Informing Choices Mini-Pod

Identity economics is a branch of economics that explores how our identities influence our economic decisions. It argues that people can be motivated by a desire to maintain a consistent sense of self, which in turn means that our identities can play a role in determining our choices about work, consumption, and other economic activities. So how can generative AI – and other technologies and change drivers – impact the evolution of an identity economy across life, society, and enterprise?

Today, Global Futurist & Metaverse Strategist Sylvia Gallusser and I are joined on the podcast by strategic communicator and futurist Gina Clifford and technology innovator Rob Tyrie to explore the evolution of identity economics.

You can learn more about Sylvia and her work by connecting with her as follows: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviagallusser Email sylvia.gallusser@gmail.com Twitter @SGallusser

You can learn more about Gina and her work by connecting with her as follows: LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/ginaclifford Email gina.clifford@gmail.com Twitter http://www.twitter.com/G1naClifford

You can learn more about Rob and his work by connecting with him as follows: LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/robtyrie Email rob.tyrie@gmail.com Twitter @RobTyrie

In this third episode of a mini-series in which Global Futurist and Metaverse Strategist Sylvia Gallusser and I are exploring the future of media, news, and content creation we explore three scenarios from 2050: Frugal AI – AI for greater good, characterised by effective regulation, with personal identity safety a priority; Tech Supercharged World - with lots of immersion, interactive assets, fully automated content creation, and the harnessing of identity; and The Reality Continuum – A transformation scenario with device and platform plurality, tools to help us identify if content is human or AI leading to the normalisation of AI.

You can learn more about Sylvia and her work by connecting with her as follows: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/ in/sylviagallusser Email sylvia.gallusser@gmail.com Twitter @SGallusser

For Gina, connect with her as follows: LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/ginaclifford Email gina.clifford@gmail.com Twitter http://www.twitter.com/G1naClifford

You can learn more about Rob and his work by connecting with him as follows: LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/robtyrie Email rob.tyrie@gmail.com Twitter @RobTyrie

This is the second of three episodes in which Global Futurist & Metaverse Strategist Sylvia Gallusser and I are exploring the future of media, news, and the identity economy. Last time, we explored the context of AI development focusing on generative AI, then looked at the opportunities and risks content creation through lens of journalism.

Today, we will dig deeper into the opportunities and challenges of using generative AI and look further into the future and explore three scenarios from 2050.

You can learn more about Sylvia and her work by connecting with her as follows:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviagallusser

Blog https://siliconhumanism.home.blog

Email sylvia.gallusser@gmail.com

Twitter @SGallusser

Learn more about Sylvia’s work into the evolution of generative AI here:

Deloitte’s Tony Reeves characterised the Intelligent Age as “the Age of With, where every human works with intelligent machines in every activity. It merges the digital, physical and human worlds, collaborating across the boundaries of each to improve performance and empower smarter humans to achieve more at incredible speed.”

In this episode, our questions are on the characterisation of the Intelligent Age, what it might look like in 2050, the significant technologies of the time, and how this comes together to impact the kind of work we might do in the second half of this century.  

To help me consider these questions, I am delighted to welcome chief executive and a futurist at London-based Global Futures and Foresight, David Smith, to the podcast.

You can learn more about David and his work by connecting with him as follows:

Email davidasmithgff@gmail.com

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/dasmith

Twitter www.twitter.com/DavidSmithGFF

YouTube www.youtube.com/user/GFFTV

Website www.thegff.com

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For some years, the ongoing and accelerating development of artificial intelligence has been eye- and imagination-catching. And now we have a number of generative AI models that have burst onto the scene over the last year or so. Generative artificial intelligence - refers to the use of AI to create new content; like text, images, music, audio, and video. Generative AI works by using a machine learning model to learn the patterns and relationships in a dataset of human-created content. It then uses the learned patterns to generate new content.

But given the rapid development and real world application of these models, what could they mean for the future of media and content, and for the identity economy?

This is the first of a three-part exploration of the role of generative AI into both these areas that I am thrilled to say is in collaboration with Global Futurist & Metaverse Strategist Sylvia Gallusser. In this episode we will explore the context of AI development focusing on generative AI, then look at content creation through the lens of journalism.

In the second episode we will look to the future and to explore three scenarios of a world in 2050 where the identity economy dominates. And then in the third episode, we will invite viewers and listeners to share their perspectives on our exploration and the future of media, news, and the identity economy.

