You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.

Buckminster Fuller

Sometimes I feel that the world has gone mad.

When technologists and futurists and investors like you and me can see the solutions starring us in the face . . and nobody with money or influence speaks up!

So I’ve come to the conclusion that to prove something you have to get it working and then show ’em.

But we only have so much time or opportunity.

Hence this blog.

I’m going to air some tech, science & investment/business stuff here – partly for pure interests sake (hopefully not just mine), and partly to help point out the right technologies to invest in and . . partly to help save the world (since I can’t do it myself).

Heady stuff!

Why listen to me (apart from my incredibly diverse background in technology & business)?

On its merit

Because we’ll always look at things on their merits, not just by ‘who’s saying it’. There’s too much listening to people with money. It’s time to listen to the technologists about a lot of things.

The short term

I do enjoy watching – and pontificating on – some short-term stuff – like ‘will Tesla’s market cap beat Toyota’s in 2020’? (yes IMO).

The medium & long term

But even more so, the exciting developments that will roll out over the next 2 or 3 years (EVs & robotaxis becoming mainstream, AgTech, FinTech & democratization of AI bearing fruit), or sometimes, frustratingly, longer (cures for cancer, MND and Alzheimer’s, alternative energies or lunar & Mars bases).

We’ll also do some basic science on things like climate change and virus pandemics and even math or archeology from time to time . . because they’re fascinating, and some of these also do impact technology and business.

Saving the world

Whoops! I almost forgot. Can technology save the world?

Well, in principle. Yes.

There’s huge ways technology & science can improve things for the betterment of society & the planet. Huge, huge things coming. It’s going to be amazing. It’s even possible that the next 5 years will be known as a new ‘Automation Revolution’. Think robotaxis, agtech, cancer cures, alternative energies all aided by AI.

Automation and robotics are going to be ubiquitous by the end of that time period. And for the good of all, but not without dangers – as always – that can be mitigated by necessary proactive preventative measures & government regulation.

Imagine saying: ‘Research the five emerging technologies in X’ . . and you get the research near instantly, in plain English, covering all angles. That’s a year or two away.

Or within five years ‘Set up a 1000-bed humanitarian aid camp’ . . and it’s done robotically in 24 hours.

Or even ‘Plant out these fields according to this plan’ . . without lifting a finger . . and it de-weeds and de-pests without herbicides or pesticides.

And for you investment guys: if that’s happening . . just imagine the investment opportunities . .

And we will answer questions like:

• Who are the next shakers and movers?
• Can we keep AI under control?
• Why is text AI (NLP) so important?
• What’s happening in Biotech? Fintech? Agtech?
• Why is energy everything?
• Why is automation the next most important thing?
• Can solar + battery technology solve everything?
• How far off is fusion?
• Can we solve climate change?
• Why space exploration?

The human factor

But . . there’s humans and politics and world affairs involved.

So all we can do as non-billionaire technologists and investors is talk about what should happen to maximize the planet’s and our own opportunities for a ‘fantastic future’.

Then we can try and do as much of it as we can. Together that could be a lot. But we need to get behind the right technologies and mindsets.

And investing ethically and technically, the right way, is part of that.

I look forward to seeing you here at Future21 . . from tomorrow!

Paul Pallaghy, PhD
Future21.blog
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA