The author believes the key to positive sci-fi is moving the conflict from technology itself to conservative institutions, showcasing technology's benefits.

A writer who has produced hundreds of essays on future tech decided to try his hand at a sci-fi script for XPrize's Future Vision competition, hoping to win $2.5M in production funding. His past work was analytical, but he believes fiction can move people more effectively.

1. Make Tech the Good Guy, Not the Villain

The author points out that traditional sci-fi often makes technology the problem. But flip it around: if tech is great, where does conflict come from? The answer is the old institutions and fearful mindsets that restrict technological development. New tech's downsides are obvious (accidents, job loss), while benefits are hard to foresee, so institutions tend to be conservative. The author wants to turn this fight into a story.

2. Choosing Socotra as the Free Land

The author set his 'free zone' on Yemen's Socotra island. It's underdeveloped but has huge potential: it sits near busy shipping lanes, and solar power plus desalination could solve water and port issues. He thinks future tech could turn it into a tech special zone, like Hong Kong or Singapore in the past.

3. Using AI to Find Plot Holes

Writing a three-season series in five weeks was brutal. The author used a 'gardener' approach, developing each character individually, but inevitably created inconsistencies. AI came in handy: it was excellent at spotting plot holes and character arc failures, but its solution suggestions were often cliché. The author believes AI needs to evolve before it can truly craft compelling stories.