The world is still grappling with the COVID-19 virus pandemic. It’s clear that the coming year will be filled with significant changes and uncertainty.
Ross Dawson, an acclaimed futurist based in Bondi Beach believes that in the next year, the pace of change is likely to accelerate, rather than slow down.
Dawson is regarded as one of the most influential futurists in the world. He has delivered keynotes to audiences in more than 30 countries, and written five best-selling books. The New York Times has given him credit for accurately predicting trends.
Dawson, in the face of the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and its effects on the world’s future, has come up with six ideas he thinks will be influential for the year 2023.
The list includes the continuing rise of artificial and machine intelligence, the importance of remote working and collaboration, transformation of retail through technology like augmented and virtual reality, increasing technology use in healthcare, and the shift to a low carbon economy by adopting clean energy technologies.
AI is your friend
Artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion and other tools will become more common in the workplace. These AI technologies are designed to help office workers create ideas, analyze situations and make decisions. AI will be used by those in other fields as well. AI-skilled workers will outperform those who are not.
Education is a waste of time
AI-powered tools are a great way to facilitate the transformation of education. These technologies provide students with personalized assistance and coaching, which is beyond what a class teacher can offer. AI can also generate homework assignments good enough to get top grades. This makes it harder for teachers to assign essays.
The gig economy will be the future
Gig economy is no longer limited to Uber drivers or Airtaskers. It now includes a wide range of industries and jobs. Many people who are employed full-time also work on their “side hustles”, in order to start their businesses.
Some large companies have even implemented internal work marketplaces that allow employees to take on extra projects and roles in a flexible manner. The traditional idea of a full-time position may be less common.
Robots can make you fall in love
AI’s increasing sophistication, which includes the ability to identify and respond to emotion, could lead to people falling more in love with robots. In China, the AI chatbot Xiaoice is gaining 600 million users on its virtual girlfriend platform.
Real-time sustainability
Sustainable development and environmental issues will remain a priority. Individuals and organizations can use apps and data tracking tools to track and reduce carbon emissions and waste. Solar power and other clean, renewable energy sources are also being used by many Australian households.
Connected glasses
In the next year, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality, and other technologies that have been slow to catch on will be more widely used.
Apple could release a VR/AR head-set in the first half 2023. This could lead to iGlasses that have a similar impact as the iPhone.
By 2023, it is expected that glasses with connected technology, which can show information, directions and images, will be available. Most people who wear glasses will eventually adopt these glasses before AR glasses are widely adopted.
