This is pretty much what I've been (armchair) researching for at least a decade. What systems and infrastructure are outdated given our modern population, technological leaps, and the normalization of precious resources across the planet.

If automation proliferates commercially before it can be downregulated by the government (in a bid to limit public access) there's a solid basis for a bottom up energy and sustenance infrastructure which imo is THE solution.

Imagine a low-cost garden shelf that self manages light, moisture, and soil according to the species of plant and requires no intervention beyond "reloading" soils and seeds for new plants after it harvests them. With one or more in a home a family could be one big step closer to food security. Automation can eventually reduce the cost of living to basically nothing, with very high RoI for everyone involved. Low cost of living also = more free time = more creative and scientific advancements.

The real big stink is that automation in capitalism bottoms out the value of labor (productivity), which has already been divorced from wages since the 70s. There is nothing cheaper than a machine running 24/7 with no concern for weekends, breaks, bonuses, or ethical practices. Likewise, there's little incentive for a government to allow their largest bargaining chips (power over the distribution of shelter, energy, and sustenance) to dissolve, even if it drastically reduces public stress (thus lowering crime rates as needs are met).