Type I

A Type I or K1 civilization has mastered all the energy available to their home planet, available from a neighboring star. It extracts its energy, information, and raw materials from fission and fusion power, and renewable resources; is capable of interplanetary spaceflight and communication; mega-scale planetary engineering; medical breakthroughs to eliminate disease and slow ageing; multiplanetary government and interplanetary trade; species is tech augmented; but is still vulnerable to extinction.

Michio Kaku mentioned in his book Physics of the Future:

• Type I civilizations harvest planetary power utilizing all the sunlight that strikes their planet. They can, perhaps, harness the power of volcanoes, manipulate the weather, control earthquakes, and build cities on the ocean. All planetary power is within their control.
• We can see the beginnings of a Type I civilization in the fact that a global language is developing (English), a global communication system is emerging (the Internet), a global economic system is in the making, and even a globalized culture is standardizing humanity (social media).
• To achieve Type I, humanity must be able to communicate with the rest of the world and to focus on several areas: building infrastructure to facilitate communication and cooperation, education, research and development, and innovation.
• By studying the evolution of technologies that have changed history (paper, the integrated circuit), Kaku believes that humanity is moving toward a civilization of planetary dimensions, the "starting point" of which is the Internet.
• An advanced civilization must grow faster than the frequency of occurrence of cosmic catastrophes hostile to life, such as comet or asteroid impacts. A Type I civilization should also be able to master space travel to deflect threatening objects. It would also have to anticipate the onset of ice ages and modify the climate long before they occur to avoid them.

A possible interplanetary future could look like this:

• Earth is a utopia. Earth’s ecosystems are being repaired after human activity over centuries led to catastrophic damage to natural habitats. Many species went extinct as a result of pollution, climate change, deforestation, mining, the construction of new cities, wars, industrial accidents, genetic and nanotechnology experiments. Now, extinct animals and plants are being recreated and brought back to life using a combination of fossil records, DNA samples, computer models, and molecular engineering. Deserts are being transformed back into forests with the use of artificial rain and other forms of weather control. Toxic lakes and rivers are being cleaned. Oceans are being de-acidified, cooled, and made habitable once again for sea life.
• Earth's moon is now the most heavily populated of all the space colonies, with millions of permanent inhabitants.
• Mars has declared its independence from Earth after a massive colonization program. It has become heavily populated with large cities that are connected with an automated rail network. A massive terraforming effort is also under way on Mars, with Venus being considered as well.
• The asteroid mining sector now generates the most revenues for humans in the inner solar system. Thousands of asteroids are being mined at a time. Advances in nanotechnology and related fields enable these asteroids to be stripped atom-by-atom so that nothing goes to waste. More than several types of precious metals are harvested for use in hi-tech industries. The largest asteroids are being hollowed out and their interiors are converted into enormous power plants, research stations, and settlements for humans.
• Jupiter is gaining a steady influx of prospectors comprised mostly of heavily-modified transhumans and sentient robots. Jupiter is being siphoned for its vast supply of hydrogen and helium. A number of floating cities and gigantic refineries are beginning to appear in the upper atmosphere of Jupiter as well. Meanwhile, Jupiter’s moons are being exploited for their metals, minerals, and ice.
• The rings of Saturn now have luxurious hotels orbiting around them, offering magnificent views of this massive gas giant. Guests are able to venture outside of these hotels and drift among the slowly moving ice and rock fragments in Saturn’s rings. Saturn’s largest moon Titan is now home to entire cities. Enceladus is another moon of Saturn, which contains an ocean of liquid saltwater under its icy crust. This serves as a water source for settlements in the outer Solar System.
• Even the distant planets of Uranus and Neptune have gas miners now and developments there are expected to dramatically increase over the next decades and centuries.
• Pluto and the Kuiper Belt are being exploited for minerals and ice as well. The Kuiper Belt is a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune, which contains over a trillion comets, asteroids, and other small objects made largely of ice. This is a potential start to become interstellar.
• Much of the Solar System is being turned into smart material, with neural networks embedded throughout asteroids and on the surface of moons. This is allowing powerful artificial intelligences to handle large-scale scientific experiments and automated mining operations.