You can learn more about Sylvia and her work by connecting with her as follows:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviagallusser

Blog https://siliconhumanism.home.blog

Email sylvia.gallusser@gmail.com

Twitter @SGallusser

Learn more about Sylvia’s work into the evolution of generative AI here:  

With recent controversy surrounding the Government’s apparent backing off from the pace at which the UK will achieve net zero by 2050, I wanted to take the opportunity to explore the issue. But rather than jump on the scare band-wagon, wanted to offer a carrot – if that’s not mixing too many metaphors.

While the threat of climate change-fuelled catastrophe might scare people into action, perhaps that should be considered in parallel with the benefits of achieving net zero.

So in this episode of the podcast, let’s imagine a future in 2060 in which global society has achieved net zero as planned in 2050.

You can learn more about me and my work by contacting and connecting with me as follows:

Email: steve@informingchoices.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-wells-futurist-speaker

Twitter: https://twitter.com/informingchoice

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There comes a point when the boundaries of science and magic seem to blur. At the same time, we can perhaps see the potential of science and technology to deliver the tools and applications of the future is limited only by our imagination.  

So in this episode of the Informing Choices Mini-Pod, with the help of strategic communicator and futurist Gina Clifford, we will explore cutting-edge ideas, potential innovations, mind-bending advancements, and awe-inspiring discoveries that seem straight out of a wizard's spellbook!

You can learn more about Gina and her work by contacting and connecting with her as follows:

Email: gina.clifford@gmail.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ginaclifford

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/G1naClifford

A "Digital Twin" is a virtual model of a process, product, or service. The pairing of the virtual and physical worlds allows analysis of data collected to predict potential issues before they even occur; preventing downtime, developing new opportunities, and even plan for the future by using simulations, for example.

To explore digital twins and their societal implications, I am joined on this episode of the podcast by Alex Whittington, a futurist from the Tata Consulting Services Future of Business team.

You can learn more about Alex and her work by connecting with her as follows:

Email foresightpartner@gmail.com

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-whittington-futurist

Twitter https://twitter.com/alexandra4casts

It’s not uncommon for us to consider a positive outcome in the future, or a negative one. The utopian view or the dystopian view. But the likelihood is of a future with both positive and negative elements, much like we have seen in the present and the past.

Today, we are exploring the dichotomy between advanced technology changing everything for the better and a world in chaos because of climate change. Will we harness these amazing technology advances to resolve our challenges in the second half of the 21st century and create a technotopia, and will we recover from sliding into climate change fuelled dystopia?

To consider the drivers of these contrasting futures, I am delighted to welcome Managing Principal at Future|Shift Consulting, Rob Caldera back to the podcast.

You can learn more about Rob and his work by connecting with him as follows:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/robcaldera

Website https://www.futureshiftconsulting.com

In this new series of the podcast, I want to look farther into the future with my guests; to 2050 and beyond. So I will be exploring what our world might look like in the second half of this century; consider the roles that innovative technologies might play in a re-invented future; and what major changes we could see that would have a profound impact across life, society, and business.

The first episode of this new series drops on Wednesday 6th September.

You can catch this and all episodes of the Informing Choices Mini Pod podcast here: 

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Jacinda Ardern’s decision to step down as New Zealand’s Prime Minister came as a surprise to many. She became the world’s youngest female head of government when she was elected prime minister in 2017 at 37. She has led New Zealand through the Covid-19 pandemic, and a series of disasters including the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, and the White Island volcanic eruption.

Asked how she would like New Zealanders to remember her leadership, Ardern said “as someone who always tried to be kind”.

“I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader – one who knows when it’s time to go,” Ardern said.

The prime minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, paid tribute to Ardern, saying she “has shown the world how to lead with intellect and strength … She has demonstrated that empathy and insight are powerful leadership qualities.”

Relational Systems Architect, Leadership Development & Impact Coach, and creator of Mycelium Collab Alessandra Marazzi posed the question, “What would the world look if we all wanted to be remembered, as someone who always tried to be kind?” Which in turn begs the question, “Is kindness the leadership competence of the future?”

To consider this question, I am delighted to welcome Alessandra back to the podcast.

You can learn more about Alessandra and her work by contacting and connecting with her as follows:

The Rise of the Machines has a bit of Terminator feel to it, but as increasing automation plays a bigger role across life, society, and business, it’s hard to ignore the potential of AI and other automation technologies taking control.

