The last 25 years have brought technological changes that seemed unimaginable until recently. At the turn of the century, most computers connected to the Internet via slow dial-up connections, Netflix sent DVD movies by mail, and smartphones were unknown to most people. Two and a half decades later, the development of artificial intelligence, robotics and numerous other fields is taking place at an incredible speed.
That’s why experts tried to answer the question of how the next 25 years could shape the technologies we use and the way we live.
Science fiction set in the 1950s often depicts people using technological advancements to be healthier, happier, and more productive. In the Deus Ex game, which is set in the year 2052, people inject nanorobots into their bodies that manipulate matter at the atomic level and enable superhuman abilities, such as extraordinary speed or vision in the dark.
Although it sounds futuristic, nanotechnology is engineering at the level of millionths of a millimeter and is already an integral part of modern life. Every smartphone and computer relies on a central chip made up of billions of transistors made on the nanoscale, which enables fast data processing.
Professor Stephen Bramwell from the London Center for Nanotechnology believes that by 2050 the boundaries between machines, electronics and biology will almost disappear. According to him, it is more realistic to expect implants that monitor the state of health or help communication, than those that provide fantastic abilities. Medicine could also use nanomachines to precisely deliver drugs exactly where they are needed.
Professor Kevin Warwick, an expert in cybernetics, went one step further. Back in 1998, he became the first human with a microchip implanted in his nervous system, which earned him the nickname “Captain Cyborg”. He believes that by 2050, cybernetic solutions could enable revolutionary therapies for certain diseases, such as schizophrenia, through deep electronic stimulation of the brain instead of traditional drugs. He also believes that it will become possible for the brain and body to function in different locations.
The merging of people and technology is changing society
One of the interesting predictions also refers to the so-called “digital twins”. Professor Roger Highfield of the Science Museum Group believes virtual versions of people, updated with real-time data, could become commonplace. They would allow testing of drugs, diets or lifestyle changes without risk to actual health, offering insight into potential future outcomes.
The development of artificial intelligence will further accelerate quantum computing, an area in which companies such as Google and IBM are investing billions of dollars. Quantum computers enable extremely complex calculations, such as the simulation of molecular interactions for faster drug development. According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, quantum computing that has practical applications could become a reality in about 20 years.
Artificial intelligence will play a key role in education as well. Futurist Tracy Fouloz believes that by 2050, learning will take place through a combination of physical and virtual reality, with AI teachers adapting in real time. Instead of classic textbooks, children would use deep simulations, while teaching would be adapted to the individual biometric and genetic characteristics of students.
Changes are also expected in traffic and space research. It is predicted that autonomous vehicles will significantly reduce congestion and the number of traffic accidents, while permanent bases on the moon could be established in space. Some industries, such as the pharmaceutical industry, could partially move into orbit, where higher-quality crystals for new drugs are produced in microgravity. Although science fiction often depicts a dystopian future, some experts remind us that, despite the risks, science has brought more benefits than harm. As the writer Philip K. Dick wrote back in 1968, science has given people more lives than it has taken away, and this is a perspective that, according to experts, should not be lost sight of when thinking about the year 2050, writes the BBC.