Insights from The Future Laboratory’s 2024 trend briefing

Titled “The Synthocene Era: Merging Human and Machine Intelligence,” strategic foresight agency The Future Laboratory presented its trends briefing for companies (and the world) last week at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) venue in London .

Martin Raymond, co-founder of the Future Laboratory, opened the day with some interesting news: AI has already surpassed and surpassed human intelligence and creativity. What does it mean to be human, and how do we adapt our strategies accordingly as we move toward human-machine co-intelligence? “We cannot afford unpredictability in the Syntocene era. We always have to get it right; Machines only have to do it right once,” he noted. Raymond advised us to negotiate our future with AI and break through our fear bubble.

Here are seven other takeaways from the day’s discussions:

A majority (especially younger generations) welcome the inclusion of AI, particularly in the health and wellness industry. They want to see the power of AI in the hands of citizens over companies and governments.

The Future Laboratory’s internal research arm, Future:Poll, surveyed 2,000 people in the UK and US about their feelings about a technology-enabled future. According to this study, 71% of Generation Z see the acceleration of technology as a positive thing, with these numbers declining among older generations. Of all participants, 27% wanted to see innovation driven towards health and wellbeing, with this figure rising to 32% of those aged 55 and over. 34% voted for citizens, 26% for governments and 14% for companies. Only 8% of participants aged 55 and over wanted to see this power in the hands of companies. UK respondents were more likely to give power to their government than US respondents (32% vs. 20%), while in the US more respondents wanted to see these tools in the hands of companies (16% vs. 12%), reflecting differences Levels of trust between countries.

Companies should prioritize targeted technology applications over novel innovations and ensure inclusive access to these tools.

Climate change came second (20%) in preferred application points behind health and well-being. When it comes to providing access to these tools, wealth and education are two barriers to entry that companies should remove. Broader positive impacts should take precedence over attention-grabbing novelties.

Democratically accessible tools like OpenAI and ChatGPT are evidence of consumers’ desire to interact with these tools. According to the New York Times, OpenAI’s value rose to 61 billion pounds ($81 billion) in 10 months, while searches for ChatGPT on Google increased by 2,000%.

ASI is the new AI, but this new frontier brings increasing caveats.

ASI (artificial superintelligence) or AI with human-like understanding is expected to become the new standard as early as 2027. This acceleration also comes with increasing responsibility for formats such as deepfakes, although there are no incentives for companies to counteract them. There are no signs of them slowing down any time soon. Additionally, as algorithms homogenize culture in an increasingly online world, some are choosing to move away from mainstream platforms and instead use independent spaces like Substack or prioritize in-person events over apps.

The quest to become superhuman will only increase.

According to Grand View Research, the wearable medical device market is expected to grow to 128.43 billion pounds ($167.94 billion) by 2030, but a cyborg future where AI is integrated into our bodies will be the next step be. Since Generation Alpha is technology-oriented, this concept is becoming more and more accepted. The internet already acts as an external cortex, but Brazilian startup Orby is using non-invasive neuromodulation to help Parkinson’s and stroke patients by using AI to convert brain signals into electrical waves to stimulate nerve tissue. Nanobots, or tiny devices that communicate with our neurons and connect cloud-based computing to the human brain, could lead to an era of organoid intelligence (OI) defined by biocomputers powered by living human brain cells.

AI will increase emotional intelligence in Gen Alpha and Gen Beta.

While AI will in no way replace human relationships, the technology itself will become a tool for generating EQ (emotional quotient). Moxie is an AI robot with playful conversational learning skills to teach emotional and social skills to five to ten year olds. Industrial design consultancy Morrama has worked with a child psychiatrist to develop AI tools to help children aged six and over manage emotions and build connections. The U.S. market for humanoid and animal-like companion robots in healthcare is expected to reach 4.3 billion pounds ($5.6 billion) in 2030, according to Grand View Research. Meanwhile, the wearable AI Friend device provides ongoing companionship by constantly listening to its wearer and sending relevant prompts and comments via text message.

Body-focused wellness will continue to have a place in this high-tech future.

Despite all the digital advances available to us, there is still power in our presence. The rise of primal therapy, which is about reconnecting with basic human experiences; classes like Sanctum, which combine Western approaches to fitness with Eastern health practices; and Nike BreathLab, a reactive installation at the brand’s House of Innovation in Paris that uses AI to synchronize with the user’s breath, focuses on well-being centered on the human body.

Phygital models are redefining retail.

Future shoppers may not only want to go to the store, but also want the store to come to them. According to Ericsson, by 2030, three-quarters of consumers will expect to be able to project their home into the store when trying out new products. With archi-tainment, the architectural elements of the store itself are integrated into the shopping experience with digital and MR (mixed reality) elements. AI advisors in the store, who are precisely tailored to the customer’s emotions and previous shopping behavior, accompany him on his journey.

Whether it’s educational devices for elementary schools or groundbreaking medical breakthroughs with machine learning, the convergence of our physical and digital worlds will continue. It is of the utmost importance to proceed consciously and responsibly and to be aware of this fusion of AI and humans. Even for those operating outside a strictly technology-driven field, the Syntocene era has future strategic implications. Fiona Harkin, Director of Foresight at The Future Laboratory, explains: “As we explore the intricacies of this new era – from the role of AI in improving our cognitive abilities to merging people with technology to become Human+ – we must Recognize that the path forward is not fair.” about leveraging the latest advances; It’s about remembering what it really means to be human in a rapidly evolving landscape.”