Trend Alerts
Consumption Futures
The United Nations forecasts that the global population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050, and that this will be accompanied by continued urbanisation and changing consumer preferences.
Global Outlook
Up to 800 million workers will lose their jobs globally by 2030 and be replaced by robotic automation. Also, geopolitical realignments, emerging technologies and demographic shifts will all contribute to different manifestations of ideologically a...
Social Futures
One billion people will be displaced from uninhabitable land and food and water shortages will occur worldwide, leading to social breakdown and outright chaos. Over the next ten years, the world of work is set to rapidly change.
Human Futures
Without a fundamental change in direction, climate change will be irreversible, inflicting disastrous effects on the planet and humanity
Manufacturing Futures
Up to 20 million manufacturing jobs around the world could be replaced by robots by 2030, with each new robot erasing 1.6 jobs.
Blockchain Outlook
Machine learning, biotechnology and blockchain technology will change the world in the coming decades, making it an ever safer, more rational and business-friendly place.
Disrupted Futures
Driving forces: Over the next 10 years the world of work is set to rapidly change, with the World Economic Forum predicting that disruptive changes to business models will have a profound impact on the employment landscape.
The Future of Travel
Travel and tourism is expected to contribute an average 9 million new jobs per year to 2028 and representing around one quarter of total global net job creation.
Work Futures Revisited
By 2022, 42.5% of the global workforce will be mobile - able to work remotely from anywhere in the world. And, between 75 million and 375 million individuals (3-14% of the global workforce) could be forced to switch occupational categories by 2030...
ASEAN 2030
A Trend Alert to be presented at ASEAN 2030 by our Founder, Dr Michael Jackson. Do come to this great conference.
Thought for Food
The world's population is expected to rise to 9.8 billion by 2050, requiring a 70% increase in food production that will need to be achieved with a limited number of hectares of arable land and in a context of accelerated land and soil degradation.
Sustainable Futures
With the increased chatter and focus surrounding sustainability, brands have an opportunity to develop innovative sustainable products. Read to discover what our robot, Athena, has found on Sustainable Futures and act accordingly, or click any lin...
Recessionary Signals?
The World Bank has added its voice to those warning of a worsening outlook for the global economy this year, amid signs that some major economies could experience a recession. While the risk of a full-blown international recession next year with p...
Social Futures
This Trend Alert is written in association with the conference on CONSTRUCTING SOCIAL FUTURES – Sustainability, Responsibility and Power, taking place on 12–13 June 2019 in Turku, Finland at which we will be presenting. A few tickets still availa...
Political Outlook
An increasing number of pitfalls, such as escalating political risk, the high volatility of commodity prices and supply constraints, began to slow world growth in late 2018 and cast a shadow over the outlook for 2019.
Machine Futures
Machine learning will be the biggest and fastest-growing trend in technology again in 2019, threatening every laggard organization and offering rich prizes for the leaders, big and small. Read to discover what our robot, Athena, has found on the f...
Wearable Forecasts
Currently 1-in-5 adults wears a smartwatch or fitness strap and by 2020, the wearable tech market will be worth €30bn globally - proving that this market is one to watch.
Plastic Futures
The scale of the plastic waste issue is getting worse not better, with the production of plastics expected to double over the next decade. Yet efforts are being made to reduce or ban plastic in many parts of our lives by danger-aware and innovativ...
Lifestyle Futures
In the coming decade, changing lifestyles, economic volatility and infrastructure issues are just a few of the trends that will influence where and how people choose to live. Discover what our robot, Athena, thinks lifestyle futures could be, act ...
Drone Update
Apart from saving lives, civilian drones are becoming a good business. By 2020, the market will be worth $100bn in areas such as surveying, security and delivery. Discover what our robot, Athena, thinks the varied future of drones could be, act ac...
Tomorrow's Shopping
Shifting consumer preferences and an increasing priority on convenience will fuel radical changes to shopping in the coming years. Read to discover what our robot, Athena, thinks the future of shopping could be, act accordingly or click any link t...
Future Business Models
Over the next 10 years, the world of work is set to change rapidly. The World Economic Forum predicts that disruptive changes to business models will have a profound impact on the employment landscape. Discover what our robot, Athena, thinks the f...
Emergent IoT
The current development and deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives could create a new golden era in the global economy. Some say we are in the valley of disappointment with IoT. Others say that the global IoT market is expected to doub...
Climactic Future?
Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century and tackling it could be our greatest health opportunity. While we already know the elephant is in the room, its potential to create future damage is huge and our current effor...
Future of Science
By 2030, workers will spend double the amount of time solving problems and 77% more time using science and maths skills. That includes you! Read on to discover what our robot, Athena, thinks the future of science could be, act accordingly or clic...
Future Inequalities
The 21st century poses new and multiple challenges to public services, including an increased number of poor people, widening inequality, jobless economic growth, multi-dimensional security threats, persistent food insecurity and the irreversible ...
Tourism Foresight
The tourism industry faces greater competition than ever before, including from more affordable destinations in Latin America and Asia, increasingly popular North American cities such as Toronto and Miami and cities that have invested much more in...
Mobility Futures
The rewards of unlocking smart mobility could be vast: Innovative mobility services are projected to see a 5-fold increase in their share of travel spending by 2040 and generate an estimated $270 billion in revenue and up to $150 billion in prof...
Education All Around Us
Technology is a vital and exciting tool that is going to revolutionise education in the years ahead. Worldwide education spending is expected to be $10 trillion in the next 10 years. Read on to discover what our robot, Athena, thinks the future of...
Risky Futures
On Monday, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that the planet will reach the crucial threshold of 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels by 2030, precipitating the risk of extreme drought, wildfires, floods and food shortages f...