Until 2100
Why imagine the future?
Because everything beautiful begins in imagination.
AI & Software
- AI agents live in your glasses or earbuds Will annual shipments of AI-agent-enabled glasses or earbuds exceed 1 million units?
2030
Media & Commerce
- AI optimizes video ads pixel by pixel, not script by script Will at least one major ad platform let AI directly optimize video content itself for conversion?
- Major sites stay free for humans; AI pays per visit Will 10+ top-100 sites charge per AI crawl, or will a major CDN make pay-per-crawl a default feature?
- AI personalities go mainstream — and humans crave their approval Will an AI personality appear on a mainstream magazine cover or have over 100 million followers?
Space
- The first orbital data center goes live Will a space-based data center come online serving Earth?
Society & System
- AI makes tax filing free — and every return gets audited Will at least one country use AI either to let the public file taxes for free, or to fully audit every return?
- AI displaces white-collar workers at scale Will more than 50% of white-collar jobs in developed economies be replaced by AI?
Biotech & Health
- Brain-computer interfaces go mass-market Will cumulative BCI device shipments exceed 50 million units, with more than 1% of consumers using them daily for digital interaction, state sensing, or cognitive enhancement?
Robotics & Hardware
- VR/AR becomes the everyday way to watch live sports Will at least one major sports league (NBA, NFL, Premier League, MLB, F1, etc.) ship VR/AR broadcasts as a standard feature for every game?
2035
AI & Software
- Every white-collar worker has their own 24/7 AI Chief of Staff Will a billion-dollar company emerge offering AI Chief of Staff services to employees?
- AI designs a new programming language — better than anything humans wrote Will an AI-co-created programming language emerge with at least 100,000 monthly active developers?
- AI handles anything a human can do at the computer, on their behalf Will a widespread AI agent authorization framework emerge that legally lets agents act on a user’s behalf (shopping, transfers, and similar)?
- Voice takes over from the keyboard as our default machine input In developed countries, will 50% of daily commands people issue to their devices be given by voice?
Space
- The first orbital solar power station beams power to Earth Will at least one space solar power station wirelessly transmit power to a ground receiver continuously for 30 days?
- Humans spend more than 2 weeks on the Moon Will at least 1 person stay on the lunar surface for more than 2 weeks?
Media & Commerce
- Digital doubles become the default for celebrity brand deals — and the biggest revenue stream Will top celebrities earn more from digital-double endorsements than from real-self endorsements in a single year?
Media & Commerce
- AI celebrities land mainstream brand deals Will more than half of Super Bowl ad protagonists be AI models or characters?
- Immersive experiences become everyday purchases Will immersive experiences be produced, distributed, and consumed at the same scale, cost, and frequency as short videos, music, or games?
- A film made entirely by AI wins a major award Will at least one majority-AI-generated film or TV show get a mainstream award nomination or be widely treated as a major work?
Society & System
- Governments hike AI taxes — and the firms move offshore Will at least one major economy formally introduce a tax targeting AI replacement of human labor, with proceeds going to worker subsidies, retraining, or redistribution?
2040
AI & Software
- Research papers will no longer be limited to PDFs, but will include new formats that are easier for agents to read By 2040, at least one top-tier computer science conference will require accepted papers to submit a standardized, agent-readable structured research format, and this requirement will apply to more than half of the accepted papers.
- Each user gets their own version of every app Will at least one mainstream app generate and modify itself per user, so different users end up with meaningfully different versions?
- AI becomes the new operating system, replacing today's mobile and desktop OS Will the average user access most of their digital services through AI rather than traditional phone or PC OSes on a typical day?
- Everyone has their own 24/7 AI butler Will at least one developed country see 30%+ of adults regularly use a deeply personalized AI assistant that learns their preferences, acts on their behalf, and is treated as their main daily AI helper?
Space
- A radio telescope rises on the Moon's far side Will a long-term radio telescope or array be deployed on the lunar far side, conduct science operations, and publish at least one formal result?
- The first plant takes root in lunar soil Will at least one plant be grown in lunar soil and survive for 30+ days after germination?
Media & Commerce
- AI agents become the primary users of prediction markets In global prediction markets, more than 50% of traffic will come from autonomous AI agents placing orders or making calls, rather than human users.
- Video and 3D generation devour massive compute Will training and inference for video and 3D generation models account for at least 30% of global AI compute consumption?
- AI automatically picks your clothing size Will 50%+ of clothing purchases on mainstream online platforms have sizes chosen automatically by AI?
Biotech & Health
- Developing a vaccine for a new virus takes just 3 months Will the development-to-market cycle for a new-virus vaccine shrink to under 3 months?
