The future is bright

I feel you on that- but the difference is academic at best. No law requires one to have the internet to go to school or for work- but the internet, or a personal computer, are often required to be able to successfully complete these things, be competitive, or to avoid additional hardship or inconveniences. So while brain implants aren’t and likely wouldn’t be legally mandated in the foreseeable and likely future- anything with advantage tends to essentially become compulsory in society anyway.

You don’t legally need a high school diploma, and many jobs that require it do so on their discretion and not legal mandate. Same for college. We can see that in recent US history the rate of people with high school educations leapt from about half or so to almost all adults- because you almost NEED it to be competitive. College is the same, with the 2 year degree being almost compulsory and the four year becoming that way, and if we ever get “free” college- those without a 4 year degree are likely to become obsolete as it becomes the new “minimum expectation” for even entry level work. So while uncle Elon and his ilk aren’t using the rod to force progress- the world being created is one where those who lack these advantages are essentially looking at becoming second class citizens- a different kind of force from legal force, but exclusion and roadblocks to success as the drive.

Why should we settle for mediocre?