But as well as the trepidation about dystopian potential, these same technologies offer incredible opportunity to enhance humanity. The question is, what could it mean to be more human in an ever more technology enabled world? And how might we as humans need to adapt and what will remain purely human?

To explore these questions and why 2023 was a tipping point we might look back on from 2033, I am joined by Strategist and Futurist Joana Lenkova.

Right now, mushrooms are in the spotlight as a meat substitute, medicine, bioremediation of oil and toxic chemicals, leather alternative, plastic alternative for some packaging, and mycelium networks in forests for carbon sequestration. They might be one of the most potent organisms to help us combat climate change.

To explore the opportunities presented by mushrooms and mycelium to help resolve some of humanity’s biggest challenges, I am joined by strategic communicator and futurist Gina Clifford.

You can learn more about Gina and her work by contacting and connecting with her as follows:

The confluence of trends such as demographic shifts, automation technologies such as AI and Machine Learning, together with developments in reducing age-related cognitive impairments are likely to have a dramatic effect on future workplaces.

To explore these factors I am joined by Strategic Foresight Advisor and Organizational Change Management and Communications consultant Rob Caldera.

You can learn more about Rob and his work by connecting with him as follows:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/robcaldera
Website https://www.futureshiftconsulting.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/robcaldera

One of the most persistent ideas about artificial intelligence, is that there’s a clear distinction between what many commentators refer to as narrow AI and the goal of more general artificial intelligence, otherwise often referred to as artificial general intelligence (AGI). But there is evidence to suggest that a new perspective would be helpful in fostering balanced discussion on the technology’s evolution now. The progress in the development of AI with wider application begs the question; “Is 2023 about to become a turning point in the public conversation about the incredible potential of AI?”

To consider this question, I am delighted to welcome back futurist speaker, analyst, commentator, and author David Wood to the podcast.

You can learn more about David and his work as follows:

To start the New Year, I am speaking to 6 futurist friends of the podcast - Alex Whittington, David Wood, Gina Clifford, Joana Lenkova, Rob Caldera, and Sylvia Gallusser to explore their thoughts on the new technologies, ideas, and developments that may emerge in 2023 that will have proven to be significant when we look back from 2033 – in 10 years’ time.

The convergence of digital technology and habits formed through the pandemic have changed how we shop. Click and collect, scan and pay, and pay-and-go – the Amazon style concept – have added choice to the options of online shopping and the brick-and-mortar store.

According to Modor Intelligence, the North American Retail Automation Market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 10.2% (2021-2026). The retail automation market in the United States is anticipated to be driven by the growing adoption of automation technologies by the major players, such as Amazon and Walmart; to cut down costs and drive efficiency and enhance the customer experience.

McKinsey say that the United Kingdom has gone further in adopting online shopping than any of its Western peers with 20% of UK consumers shop entirely or mostly online.

So what are the implications as these tech enabled options are implemented widely?

In this first episode of the New Year 2023 Mini-Series, I am joined by leading futurist Alexandra Whittington to consider this question.

You can learn more about Alex and her work by connecting with her as follows:

We often see news items concerning the development of new technologies such as AI, machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, and the metaverse and their potential future deployment. The implications across enterprise and our private lives are often uncertain and depending on one’s point of view represent a possible journey to dystopia or utopia. The journey can be framed as a conflict as humanity versus technology, or an opportunity to achieve super abundance.

But which technologies, ideas, and developments that may emerge in 2023 will have proven to be significant when we look back from 2033 – in 10 years’ time?

This new mini-series will explore some of the ideas of six futurist friends of the podcast, in the following six episodes.

You can learn more about me and my work by connecting with me as follows:

Here’s a question: How has the way you plan to spend Christmas this year, changed from 10 or 20 years ago, and how might it change in the future?

Last year, together with six futurists, we explored how Christmas and the holiday season more broadly might change in the future, and we are going to tap into their ideas again for this festive episode of the Informing Choices Mini-Pod.

The combination of social, technological, and environmental trends in particular are driving change in everyday life, society, and business. The way we celebrate traditional cultural, spiritual, and family events continues to evolve. Technology offers new ways to celebrate and reminisce about Christmases long in the past and create new traditions. And the environment and sustainability agenda more broadly shape how we use resources to help us celebrate.

