The Three Crises

## Overview

The galactic community recognizes three major crises that most primitive species face during their development before achieving FTL flight and becoming "advanced". These crises are not guaranteed for every civilization, and overcoming them is not assured. The three crises include the climate crisis, the VR crisis, and the AI crisis.

Individual species may face other specific crises, such as a wealth inequality crisis or a late-stage sapient rights crisis, but these things are not as common as "The Three."

## The Three Crises

### Climate Crisis

The climate crisis refers to the potential for a species to inadvertently destroy their planet's habitability through actions such as excessive fossil fuel use or triggering a nuclear winter. Although a climate crisis is among the most common crisis a species goes through, not all species experience one. The Tellia, for example, transitioned to alternative power sources early in their development.

### VR Crisis

The VR crisis emerges when many members of a species become addicted to using virtual reality. As VR cannot entirely replace real-life experiences and achievements, this addiction can be detrimental to a society. Overcoming the VR crisis requires education programs and strong social pressure to promote moderate, mindful use of the technology.

### AI Crisis

The AI crisis primarily involves concerns related to artificial intelligence, such as the potential for fake accounts and AI-generated content on social media, which can be used to spread propaganda and manipulate public sentiment. Real-life concerns about AI include the difficulty in discerning between genuine and fake content, and the risks associated with AI-generated news.

To overcome the AI crisis, advanced verification processes are needed, taking the "click here to prove you are not an AI" concept to new levels. Some possible solutions involve biometric verification, blockchain-based identity systems, or other cutting-edge technologies.

In the galactic scene, the recognition of the AI crisis reflects a profound understanding of the potential dangers presented by unchecked artificial intelligence. Societies have put into place stringent safeguards and controls to prevent AI from overwhelming societal structures and norms. As such, AI is heavily regulated, treated more as a sophisticated tool rather than an autonomous entity, thereby ensuring it does not supplant or replace biological life forms in society's tapestry.

The existence of highly advanced technology does not overshadow the value these societies place on the experiences and perspectives of biological life forms. There is a widely held belief across the galaxy that biological consciousness holds a unique, irreplaceable quality. This belief has fostered a concerted effort to maintain the prominence and participation of biological life forms in societal structures, despite the technologically advanced landscape. This conscious decision to regulate AI development and maintain the centrality of biological life has become a key facet of the galactic community's ethos, ensuring the continuation of diverse, vibrant biological life across the stars.

## Order and Variation of Crises

The order in which species experience these crises may vary. Callaxians, for example, is addressing its moderate climate crisis and has already overcome its AI crisis, but has yet to experience a VR crisis. There may be specific reasons for this, such as cultural or biological factors that make Callaxians less prone to VR use.