied these architectures can be. These epistemic differences will shape the futures we build, and the risks we face, in profound ways.

It is both timely and somewhat ironic, then, that we are talking about a ‘planetarized humanity’ at a moment when people increasingly inhabit vastly different realities—both physical and virtual.

I was particularly honoured to contribute to the final session, ‘Openings,’ which focused on future research priorities and governance innovations. Our discussions spanned the ethical and social implications of human-technology interactions, and how governance systems might evolve to meet them. I was especially glad to see strong interest in my reflections on the value of commoning—a practice that, I believe, offers a promising lens for thinking about collective stewardship in our increasingly interconnected world.

Taking part in the Villars workshop was such a rewarding experience. I finally got to meet people whose work I’ve followed and admired for ages, and I also came across some really fascinating new perspectives and projects. I wished there had been more time to explore views and experiences from outside developed economies, but with only two days, time was limited. Hopefully, that’s something to build on for next time!

For now, the view from the clouds stays with me—not as a way to escape the world, but as a reminder to keep asking bigger, better questions.