Contributors:

* Editorial problem with this episode resolved - 12th December. Apologies for any inconvenience. *

The idea of the metaverse is of an iteration of the Internet as a single, universal, and immersive virtual world that is facilitated by the use of virtual reality and augmented reality devices. Right now, it might be more accurate to describe it as a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection. There are plenty of ideas about what the metaverse might be in the future; how it might evolve from gaming, a virtual workplace, a concert venue, lecture hall, or fashion store.

Today, we will focus on the metaverse and the future of play, and I am delighted to welcome back friend of the podcast, leading futurist and member of Tata Consulting Services Future of Business team, Alexandra Whittington.

You can learn more about Alex and her work by connecting with her as follows:

With the football World Cup in Qatar upon us, I was reflecting on how new technologies and other drivers of change might impact on how the game is refereed and how tournaments - such as the World Cup - are managed and the criteria for host bids considered. And could there be competition to, what has become known, as “the beautiful game”?

So to consider the 2038 World Cup, I have created a brief scenario to explore some of the changes we might see.

You can learn more about me and my work by connecting with me as follows:

In the past, the notion of reinvented government might have been associated with performance management to sharpen the public services saw. But are we now on the precipice of a new era where revolutionary restructuring might underpin, support, and enable the delivery of effective public services? And what role might innovation, entrepreneurship, and new and emerging technology play in the re-shaping of government into the future?

To discuss Reinventing Government I am delighted to welcome back marketing consultant, writer, futurist, and author of a new book entitled Reinventing Government through Political Entrepreneurship and Exponential Innovation, Michael Mascioni to the podcast.

Artificial Intelligence is a concept of building a machine capable of thinking, acting, and learning like humans. There is some debate about what Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) actually is – or could be - and even if something approaching AGI is achievable or even desirable. But let’s go with this: AGI is the intelligence of a machine that could successfully perform any intellectual task that a human being can.

So in this episode of the podcast, I want to take stock of where we are in the development of AGI, the ethical considerations, and the possibilities that achievement of AGI may present to society in the future.

To have this discussion, I am delighted to welcome back to the podcast futurist speaker, analyst, commentator, and author David Wood.

You can learn more about David and his work as follows:

I often reflect on the pace and scale of change in our world – very often technology enabled – and the challenge of enabling a more human future.

Perhaps increasing the role of humans in our future seems unlikely given what we see of the potential for organisations – both public and enterprise – to adopt and embrace increasingly sophisticated and pervasive automation technologies. But it is precisely this transition that requires us to consider ways of enabling more humanity at the heart of our organisations, perhaps a new way of conceiving organisations.

To consider Humanity in Future Organisations I am delighted to welcome Alessandra Marazzi to the podcast. Alessandra is a Relational Systems Architect, Leadership Development & Impact Coach, and creator of “Mycelium”.

You can learn more about Alessandra and her work by contacting and connecting with her as follows:

The future of work is often spoken about at events all over the world. Of course, there are implications for where we work too. The topic of remote, on-site, and hybrid working is a major topic of debate as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. But what are the challenges for corporate real estate, from design, build, to occupation and services? How might the future of work impact the future of workplaces?

Our world today has been created through a consumption mindset, but increasingly we are becoming aware of the unsustainable nature of such an approach. Our growing understanding of the complex and interconnected processes that make up the fragile natural systems on which we ultimately all rely is increasingly shaping our political, business, and personal lives and outlook.

So how might our relationship with the natural world evolve and what role could technology play in helping us enable a more sustainable world?

To consider Humanity's Relationship with the Natural World I am very pleased to welcome Liselotte Lyngsø to the podcast. Lise is a Keynote Speaker, Futurist, and Founder CEO of Future Navigator.

The combination of smart technologies, robotics, new computing paradigms, and immersive technologies in the metaverse represent a potential sea-change across hospitality in general, and hotels specifically. Perhaps in the future we will take our holidays and business trips in virtual spaces in the metaverse and still enjoy a physical experience as well.

To consider the question, “Is the Future of Hotels Physical or Virtual?” I am joined by Simone Puorto, author of the book Hotel Distribution 2050 and organizer of the first-ever travel and hospitality event in the metaverse.

What do Barbados, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Gabon, Honduras, Iceland, Lithuania, Moldova, New Zealand, Samoa, Serbia, Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, and Tunisia have in common? As of May 2022, they all have women as their Prime Minister / Head of the Nation’s Executive. And many other countries have also seen multiple occasions when women have led their respective governments.

The questions is, how does global society build on these notable successes and extend the representation of women across society for the good of all humanity, into the future? And how might technology support the empowerment of women to achieve their potential?

