We asked some of the boldest thinkers what the world will be like in 50 years. Here’s what their answers tell us about the future.
Nicholas Kristof
Columnist, New York TimesNicholas Kristof has been a columnist for The New York Times since 2001. As a longtime foreign correspondent for The New York Times, Kristof has won two Pulitzer Prizes for his coverage of Tiananmen Square and the genocide in Darfur. He has written several books with his wife, Sheryl WuDunn.
Which country will have the most powerful economy?
China, followed by India, followed by the United States.
More responses to Which country will have the most powerful economy?What will cause the biggest conflicts?
Feuds over water, especially downriver countries concerned about upriver countries taking more than their fair share.
More responses to What will cause the biggest conflicts?How will we entertain one another?
I’m betting sex will remain a popular pastime.
More responses to How will we entertain one another?What kinds of stories will we tell?
Storytelling hasn’t changed that much since Homer. We’ll be eagerly listening to stories of love, bravery, combat, and heroism.
More responses to What kinds of stories will we tell?What forms of transportation will we use?
Personal, Uber-like helicopters that navigate by themselves—and, of course, we’ll walk.
More responses to What forms of transportation will we use?What will our borders be like?
It will be easier than ever to cross them for those with the right nationality and chip, in which case it’ll all be handled by computer. But for people in poor countries, it’ll remain difficult.
More responses to What will our borders be like?Will we have ventured to other planets?
We will have visited planets, but with no substantial colonies or tourism. Distances and travel time will remain too great.
More responses to Will we have ventured to other planets?What will the biggest change to our natural world be?
Climate change. Summers in the Arctic and in Antarctica will be much warmer and ice will be melting, while places in the tropics will be almost unbearable in the heat of the summer. Rising seas will also threaten many low-lying areas.
More responses to What will the biggest change to our natural world be?Will our world be more equal or less equal?
Inequality among countries will have declined, as growth in rich countries will have slowed and poor nations will have partly caught up. But within countries, inequality will have increased and will be about more than money: The wealthy will have better health and will be programming their children’s genetic code for success.
More responses to Will our world be more equal or less equal?What technology will bring about the biggest change in society?
Health and genetics. We will have microbots swimming through our bodies, fixing cell damage, and arresting mutations, and the wealthiest will be turning to genetic programming to choose the characteristics of offspring.
More responses to What technology will bring about the biggest change in society?What’s your best prediction for the world in 50 years?
People will be asking for predictions about 2120 and thinking: Wow, it’s amazing what lies just ahead in the next half-century!
More responses to What’s your best prediction for the world in 50 years?
