Topic
If we mirror the patterns of Nature, then as our collective intelligence matures, we as a society will start to increasingly reflect on ourselves and have the tools to do something useful with what we discover. That gives me great hope that we will have the power and the will to solve bigger and bigger problems and realise our needs to understand the world around us and ultimately gain true insight into ourselves.
Customer Quotes
Sadly, many companies will fall, but there will be a saving grace. At the same time, many more online platforms are going to empower more and more people to earn a living without needing a company or government to take care of them. I’m fundamentally optimistic that some of these platforms are going to end up transferring jobs and revenue from the big institutions to millions of people all over the world instead, providing a decent direct income. It is already happening, for example: Look at Uber – if you have a car and a driving licence you can earn money as a taxi driver. Or take Airbnb – when you have a spare room, you can earn money. These platforms are rapidly becoming great enablers for millions of people. If you have a good idea you can use Kickstarter to fund it, or you can use Quirky to get expert help to design and produce a product, even when you don’t have the skills yourself.
There are video bloggers that have their own TV channel on YouTube and earn millions of dollars by posting content. These are all examples of opportunities that weren’t even imaginable to the mass market just a decade ago. I’m far from being the only person to believe that a world of meaningful work is the way that we are headed. Back in 2015, Ray Kurzweil, the inventor, author, futurologist, and a founding trustee of Singularity University, stated: ‘I’m actually not worried about it [the demise of 9-5 employment] because it’s going to ultimately be very easy and require a very small fraction of our output to support all the material needs of the human race.’ I agree, and the move towards a world of meaningful work and a life of purpose for more and more of us is the core message of optimism that I want to share.
Christian is a futurist who speaks about the impact of exponential technology on people and organisations. He tailors his presentations to the specific needs of your audience.