Detail

Energy usage	1016 W to 1026 W Fission and fusion power. There is plenty of hydrogen in the oceans to sustain hydrogen fusion for millions of years at the consumption of 2kg/s. Space-based solar power gathers at least 10 times more energy than surface-based solar power. Other high-energy resources such as tapping into planets' cores and gas giant mining will become viable. The power output of the Sun is 3.8 x 1026 W, so the total energy usage will vary depending on the star system. A Dyson swarm will collect a large percentage of the home star's energy, but only a closed Dyson sphere in Type II will be able to gather all of it.
Population	100 billion people (1011)
Existence	3d (with early 4d science) and 1r (reality)
Travel	Interplanetary and close interstellar Spacecraft approaching light speeds and possible natural wormholes are found.
Quality of life (government)	Plutocracy: a scarcity age ruled by the aristocratic elite or wealthy Post-scarcity age: the end of plutocracy Noogenesis: possible advancement of sapience into global consciousness or a hive mind e-Democracy: the use of the internet to digitally enhance and replace democracy Hegemony: dominance of one state over others especially with planetary sprawl or alien influence Futarchy: prediction markets are used to determine policies Gerantocracy: ruled by leaders who are significantly older than most of the adult population, due to anti-ageing Dark enlightenment: anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian, reactionary freedom of the people Eugenocracy: bioengineered genetic superiority; will cause eugenics wars with humans Mechanocracy: machine and AI sentience Meritocracy: rule by the intelligent and worthy, as opposed to traditional politics
State of forms	biological and augmented
WMD scale	nuclear
Longevity	100 - 350+
Industrial revolutions	asteroid mining gas giant mining
Computing	Zettascale (1021) and beyond
Social issues	Intelligence augmentation and genome tweaking Dream twister or collective psychosomatic interface Psionics or supported psychic phenomena Robotic surrogacy or biological avatars Space station mega structures (cities in space)
Arguments	Robots Cloning Dominant proliferation
Social weakening	Bourgeois behaviour and boredom due to elimination of manual labour (cured by psionics or intellectual and explorative pursuits)
Social dream	Eudaimonia where a species flourish, and are prosperous, happy and blessed
Class system	Superiority by natural ability via ethical calculus (allotment of priority in rated education by talent using giftedness in children as a social analyst)

