My 25 Predictions for the next 25 years: From 2025 to 2050 (Part II)

From three-day weekends to holographic

technology, the future has a lot of potential.

I'm back! I wrote a blog post a while back on 10 things I think will happen by 2050 (In case you haven't read it, you can do so here).

 So here's a list of 10 more of my predictions for the next 25 years.

11. A four-day work week will become the norm in several organisations worldwide.

As a result of multiple factors, including an increasing shift to working remotely and demands from various labour and employment groups, companies and organisations have experimented with a four-day work week model. Studies have shown promising results, with observed improvements in mental and physical health, as well as stress reduction. The idea is still very much in its infancy, but a lot can change in 25 years. By 2050, we may just see a global shift towards a four-day work week, which entails a three-day weekend. Sign me up!

12. Anti-AI Trade Unions will be widespread.

People have already begun to voice concerns that the emergence of Artificial Intelligence will result in large-scale job loss across the board. To prevent this, many people may decide to form 'Human First' trade unions, directly dedicated to countering the automation of their respective fields. Will we see strikes and protests with people carrying "People over Programs" signs? Maybe.

13. African countries will have begun to adopt a cryptocurrency reserve.

I don't know much about crypto, but one thing's for sure: it's very popular. A few countries, such as the US and Bhutan, have cryptocurrency reserves, holding assets in forms such as Bitcoin. Given the growth in digital currency in African countries, with platforms such as M-PESA in Kenya, by 2050, I think it's safe to say that some African countries will have some form of a cryptocurrency reserve to complement their traditional central bank reserves. Hopefully, this will make it harder for corrupt politicians to steal money.

14. Interactive holographic technology will have been invented.

Holographic technology has already been put to use in various fields such as medicine and marketing. However, interactive holograms, ones that you can touch and manipulate, are still a thing of science fiction; for now anyway. By 2050, that may not be the case. Interactive holographic technology could be applied in classrooms or on construction sites, helping us to bring our ideas to life in a more literal sense.

15. A new Space Race will have begun.

The 'Space Race' of the 1950's and '60's was a battle between the US and the Soviet Union to create new spaceflight technology and thus gain bragging rights in the aeronautical innovation arena. With countries like China and India becoming key players in lunar exploration and satellite technology, it's only a matter of time until governments realise that space exploration offers the potential to make a ton of money. Who doesn't like money? I believe that the new Space Race will be driven by private-sector companies, with some collaboration with governments and bodies such as NASA.

16. My parents will be grandparents.

OK, this one is personal, but who said I couldn't speculate about the future of my family? Given that I'll be 47 in 2050 and my youngest sibling will turn 38 in 2050, I'm pretty sure my parents will have a couple of grandchildren by then.

17. The United States of America will have had its first female President.

In 2021, Kamala Harris made history when she became the first female Vice President of the United States of America. So by 2050, I think that the US will have had their first female President.

18. Self-driving cars will be available on the market.

Self-driving cars are still in the early stages of development. As of now, fully automated (or Level 5) vehicles haven't been developed. But companies have begun to experiment with semi-automated (Level 3) cars, like Honda's limited-edition Legend Hybrid X sedan, which permits drivers to keep their eyes off the road if their car is travelling at speeds slower than 30 kilometres per hour (slower being the key word). Self-driving transport could potentially help reduce road accidents in the future. 

19. Many jobs across multiple sectors will require employees to know how to use AI.

Today, many jobs require you to be tech-savvy in some way, even if you don't work in IT. Knowing how to use a computer and work with various software applications, such as Microsoft Office or Zoom, is a given in many organisations. Given how many large companies have adopted AI into their business framework, by 2050, I think it's safe to say that more people will need to learn how to use AI in order to get a job. Familiarity with AI will no longer be just an advantage; it'll be a requirement.

20. The US will be dethroned as the highest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) earner.

This one is a bit of a stretch, as the US has had the highest GDP in the world for over a century. But given the rapid growth of Eastern economies such as China and India over the last 25 years, it is possible that another country may clinch the top GDP perch by 2050. 

Well, that's all from me for now. Do you agree with my predictions? Yes? No? Let me know in the comments below! See you in the next one!

Sources:

https://autonomy.work/portfolio/uk4dwpilotresults/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-driving_car

https://www.madisontrust.com/information-center/visualizations/the-10-biggest-economies-in-the-world-over-time-1960-2024/

https://www.webopedia.com/crypto/learn/countries-bitcoin-reserve/