Most adults alive today grew up without the Internet or mobile phones, let alone smartphones and tablets with voice commands and apps for everything. These new technologies have altered our lifestyle in a way few of us could have imagined a few decades ago. But have we reached the end of the line ? What else could turn up that could make our lives so much more different ? Faster computers ? More gadgets ? It is in fact so much more than that. Technologies have embarked on an exponential growth curve and we are just getting started. In 10 years we will look back on our life today and wonder how we could have lived with such primitive technology. The gap will be bigger than between today and the 1980's. Get ready because you are in for a rough ride.
Human society and individual lives are are about to undergo the a dramatic transformation due to exponentially accelerating technologies. Discover what will happen in the next 20 years.
Advances in genetics now permit to edit one's genome relatively easily. Gene therapy is now used exclusively to fix diseases, but could soon be used by transhumanists for genetic enhancement, such as augmenting one's mental faculties or improving one's physical appearance. What exactly can we modify and what are the risks involved ?
Altering our genes provides an enormous potential for personal enhancement, life extension and cosmetic modifications. But we are not entirely the products of our genes. The environment also plays a big part in modelling who we are. With this in mind, let's see how much we can expect from gene therapy to enhance our lives, or from genetic engineering to design future generations.
Companies like uBiome now make it possible to know what bacteria live in our nose, mouth, gut or skin and help us diagnose potential health issues before they even arise. With genetic testing, microbiome testing is the most revolutionary tool in modern, personalized medicine. But what does it all mean?
AI & Robotics
Computers will soon be able to simulate the functioning of a human brain. In a near future, artificial superintelligence could become vastly more intellectually capable and versatile than humans. But could machines ever truly experience the whole range of human feelings and emotions, or are there technical limitations ?
The technological singularity requires the creation of an artificial superintelligence (ASI). But does that ASI need to be modelled on the human brain, or is it even necessary to be able to fully replicate the human brain and consciousness digitally in order to design an ASI ?
The technological singularity may not happen as long as humans don't allow it to happen. And is it reasonable to let it happen in the first place ?
Uploading the content of one's mind, including one's personality, memories and emotions, into a computer may one day be possible, but it won't transfer our biological consciousness and won't make us immortal.
The first self-driving cars should hit the road by 2015. In a decade's time a large part of the world's vehicles will be autonomous. What impact will that have on our lives and the way we perceive cars?
An astonishing new technology, Thermal Touch, converts any object or surface into a touchscreen. The entire world suddenly becomes clickable and interactive. You can order an item seen in a magazine by touching the photo, or play virtual chess on en empty table.