Sub-Types

Sub-type	Age	Characteristics
1.0	Hydrogen Age	Power Consumption 1016 W to 1017 W Ability to completely control the home planet, its weather systems and its moon(s). Fusion and fission reactors are common and with globally-linked solar, wind and ocean wave power, energy is cheap. This solves the problem of the Earth running out of fossil fuels which have become very expensive. Hydrogen and biofuels replace expensive oil. Space-based solar power joins the global energy network via wireless power transmission and beamed energy. Hydrogen-based fission, fusion, solar power and renewables largely replace fossil fuels. Landfill and floating waste on oceans will be recycled for energy and to sustain a green environment. Eventually geothermal energy is used via massive excavations and cables that tap into the core of the home planet. Advances in longevity science slow the aging process so that the dominant species is able to live 200+ years. Universal translator works for all home planet languages. A possible world language is adopted. Neural and brain-computer interfaces are bi-directional. The images and experiences generated by these devices are almost indistinguishable from reality, and they’re unique to each user because they depend on the structure of the brain. Cloning of some species, and full genetic mapping of any species. Disruption of world economies with the adoption of a universal cryptocurrency not controlled by governments. A possible world economy arises. Local cultures will co-exist with a global culture. Intellectual capitalism replaces commodity capitalism. Continental governments are formed, funding world bodies to combat common threats such as epidemics and other extinction events, terrorism and dictatorships. Space weapons are the main weapons used in large-scale conflicts, orbital solar lasers and directional kinetic weapons are produced. Climate weapons are used on every planet.
1.1	Imagination Age	Power Consumption 1017 W to 1018 W Space travel becomes possible for most people. Tourism to moons. The rise of a planetary middle class. Moleculartronic computers are invented. All species on the home planet have been discovered. Cybernetic implants can replace any body part except the brain which links to a network with hive possibilities. The brain is enhanced by virtual reality neural-links, and virchers inhabit and travel between virchworlds. The Imagination Age is where creativity and imagination hold economic value as opposed to analysis and critical thinking. The rise of an immersive virtual reality will raise the value of "imagination work" over rational thinking as a foundation of culture and economics. Given that imagination and innovation are arguably the most valued skills in a modern society, this age would have had its roots in late Type 0. The first fully clad cyborg soldiers are born. Robotic soldiers' bodies are ultra-resistant and lead to the development of new ultra-destructive magnetic weapons capable of compressing the surrounding space.
1.2	Bioethical Age	Power Consumption 1018 W to 1019 W Colonization of the moon where the major industries are launch platforms for spacecraft, orbital habitats and satellite systems. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is populated with Clarke Belts. Genetic manipulation leads to elimination of defects and domestic diseases. Genetically engineered viruses are used to treat cancers and phages to treat bacterial infections. Cyborgs and genetic implants are common and may lead to eugenics wars between GMOs and humans. GMO soldiers and cyborg soldiers connected to the network are created in the laboratories capable of receiving information to the millisecond. Perfect genetic weapons are created, capable of annihilation and genocide.
1.3	Readiness Age	Power Consumption 1019 W to 1020 W Space elevators on planets and moons. Interplanetary travel is common and terraforming has taken root. Readiness for colonization of the solar system. Ability to move asteroids and NEOs away from Earth to prevent collisions, or towards Earth and mine them. First invisibility with nanosuits. Able to upload brains to virtual reality systems with neural-link tech. This leads to some virchers abandoning their real life, even to the point of suicide. Made new weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capable of moving asteroids to make them collide towards the target; these are limited and prohibited much like nuclear stockpiles. Developed a new type of virtual warfare.
1.4	Interplanetary Age	Power Consumption 1020 W to 1021 W Colonization of other planets with advances in terraforming and spacecraft reaching high sub-light speeds. Gas giant mining is an alternative energy source. Quantum teleportation at the subatomic level and pure bandwidth achieved with quantum entanglement. With pure bandwidth came the IPN (InterPlaNet) which is an interplanetary internet over a quantum network. Quantum cryptography cannot be hacked. Advanced virtual warfare whose systems are capable of compromising a robotic or virtual body. Virtual terrorism is born.
1.5	Age of Magnetism	Power Consumption 1021 W to 1022 W Embedded room-temperature superconductors, allowing telekinesis. Discovered what dark energy and dark matter are. Teleportation of complex molecules achieved. Viruses are created at the quantum level, with simulations of larger organisms. 3D printers can print biocompatible organs. Tissue, skin and tooth generation can be done by stem cell engineering. Mind reading is possible, leading to ethical laws being passed. Terraforming held back by ecologists. Mind control created to defeat the enemy psychologically. Immediate teleportation from hand to hand in the event of death in war. Thanks to advanced electro inductors, magnetic weapons can compress space more efficiently.
1.6	Visitor Age	Power Consumption 1022 W to 1023 W Asteroid and other-planetary moon mining colonies are common with orbital habitats. Disposal of waste into gas giants with habitats in place. Corporates across the solar system compete and trade for mining resources. Possible first space wars over resources, fought with planetary grade weapons. Self-replicating robot systems developed and used in deep sea mining, mega-construction, and solar system mining operations and colony construction. Fears of a singularity introduces manufacturing regulations, remote control and emergency shutdown of all such robots. Possible first contact with aliens. A world government is formed to deal with the possibility of alien threats. Created as a weapon but forbidden to use gray goo; more conventional self-replicating robots can consume specific targets in no time.
1.7	Post-scarcity Age	Power Consumption 1023 W to 1024 W Possible antimatter reactors if enough is found naturally. Still prohibitively expensive to create antimatter. Containment is done using force fields. Possibly beginning the construction of a Dyson swarm and Matrioshka brain. The energy-to-matter replicator is invented. Universal translator works flawlessly for most alien languages. Post-scarcity, where money is not needed due to free energy (fusion and renewable) and replicators making almost anything that is needed, making world economies obsolete. Created antimatter weapon; first weapon which can officially destroy an entire planet. Plans are formulated to colonize another solar system. This is a global effort.
1.8	A.I. Age	Power Consumption 1024 W to 1025 W Construction of androids, humanoid holograms, and self-aware artificial intelligence. Experimental teleportation of life forms is done, leading to many mishaps and widespread moral protests. Dark energy reactor prototypes are investigated but the energy required to start them is an inhibiting factor. Robots billions of times smarter than humans go to war for them. Artificial intelligence surpasses man in terms of production and armaments.
1.9	Voy-age	Power Consumption 1025 W to 1026 W Spacecraft approach the speed of light, allowing the first colony in another solar system. It's also possible that an interstellar highway might be built. Interstellar arks might have been built already, and close to their destinations. It's possible that a civilization can leapfrog faster-than-light technology completely by the discovery of natural wormholes and learn to use them for instantaneous travel over vast distances. This creates temptations for aggressive sprawl and interstellar dominion, so there can be a branch towards a dystopian society before eventually settling on utopian ideals and a move towards sophonce. Dyson swarm is nearly complete. Ability to create biological androids. Possible completion of terraforming of rocky planets. Relativistic missiles invented, third generation antimatter weapons. Giant solar laser.

