Silicon Valley is synonymous with wealth generation and innovation. At the same time, the elite of Silicon Valley are endowed with futuristic vision.
These are the days of AI breakthroughs and trillion-dollar market capitalization. Still there is an unexpected trend — the tech elite quietly are taking steps to protect themselves from uncertainties in the environment. They are creating safe undeground dwelling places for themselves which can sustain and survive them. Call them bunkers or hide-outs, what matters is survival planning.
It is an answer to real-world threats — global conflicts, economic stability, civil unrest, climatic catastrophes, cyber-attacks, infrastructure failures. As we know, there are geopolitical tensions, and the elite must be prepared to face the worst-case scenario.
These premises for their survival have civic amenities like air filtration systems, hydroponic farms and renewable energy systems.
All these tech leaders are shaping the future of the world, but at the same time are conscious of the need for their own survival.
It means that the fear of war and social unrest is common to the average citizens and the elite. They are as much vulnerable as we all are in this volatile geopolitical climate.
The war-like situation un-stabilizes the system — disruption of supply chains, communication and even civic amenities. There could be sudden disruptions. Bunkers are safe refuge at such times. It is a part of contingency planning. Besides military conflicts, there is a global warming and rising sea-levels, hurricanes and droughts. These disturb infrastructure and basic resources such as food and water. These are not abstract possibilities. Thus the shelters must be made self-sufficient.
A cyber-attack can cripple economics in this interconnected world and could trigger chaos. Cyber-attack could affect individuals as well as professionals. The shelters are the fallback arrangements.
There are pandemics leading to shortages and over-strained healthcare systems. In future, such orises could be more severe. Bankers provides isolated quarantine-like environments.
There is a moral dilemma here. Is it necessary to outlive society or is it better to invest in its resilience? Sophistication in bunkers represents not only the fears but lack of foresight. The most disturbing issue is who gets to survive and who are left behind.
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