Trend Forecast for 2030 and Beyond: 3 Future Lifestyle Trends to Plan For

Some of the world’s most noteworthy “movers and shakers” have gone on the record to make fascinating predictions about what our future will be like. Let’s take a look at what  these influential people are predicting will happen in the 2030s and beyond:

1. You’ll Be Freed From Doing Monotonous Work

What is “work”, exactly? The answer to this question is in a constant state of evolution. Nowadays work is evolving to be less menial and, in many cases, more creative.

We’re seeing that automation technologies are taking over many monotonous tasks that used to require human attention. For example, conversational AI now allows customer service staff to invest less energy in answering basic questions. This frees up time so they can put more energy into answering complex questions.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a global organization that includes partner members such as Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Moderna, Western Union and other brands whose products and services you probably use on a daily basis. Analysts at the WEF tell us that by 2025, the automation trend will have progressed to the point that machines will be doing more of the work than humans will be doing. Furthermore, they say the work that will be left for humans to do involves critical thinking, negotiation and creativity.

2. Education Will Become Increasingly Critical for Employability

Success in today’s workplace already requires high-value skills.  There was a time when the skills employers valued were taught in high schools; however, this is mostly no longer the case due to the increasingly complex nature of the work left to be done by human employees. It’s already becoming more important than ever before to obtain a bachelor’s degree, but that’s only the beginning. Even the skills students are learning at university are now quickly becoming outmoded.

By 2030, advanced education will probably be even more of a necessity than it is now. Lately “lifelong learning” has become one of the most frequently repeated buzzword phrases, and it will likely remain important through the duration of the coming decade.

3. You’ll Be One More Thing in the Vast Internet of Things

You’ve no doubt heard about the Internet of Things (IoT) and how it’s one of the hottest tech trends of the future. What you probably haven’t heard is that some of the world’s “movers and shakers” are hoping that people will become part of the IoT network – and some think this will happen in the 2030s.

Consider Ray Kurzweil’s predictions as reported by ScienceAlert.com. Mr. Kurzweil is currently Google’s Director of Engineering. He predicted that

<blockquote>”By 2029, computers will have human-level intelligence”. </blockquote>

He went on to elaborate that we will put these intelligent computers inside our brains, and that our neocortex will connect directly to the cloud. He thinks this connection will have the effect of expanding who we are; he says it will make us smarter, funnier and better. He anticipates that this will be happening by the 2030s.

Forbes author Bernard Marr elaborates further, proposing that it is possible to connect not just the human brain, but also the rest of the body to the internet. He writes about the “Internet of Bodies”, a phrase that describes what happens when physical human bodies connect with the IoT. This can happen, he tells us, via devices that humans ingest or implant into their bodies or wear on their bodies. Once a connection is formed, the devices in or on the body can exchange data with the IoT. Then it becomes possible to remotely monitor and control the device and the associated body.  

Another prediction along these lines comes to us from Klaus Schwab, who is known for being the executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. According to an article posted at the WEF website, the world is embarking on a Fourth Industrial Revolution which will be characterized by “cyber-physical systems” that enhance human capabilities. Mr. Schwab tells us that this new industrial revolution will eventually result in a merger of humans’ physical, biological and digital identities.

These predictions have been hotly debated. Not everyone agrees that these things will actually happen. Some people are excited about this vision for the future and all the technological marvels that appear to be on the horizon. Others are horrified at the thought of living in this new world that is taking shape. What’s your take on all this? Let’s discuss it in the comments.