The text discusses how dramatically technology has changed over time, emphasizing that what seems unimaginable today could become common in the near future. It highlights the rapid pace of technological advancement, especially in recent generations, contrasting it with the slow technological change experienced by our ancestors. Key technologies, like artificial intelligence, are posited as having the potential for transformative impacts on society. The article stresses the importance of being informed about which technologies shape our future and who controls them, advocating for active participation in technological discussions.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid technological change through history | Slow to fast technological evolution | Greater pace of innovation and adoption | Human intelligence and emerging AI |
| Lifetimes of technology impact human experience | From static to dynamic technological lives | Unimaginable technologies integrated in life | The transformative power of technology |
| Visualization of technology evolution | Historical perspective of inventions | Clear mapping of tech evolution and its impacts | Need to contextualize tech advancements |
| AI as a transformative innovation | Limited to widespread application | AI deeply embedded in society and industries | Increasing reliance on artificial intelligence |
| Growing power and control over technology | Centralized to more distributed control | Societal discussions on tech governance | Political implications of tech control |
| History reveals unpredictability of technological futures | Ascertainable to uncertain technological futures | Unforeseen advancements in diverse fields | Nature of innovation and necessity |
| Awareness and understanding of emerging technologies | Ignorance to informed debate | Informed citizens contributing to technology policies | Desire for societal benefit and responsibility |