- Researchers run experiments on simulated human metabolism Will a human-metabolism simulation system be widely used in research and drug development, replacing some traditional human or animal trials in key experiments?
2045
AI & Software
- Recorded by Default By 2045, in developed countries, most adults will live in an environment where spoken interactions are recorded by default. Work meetings, calls, video meetings, AI assistant interactions, and some in-person conversations will be automatically recorded, transcribed, summarized, or stored as AI-readable semantic memory by personal devices, workplace software, smart glasses or earbuds, in-car systems, or ambient AI assistants. Not recording will become an explicit opt-out rather than the default.
- A company will go public with fewer than 50 human employees Will a company with fewer than 50 employees successfully IPO and sustain a significant market cap or revenue?
- Generative UI replaces preset interfaces In developed countries, will more than 50% of UI in mainstream consumer apps be generated in real time by AI?
- Bone conduction replaces in-ear headphones as a mainstream way to listen in the AI era By December 31, 2045, will at least 30% of adults in developed markets regularly use bone-conduction or similar open-ear audio devices to receive AI assistant responses, notifications, navigation, translation, voice messages, podcasts, or other lightweight audio content?
Society & System
- Machines fight the front lines; humans command from the rear In major military conflicts, will 50%+ of front-line recon, strike, and tactical execution be carried out by drones, ground robots, or other unmanned combat machines, with humans mostly remote-piloting and deciding?
- AI widens the wealth gap Will the world’s richest 0.1% hold over 25% of total wealth?
- Gasoline cars become a niche hobby Will pure-combustion cars (no electric drive) be less than 10% of new passenger car sales globally?
Space
- Mammals reproduce in space for the first time Will at least one mammal species complete a full reproductive cycle in space or off-Earth, producing sustainably viable offspring?
- A permanent base is established on the Moon Will 3 people live self-sufficiently on the lunar surface for at least 90 days?
Biotech & Health
- Humans hold their first conversation with another species Will an AI system emerge that can two-way decode the language of at least one high-intelligence animal?
- BCI-enhanced humans take down the top FPS pros in games Will BCI-enhanced players beat the top natural pros in a major competitive video game?
- Most cancers become curable — but cancer never goes away Will most common cancers become curable or chronically manageable, while cancer as a whole still won’t be eradicated like infectious diseases?
Society & System
- Labor flows into services; today’s social-good work becomes a profession Will 15%+ of workers in developed economies work in service, care, or social-good roles?
- The middle class hollows out into rich and poor In major developed economies (G7), will the share of people meeting the OECD middle-class definition (75-200% of median income) fall from roughly 60% today to under 45%?
Space
- The first human steps onto Mars Will at least one human successfully land on the Martian surface and survive there for 24+ hours?
2050
AI & Software
- At least one major organization recognizes AI as conscious, while mainstream society rejects it. Will at least 3 influential organizations publicly recognize AI consciousness while mainstream nations still reject it?
- Quantum computing goes commercial at scale Will quantum computing generate over $1B in annual revenue across more than 3 industries?
- All three Nobel science prizes credit AI as primary contributor in a single year Will the Nobels in Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology/Medicine all credit AI as a key contributor in the same year?
Robotics & Hardware
- The entire real world is mirrored online Will a real-time mirror of the physical world emerge online with over 100 million monthly active users?
- Smart glasses replace the smartphone In developed countries, will adults spend more daily display-content time on AR / smart glasses than on phone screens combined—making glasses the primary display device?
Media & Commerce
- Bespoke becomes the default — clothes, furniture, and jewelry cost no more than mass-made Will fully robotic production lines emerge where the marginal cost of a single custom item matches that of batch production on the same line?
Robotics & Hardware
- Home robots drop below $5,000; mass adoption begins Will a consumer-grade general home robot sell for under $5,000 with over 1 million cumulative units delivered?
- AI rents and plugs into robot bodies on demand Will mainstream consumer services let personal AI assistants rent robot bodies on demand for delivery, companionship, or other real-world tasks, without users owning the robot?
- Most of the world's cars drive themselves Will at least 50% of light passenger cars on the road globally have L4+ self-driving capability (no human driver needed within their ODD)?
2055
Biotech & Health
- The organ shortage is over Will 90%+ of patients globally who need an organ transplant receive one within 6 months?
- Gene editing doubles global crop yields Will a gene-edited mainstream crop substantially boost photosynthesis efficiency and roughly double real-world yields?
- Personalized medicine becomes the default Will widespread health digital-twin systems emerge to guide personalized medication?
