What will be happening in 20 years?

To answer that question, we asked subject matter experts from students and faculty at the Australian
National University 3A Institute to tell us how they think the world will change between now and
2040.

health in the future

By 2040, our approach to healthcare will have shifted from a reactive to a preventative one. The use
of multiple sources of bio and behavioural data will radically transform health, supporting our
wellness and enabling proactive interventions at the earliest possible moment, often before
something is wrong.

Body sensors, from wearables such as smart watches to digestible and implantable devices, are
already commonplace. But the role of IoT, data and AI in human health is now set to expand
dramatically and there will be a significant shift from data collection to actionable insight.

Emotion sensors will enable healthcare professionals to track people's state of mind and to identify
mental health issues in real-time. AI will be applied to data on individuals' behaviours, from their
social media posts to their physical activity, which could enable early interventions and prevent
health issues from progressing.

Technology in the future

Elements of our existence will change beyond recognition courtesy of AI, robotics and
automation. As these tools become more sophisticated, intelligent, and seamlessly
integrated into our personal lives and business operations, they will transform the way we
live and work.

Autonomous vehicles will become commonplace, changing the way we commute – flying
cars are a distinct possibility – and requiring new infrastructure. Robots will perform
everyday tasks and evolve to developing real relationships with people, with applications in
areas such as aged care, personal hygiene, teaching and food preparation. These robots will
eliminate manual and repetitive tasks.

Politics inthe world

Pressure from scientists and civil society, as well as commitments made at the Paris
Climate Conference in 2015, are already driving policy change. Now, regulation is poised
to shift from revolving around voluntary actions and soft policy initiatives to a more
strident approach. This will affect all industries.

While this trend won't be seen in every country, international pressure and the ripple effect
of countries taking a new regulatory approach as they commit to becoming carbon neutral
within 30 years, if not less, will cause it to spread rapidly.

Environmental impact will become the key regulatory factor in all industries, from
pollution emitted by the transportation industry to financial services activities to investing
in unsustainable environmental activities, and this will transform our economy.