Additional Technology and Sociology

Robotic infrastructure	mining, battle station, powered exoskeletons
Servo-mechanics	missile ranks, damage control, assault shuttles
Astro military-industrial complex	dreadnoughts, SDI, mechs
Advanced manufacturing and astral construction	recycling, automated repair, artificial planet
Industrial automation	factory, bombers
Tectonic engineering	core mine, core waste dumping
Mega-settlements	space fortress, mega-cities, heavy fighters
Ion fission	drive, cannon, shield capacitor
Anti-matter fission	drive, torpedo, bomb
Matter-energy conversion	teleporters (receiver station only), food replicators, tank displacer, psionic long range teleport
High energy distribution
Advanced chemistry	missile, pollution processor
Molecular compression	missile, atmos renewer, fuel
Nano technology	dis-assemblers, construction, armour, metallurgy, industrial robotics, matter compression (fuel, armour)
Positronics	computer, research lab, structural analyst, blue box (Geth, Mass effect)
Virtual intelligence	guidance, targetting, cyber security
Noosphere
Androids	farmers, workers, scientists
Adaptive doctrine	proxy armies, military algorithms, flexibility & software
Extra-net
Advanced biology	cloning, soil enrichment, xeno biowarfare
Genetic engineering	psionic academy, macro-biotics, longevity, Alpha Plus
Genetic mutation	terraforming, evo science
Macro-genetics	subterranean farm, weather controller
Evolutionary genetics	psionics, empathy (fauna assimilation), higher intelligence
Tachyon physics	communication & military computers
Ansible
Gravity fields	Antigravity, inertial, battle gravitics, ship gyro field, grav gun
Neutrino physics	weapons & detection
Artificial gravity	tractor beam, beams, planetary generator
Subspace physics	communication & jump gates (2d)
Military multi-phased physics	phaser, rifles, shields
Magnetogravity	shields, planetary, drive dissipator
Light curvature fields	ship/troop stealth, personal fields
5d propulsion fields	offensive & interdiction, pulsar
Military subspace fields	shields, ecm, cannon
High energy chemistry	armour, nerve gas
Civil integrity
Applied relativity
Bioelectric resonance	weapons, animal use
Eudaimonia
Dark matter theory
Quantum weaponry
Social incrementalism
Immortal isolationism
Eschatology
Cyber ethics

Civilizations that are considered Type I

1.1	Humans and Replicants from Blade Runner
1.1	Humans and Cyborgs from The Terminator
1.2	Cyborgs from Cyberpunk 2077
1.2	Humans from Space: 1999
1.3	Humans from Judge Dredd
1.4	Humans from Flash Gordon
1.5	Humans from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
1.5	Humans and Arachnids from Starship Troopers
1.6	Humans from Dune
1.6	Humans from Wing Commander
1.6	Humans from James Cameron's Avatar
1.6	Humans from The Expanse
1.8	Humans from Space Odyssey
1.9	Humans from StarCraft
1.9	The Isu from Assassin's Creed

Navigation to Kardashev Type

 Omniverse: Type 0 - Type I - Type II - Type III - Type IV - Type V - Type VI - Type VII
Hyperverse: Type VIII - Type IX
Outerverse: Type X - Type XI - Type XII - Type XIII
   Adverse: Type XIV - Type XV - Type XVI - Type XVII - Type XVIII - Type XIX
    Beyond: Type XX. This is the final official type.