5 Predictions for the Future
Based on critical observations of today
“It is far better to foresee even without certainty than not to foresee at all. “
— Henri Poincare
There are several clues in the world today that point to the future. Clues that are often persistent and fairly obvious to a keen observer.
In the past, predicting the future was the domain of soothsayers and prophets. A disastrous foretelling could very often be averted by appeasing one god or other with the requisite sacrifices and offerings.
In modern society, future-telling has many new names — forecasting, estimation, speculation. It is still the purview of people with magically skills — of science, finance and technology. However appeasing the gods may not be as easy as it once was.
Future of Energy
The results are in, and fossil fuel fuels are out. The future of energy is greener, cleaner and more environmentally sustainable.
However, do not expect the Oil & Gas industry to take a steep dive over a drill rig in the short to medium term. Price of renewable energy, infrastructure for generation & supply and technology for utilisation all need time to fully come to market. Until then, expect the energy industry to shift reliance onto natural gas — the cleaner fossil fuel — to support the energy demand for the next few decades.
Besides the source, the method of deliver energy is on track to evolve into a more decentralised model. Local generation structures eliminate grid constraints at lower cost and make it easier for integration of multiple power vectors.
Local authorities will continue to rely on the push of regulation and available public and private sources of funding to dictate the speed of the energy transition.
Future of Money
Today the world economy seems impossibly precarious as compared to a mere twelve months ago.
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely crippled the economies of several nations across the globe. (Note from China: It is all well and dandy to be open for business but, when most of consumers who live in the USA are filing for unemployment, that win is inevitably short-lived.)
Cryptocurrencies and block-chain technologies have captured the attention of financial professionals the world over. Is Bitcoin the new US dollar? Will smart contracts take over the need for cross-border escrow and validation services?
Time will tell.
But, the cards point to the demand for more fungibility, fluidity and flexibility of currency. Block-chain appears to be the missing link in the quest for a viable digital currency model — meaning cash that is easier to track, trace and move across the world. The time might be ripe to consider investing in TrumpCoin. Or perhaps the less white supremacy leaning PotCoin.
Future of Work
The future of work is faster, smarter, cheaper and comes with a battery pack. Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Automation are the names of the game.
In the not too distant future — in truth, it is happened right now — humans will need to rely on higher complex functioning in order to be more valuable in society. Professions involving healthcare, leadership/management, computer programming, data science will be safest from automation.
Besides the composition of the workforce trending mechanical, the location at which work will be done has been irreversibly changed by COVID-19. Additionally, the gig economy is driven by the desire by the younger generation of worker for greater flexibility.
This calls for tomorrow’s worker to be technology savvy enough to adapt to working remotely or from any where in the physical world. The era of the cubicled office dweller is nearing at its end — needless to say, few mourners are expected to be in attendance.
In summary, expect significant changes to the place of work, the nature of work and the face of work as you step into the future.
Future of Travel
Elon Musk’s Space X will be organising future weekend tours of the solar system. However, back on the earth’s surface, travel is set to see some major upheaval.
Several international airports are ghost towns caused by worldwide travel bans to halt the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, the current global stance towards reducing pollution from greenhouse gases does little to aid the woes of the airline and travel industries.
Virtual reality is perfectly placed to offer multiple opportunities to visit distant and exotic destinations from the comfort of your living room. Think: Ready Player One.
Implications for tourism and the global hospitality industry are similarly dire.
However opportunities exist in every calamity, it is a unique time for industry insiders to innovate and upgrade their value propositions to suit the changing times. That, or slowly become less relevant.
Future of Race Relations
The perfect storm of a global pandemic, economy collapse and civil agitation has created a shift in attention from the global West to the East and South.
I daresay that there is more awareness that American and European societies are not without severe moral and objective fault. Anti-Americanism is on the rise even as Europe continues to lose its foothold in Asia and Africa.
It is difficult to envisage the status quo making a come-back. Already legislation has been passed to review the structure of policing in the US. Across the globe, individuals are evaluating their role in propping up systems of structural inequality. It is truly beautiful to behold!
Meanwhile in the global South…
Ghana held a Year of the Return event in 2019 targeted at welcoming Black people anywhere in the world to re-settle back on the continent. The government offers packages for re-location assistance and a path to citizenship.
Across the other side of the world, America is strangely focused on kicking out international students who inject an annual $45 billion dollars in the US economy. Europe is similarly bent on evicting immigrants and asylum seekers regardless of their unique perils or trails.
As a nomadic citizen of the global South, I can only hope that the current agitations create a stronger drive in leaders of the nations within this region. Renewed efforts and greater investments are needed to improve opportunities for citizens everywhere in the world.
So what does one do with prophesy?
Well either celebrate your upcoming good fortunes or pray and offer placation to avert your impending demise.
A third option is to take all soothsaying with a pinch of salt. Step forward into the future with renewed confidence in your abilities to chart your own path.
Fortune smiles on the brave.