Society & System
- Mind workouts become as common as gym workouts Will at least one subscription-based mind-training company go public?
- Cities sprawl outward as self-driving makes longer commutes worthwhile Will the SF Bay Area average commute distance grow to over 50 km from downtown?
Media & Commerce
- Cinemas stop being where most people watch movies Will the global number of cinemas drop by more than 50% from 2025?
2060
Biotech & Health
- Freezing eggs and delaying motherhood go mainstream In major developed economies, will more than 20% of college-educated women freeze their eggs before age 35 as part of delayed fertility planning?
Society & System
- More people work in the experience economy Will 15%+ of jobs in developed economies center on delivering experiences (performers, guides, companions, and the like)?
Society & System
- The first developed country rolls out Universal Basic Income Will a major economy formally implement universal basic income for most of its citizens?
- The 5-day workweek stops being the norm In major developed economies, will the 5-day, ~40-hour workweek still be the mainstream working pattern for most workers?
2065
Biotech & Health
- Humans crack the code of dreams and consciousness Will mainstream neuroscience accept a unified theory of dreams and consciousness?
- Brain enhancements let humans learn faster and remember more Will widespread cognitive-enhancement tech (memory, learning, attention) sustainably push healthy people above natural baseline?
Space
- A lunar mass driver makes its first delivery to Earth Will a mass driver be built on the Moon and successfully launch a payload?
- A permanent base is established on Mars Will 3 people live self-sufficiently on the Martian surface for at least 90 days?
Society & System
- A new humanism rises — hands-on living over excessive automation Will a new humanist movement opposing over-automation emerge and shape legislation in at least one major economy?
- Work becomes a choice — no longer a necessity Will major economies build a basic safety net that lets many people live decently without working?
2075
Biotech & Health
- Humans sharpen their minds through dreaming Will widespread dream-intervention tech emerge that affects post-waking learning or mood?
- Humans modify their bodies as they choose Will legal and widespread body-modification tech let people alter senses, abilities, or appearance on preference (beyond cosmetic surgery)?
Space
- A private company turns the first profit from asteroid mining Will a for-profit asteroid mining mission publicly report cumulative revenue exceeding all R&D, launch, and operating costs, and actually recover and sell at least one asteroid-derived resource?
Energy
- Fusion energy goes from lab to grid Will fusion supply more than 5% of global electricity, with 10+ plants connected to the grid?
2085
Biotech & Health
- Multiple countries legalize gene-edited babies Will at least 3 countries legalize human embryo gene editing, with 100+ cumulative live births?
Space
- The first human baby is born in space Will the first human baby be born in space?
Space
- The cosmic Age of Discovery begins Will at least 5 independent organizations land on and operate on celestial bodies other than the Moon?
- Some off-Earth colonies declare independence from Earth Will at least one off-Earth human colony declare independent self-governance?
- The first man-made object leaves the solar system Will at least one human-made spacecraft be officially recognized by mainstream astronomical institutions as having left the solar system and crossed into accepted interstellar space (not merely the heliopause)?
2100+
Biotech & Health
- Women can have children at any age Will 80%+ of women aged 45-60 who want children succeed through iPSC eggs or similar tech?
- Babies grow in artificial wombs Will a legal, in-use full ectogenesis system let babies fully develop and be born without a human womb?
- Humans upload consciousness Will tech emerge that backs up and continues running human memory or personality, with at least one public case?
Society & System
- Humans and AI co-create a new mainstream language Will at least one AI-co-created language (with full grammar and vocabulary) emerge with over 1 million daily active users globally, used as a primary medium in a specific community or platform?
- Law grants AI rights nearly equal to humans Will a class of advanced AI be widely treated under law, the economy, or society as members on par with human citizens?
Hot Takes
Personal devices will default to being always on and always connected
When virtual experiences are everywhere, real-world ones become the new luxury
Even in post-scarcity, money endures
The goal of education will be to teach you how you learn best
Thanks to AI, more people become polymaths
Advertising is here to stay; the form just keeps changing
Games take an essential role in how people live and learn
Any machine that moves drives itself
Self-driving cars, drones, and humanoid robots become the most prevalent machines
As long as people need to work, resumes stay
AR glasses won't ID strangers in public — ethics, not tech, is the limit
Agent Skills become the new online courses — but for your AI
Affordable AI for everyone; the smartest, fastest AI stays expensive
Genuine human-made data becomes a rare resource
Compute supply always lags demand
Future society will oppose killing and eating sentient animals the way we now oppose slavery
Trust will become scarcer, great salespeople will become more valuable, and sales will make a comeback