To discuss Empowering Women Through FEMTECH, I am honoured to welcome Moroccan based Doctor Hynd Bouhia to the podcast. Hynd has accumulated more than 20 years of experience in Finance and Strategy and is now on a mission to empower a billion girls and women around the world to grow confident, resilient, tech-savvy and financially free.

You can learn more about Hynd and her work by contacting and connecting with her as follows:

Scientists believe babies could be nurtured in external - artificial - wombs in the future. If so, what might the implications be? For some people, the very thought may conjure ideas of Frankenstein’s monster. For others, it could represent an opportunity to save more extreme pre-term babies in a significantly safer environment than that afforded by conventional incubators, when babies’ organs are not developed well enough to survive. Premature birth, before 37 weeks, is globally the biggest cause of death among newborns. The technology could also provide a safe way for couples to have children where other interventions are not possible. It might even allow mother’s to keep working throughout their pregnancy experiencing physical symptoms.

Does all this seem far-fetched? To date, experiments have been conducted on rodents and sheep with human trials anticipated in 10 years.

The big questions about these technologies revolve around the social and ethical implications, and I am delighted to welcome back to the podcast leading female futurist and member of Tata Consulting Services Future of Business team Alexandra Whittington to discuss these issues.

You can learn more about Alex and her work by connecting with her as follows:

The duration of human life—longevity—is influenced by genetics, the environment, and our lifestyles. Environmental improvements beginning in the 1900s extended the average life span dramatically with significant improvements in the availability of food, clean water, better living conditions, reduced exposure to infectious diseases, and access to medical care.

The study of longevity genes is a developing science. It is estimated that about 25% of the variation in human life span is determined by genetics, but which genes, and how they contribute to longevity, are not well understood… yet! Once they are understood, might we see the death of death?

To talk about this issue, I am delighted to welcome director of the Millennium Project, futurist, transhumanist, and author José Cordeiro back to the podcast.

You can learn more about José and his work by connecting with him as follows:

With a current mindset, it’s hard to see the opportunities of a jobless world created through the growth of pervasive and ever-smarter automation technologies. Commentators will often focus on the challenge presented to economies and welfare systems of high unemployment driven by technological shifts. But what if the politically-driven economic paradigm of seeking 100% employment shifts? Are there opportunities as well as risks to a world transitioning towards a jobless future?

To discuss the Opportunities and Threats of a Jobless World I am very pleased to welcome strategic communicator and futurist Gina Clifford back to the podcast.

You can learn more about Gina and her work by contacting and connecting with her as follows:

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24th February 2022, the world changed. The fall of communism and the Soviet Union had meant the end of the Cold War, as Russia began to find its place in a new world order. But the unprovoked attack on Ukraine has sent the world generally, and Europe specifically back into an antagonistic relationship with Moscow, with punishing sanctions undoing decades of “normalisation” between the West and Russia. For now, it has also largely reunited Europe and the NATO alliance, perhaps an achievement that some in the West could only have dreamt of, until Putin’s actions!

The question is, how might the fall-out from the conflict in Ukraine change the future geo-political landscape?

To discuss this question, I am delighted to welcome foresight analyst Max Stucki back to the podcast. Max is senior foresight analyst at Futures Platform - a company focusing on strategic foresight - and he holds Master’s Degrees in Futures Studies and Social Sciences.

You can learn more about Max and his work by connecting with him as follows:

One of the greatest social challenges society faces is the provision of effective healthcare. Whether the system under examination is publicly or privately funded, the challenges are consistent; how do we ensure each patient is able to access the right intervention, at the right time, in the right place? And how does the system need to flex so that people can make informed health choices before illness sets in … and help enable a society characterised by well managed and even delayed chronic disease, and longer, healthier, working lives?

To discuss Optimising Healthcare Optimising Healthcare in the future, I am delighted to welcome entrepreneur and Executive Chairman at Fidesta, Pétur Haraldsson to the podcast.

In this podcast, I am going to build on a previous episode exploring the future of food but this time focus on how take-away and dining-out experiences might change in the future. We will look at converging drivers and how technology could create very different dining experiences.

So let’s consider:

• New (Old) Sources of Protein
• 3D Printing
• Use of robots in food preparation
• Multi-sensory Dining Experiences
• Three Scenarios – Future Food Experiences

You can also listen to the following episodes of the podcasts on the future of agriculture and food:

The future of food – particularly of meat and meat consumption – can be promoted as a “no choice” future with plant-based meat as the only viable option for human health, the good of the planet, and animal welfare. But is that the case? Are there other solutions that provide consumer choice and reap the benefits to health, the planet and animal welfare? And when we look into the solutions, what are the wider implications of a fundamental change to our food system in the future?

