These visionary sites keep an eye on breakthroughs in scientific research and advances in cutting edge technologies. They offer insights into innovative trends that impact industry, education, energy, entertainment, transportation, economics, medicine, and war… with repercussions that spread through all aspects of society.
What progress is happening in artificial intelligence, computers, robotics, drones, biotechnology and nanotechnology? Examine disruptive technologies such as the peer to peer economy, the internet of things, 3D printing, wearable tech, augmented reality (AR), asteroid mining, smart cities, driverless cars that will transform our lives -- which some of these futurists believe will lead to the "technological singularity." Many of the sites host forums where you can join in discussions about this tense but exciting era.
Websites that explore the Future
Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) -- a “technoprogressive” think tank -- promotes the concept of positive technological progress and its ethical use to catalyze future human development. They publish articles on emerging technological trends, an academic journal and host conferences on future trends. Founded by Nick Bostrom and James Hughes.
IEEE Spectrum: Advancing Technology for Humanity publishes articles on technology, engineering, and applied science -- reporting on robotics, computing, gadgets, transportation, energy and biomedicine.
Futurity: Research News from Top Universities - publishes updates on major advances in science, technology, health and the environment, reporting on recent research from dozens of universities such as Caltech, Yale, University of Chicago, Cornell, Duke and Carnegie Mellon.
Singularity Hub (published by Singularity University) provides updates on cutting edge tech, news of breakthroughs in science, health, computing, VR, and digital currency, focusing on the human impacts of technological change.
The Science Network has launched a podcast titled Talking Science on TSN. Features include scientific gatherings (from Beyond Belief and Brains R Us to Waking Up to Sleep and the Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa), and recording revealing conversations with scientists about their passion to know.
Futurism: this brand-new site (run by Alex Klokus) provides news updates focusing on breakthroughs in technology, computing, artificial intelligence, space, virtual reality, robotics, wearable tech, transportation, digital currency, and communication. Sign up to get their daily newsletter, This Week in Science in your inbox.
io9: We Come from the Future: is the go-to place for daily coverage of things science fictional... leaning toward the science side... plus reviews of popular culture, and ideas about the world of tomorrow, run by Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz with blogs by (among others ) George Dvorsky.
Innovation Watch : The Future is Here (compiled by David Forrest) offers links to news on robotics, renewable energy, population, the internet, medicine, and entrepreneurship.
The Edge: John Brockman's site explores the big issues of tomorrow. He poses one big question each year, and brings together some of the best thinkers to contemplate. 2015's was: What do you think about machines that think?
WT Vox: Where the Future Begins focuses on emerging and wearable tech.
TED Talks and articles about the future. Here are a couple of mine.
The Good Judgment Project: "Harnessing the wisdom of the crowd to forecast world events." This began as part of a government-sponsored (IARPA) forecasting tournament, and has expanded as thousands of people around the world predict world events. Led by Phil Tetlock, Barb Mellers, and Don Moore, the collected forecasts have often surpassed predictions of trained CIA agents.
Singularity University offers seminars, conferences and educational opportunities - including a Graduate Studies Program and Executive Program - for entrepreneurs and those seeking "to ride the wave of accelerating change."
Teach the Future is an education initiative (begun by Peter Bishop) to incorporate thinking about the future in school curricula. They offer starter kits and training for teachers.
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Seven Revolutions is an "ongoing research effort to identify and analyze the most important trends shaping the world out to the year 2035."
Future in Review (FiRe) hosts a major conference for thought leaders on the intersection of technology, science, entrepreneurship and the changing global economy (led by Mark Anderson, publisher of the Strategic News Service) I've attended all but a couple of these terrific sci-commerce and innovation conferences, which give good play to science fiction authors and their insights.
Hawaii Research Center for Futures Studies is involved with futures research, foresight and education, run by futurist Jim Dator. Foresight at the University of Houston offers a Masters level degree in futurism and foresight.
Discussing the Future: Podcasts
Future Thinkers Podcast takes on topics such as the Future of Politics, AI, the Singularity, Science Fiction, philosophy and transhumanism (hosted by Mike Gilliland and Euvie Ivanova).
Review the Future: a look at the impact of near-future technology on culture and society (hosted by Ted Kupper and Jon Perry).
The Future Human Podcast "illuminates radical change, telling the stories of the thinkers, innovators and entrepreneurs who are re-shaping life in the 21st century," hosted by Jack Gwilym Roberts and Ben Beaumont Thomas.
The Future and You: discussions about the future, hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb.
Context for it all
Serious Wonder: The Future Has Arrived: a website that tracks futuristic technology, robotics, science, space, VR, design, transhumanism and science fiction, with regular podcasts posted.
Long Bets: The Arena for Accountable Predictions (founded by Stewart Brand and Kevin Kelly with grants from Jeff Bezos) is “a public arena for enjoyably competitive predictions, of interest to society, with philanthropic money at stake. For instance Kevin Kelly predicted “By 2060 the total population of humans on earth will be less than it is today.” You can make your own prediction, challenge his, or discuss this prediction. When in San Francisco, visit the Interval Cafe - a bar for futurist types! At the fascinating HQ of the Long Now Foundation. Say hi to my Architechs co-star Alexander Rose.
Future Timeline: a speculative website of potential future history. Part fact, part fiction, this timeline (and accompanying blog) offers forecasts and predictions for advances over the next few decades, then more far-out speculations, extrapolating into the next few centuries, and then peering beyond into our distant future...
Futurist Organizations
A sampling of foundations, think tanks and institutes dedicated to researching and exploring the realm of the possible. Many of these promote education and fund research, as well as future-oriented projects and prizes. Some are membership based, others depend upon donations. Many are worthy of your support.