To explore the future of food in 2035, I am painting a brief scenario focusing on:

• The New Future of Arable Farming
• Meeting the Need for Meat - Plant-Based and In-Vitro Meat
• Tax as Carrot and Stick
• Supply Chains
• Land Use and Re-purposing

You can learn more about me and my work by connecting with me as follows:

A commodity market is a market that trades in primary products and materials rather than manufactured products, such as cocoa, fruit, gold, oil, and sugar. Commodity markets can include trading in a physical or a virtual space using spot prices, forwards, futures, and options on futures. The origins of these market places can be traced back over 5,000 years, but how do they work now and how might they change in the future?

To discuss the future of commodity markets I am joined on the podcast by Data Scientist Noah Healy who has a particular interest in combining mathematics with technology to produce game-changing solutions.

David Smith is chief executive and a futurist at London-based Global Futures and Foresight. In the book Aftershocks and Opportunities 2 – Navigating the Next Horizon, David has explored the implications for the insurance sector of the Coivid-19 pandemic, in addition to the trends that were already visible. So, digitisation, changing business models, and attitudes to risk are all key factors.

His chapter in the book poses this question: “How has the pandemic impacted an insurance industry that is already being disrupted by digital technologies, InsurTech, new entrants, and an increasingly changing role from compensator to preventer of loss?”

Alongside the ongoing fall-out from the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the major stories of the last year or so has been the growing prominence of blockchain technology and the underlying crypto assets it enables. Individuals, investors, businesses, and governments have all been taking note.

The question is, how might blockchain and cryptocurrencies become a platform for transformation? And what might this transformation mean for all of our futures?

Kapil Gupta is a technology and crypto analyst and contributor to the book Aftershocks and Opportunities 2 – Navigating the Next Horizon and joins me on the podcast.

Patrick van der Duin is Executive Director at The Netherlands Study Centre for Technology Trends and a contributor to the book, "Aftershocks and Opportunities 2 – Navigating the Next Horizon". In his chapter, co-authored with Hans Stavleu, he poses the question, “How might social and psychological factors shape the new normal of post-pandemic society?”

I have used the phrase before but I think Patrick and Hans are exploring the alternatives of Restoring the Old Order and a Total System Reboot. Let’s see!

In the book Aftershocks and Opportunities 2 – Navigating the Next Horizon, director of the Millennium Project, futurist, and transhumanist – amongst many other roles - José Cordeiro describes how the Chinese word for crisis can be interpreted to represent danger and opportunity. In his chapter in the book, he subsequently poses the question, “Is the pandemic a source of global danger that also uncovers a great opportunity in the evolution of this planetary crisis?”

To drill down on this question, we ask:
1) How can we avoid wasting this crisis and use it as a global opportunity for a new renaissance?
2) Could new exponential technologies prevent future pandemics?
3) In what ways might technology advance more in the next decade than it did in the entire previous century?

As we have seen in recent years, so many technological advances have changed our world. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated a number of those, particularly the way we interact remotely and virtually. But what do some of these technologies mean for the way we celebrate Christmas?

In this final festive episode of the Informing Choices Mini-Pod mini-series, Fast Future CEO Rohit Talwar shares his ideas about Christmas in 2040.

In this short mini-series on the Informing Choices Mini-Pod, we are exploring how futurists think we might celebrate Christmas in 2040.

There are many cultural, religious festivals and celebrations around the world, but few with such global social and economic significance as Christmas. So when we turn towards the future, and consider the year 2040, what might celebrating Christmas entail? How might we digitise some physical aspects of our celebrations? In this episode, Strategic Communicator Gina Clifford shares her thoughts.

Speak with a futurist and at some point you may well hear the notion that foresight generally and scenario development specifically are not designed to create prediction but to help describe what might happen in the future.

Futurist Sylvia Gallusser points out that in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the ghost of Christmas yet to come explains to Scrooge how the future is not set, and that we can set our journey into future by adapting our actions now. Perhaps Dickens was a futurist! With that in mind, in this festive episode of the Informing Choices Mini-Pod, Sylvia explores Christmas in 2040 through four scenarios. The question is, which is your favourite?