Some technology trends are so transformative that they have the potential to change the future of what it means to be human. Here we look at the five tech trends that fall into this category.

1. THE 5 TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL
CHANGE THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN
RACE

2. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
THE 5 TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL CHANGE THE
FUTURE OF THE HUMAN RACE
Some technology trends are so transformative that they have the potential to change the
future of what it means to be human. Here we look at the five tech trends that fall into
this category.

3. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
In my book, Tech Trends in Practice, I talk about a lot of technology trends that are already
moving out of the R&D departments and into everyday life, but the following five I think
will have the most profound impacts on our society and the human race as a whole.

4. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Artificial intelligence, or AI, and machine learning refer to the ability of machines to learn and act
intelligently, meaning they can make decisions, carry out tasks, and even predict future outcomes based
on what they learn from data.
AI and machine learning already play a bigger role in everyday life than you might imagine. Alexa, Siri,
Amazon's product recommendations, Netflix’s and Spotify’s personalized recommendations, every Google
search you make, security checks for fraudulent credit card purchases, dating apps, fitness trackers... All
are driven by AI.
AI is going to revolutionize almost every facet of modern life. Stephen Hawking said, “Success in creating
AI would be the biggest event in human history.” And Hawking immediately followed that up with,
“Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks."

5. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
There are potentially huge risks for society and human life as we know it, particularly when you consider some
countries are racing to develop AI-enabled autonomous weapons. AI and machine learning are the foundation on
which many other technologies are built. For instance, without AI, we wouldn't have achieved the amazing
advances in the Internet of Things, virtual reality, chatbots, facial recognition, robotics, automation, or self-driving
cars, just to name a few.
AI is also going to transform human jobs. AI-enabled automation will have a particularly significant impact and
may lead to the displacement of many jobs. But rather than subscribing to a vision of a dystopian future where all
human jobs are given over to robots, I believe AI will make our working lives better. AI will enhance the work of
humans, and new jobs will arise to replace displaced jobs.
What's more, as machines become more intelligent and capable of carrying out more human tasks, I believe that
our uniquely human capabilities, things like creativity, empathy, and critical thinking, will become all the more
precious and valuable in the workplaces of the future.

6. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
GENE TECHNOLOGY
Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology that focuses on the understanding and manipulation
of DNA and genomes of living organisms. Gene editing is a group of technologies that enables
genetic engineering in order to change the DNA and genetic structure of living organisms.
Biotechnology is advancing to the point where it's viable to alter the DNA encoded within a cell; this
will influence the characteristics or traits that its descendants will have. In plants, this could affect the
number of leaves or their coloring, while in humans, it could affect their height, eye color, or their
likelihood of developing diseases. This opens up a range of possibilities that are almost unlimited, as
it means that any characteristic of a living organism that is inherited can theoretically be changed.

7. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
GENE TECHNOLOGY
Much of the work being done with gene editing is in the field of healthcare. Among the most
exciting current projects is the correction of DNA mutations which can lead to serious illnesses such
as cancer or heart disease. But, perhaps more than with any other technology, there are a huge
number of ethical and legal concerns as well as "what if" questions when it comes to genetic
manipulation and editing. Genome editing in humans is currently banned in many countries,
including much of Europe, as its long-term results are not understood.
With anything as potentially transformative to society as genomics, it can be easy to get carried away
thinking about possibilities such as wiping out cancer or even indefinitely prolonging human life. In
reality, such huge advances are likely to be a long way away, if they are ever possible at all. Focusing
on solving smaller problems that will have an immediate real-world impact is likely to be more fruitful
in the short term.

8. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERFACES
Human-computer interfaces create wearable devices and technology that help to improve the physical and
potentially mental performance of humans and help us lead healthier and better lives. Perhaps the most
prevalent examples of wearables today are fitness tracker bands and smartwatches: small, easy to wear
devices that typically monitor our activity and provide insights that help us lead healthier, better, more
productive lives.
However, the term wearable doesn't necessarily mean something that you strap onto your wrist or where
elsewhere on your body; it also extends to smart clothing such as running shoes that can measure your gait
and performance, advances like robotic prosthetics, and robotic wearable technology used in industrial
settings.
As technology gets smaller and smarter, the sheer range of wearables is going to expand, and new, smaller,
smarter products will emerge to supersede the wearables we're familiar with today. For example, we already
have smart glasses, but these are likely to be replaced by smart contact lenses. After that, smart contact lenses
will likely be replaced by smart eye implants.

9. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERFACES
Advances like this lead many to believe that humans and machines will eventually merge to create truly
augmented humans, transhumans, or humans 2.0, where the human body is souped up like a sports
car to achieve enhanced physical and mental performance. This would transform the world of medicine
and eventually maybe even challenge our understanding of what it means to be human.
At a societal level, we could be heading toward an even greater divide between rich and poor, between
the Haves and the Have Nots. Technology is promising to help us live longer and healthier lives, maybe
even offering the chance to live forever, but probably only for those who can afford it. Imagine a society
in which the rich are effectively superhumans that live forever, and everyone else is normal and
disadvantaged... There's also a wider ethical question about whether we should want to live exceedingly
long lives given the huge strain that would put on our planet.

10. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
EXTENDED REALITY (XR)
Extended reality, or XR for short, encompasses virtual reality, augmented reality, and
mixed reality and refers to the use of technology to create more immersive digital
experiences.
In practice, XR is being used to boost brand engagement, let customers try before they
buy, enhance customer service, make workplace learning more effective, and improve
other organizational processes.

11. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
EXTENDED REALITY (XR)
XR Technologies offer exciting and entirely new ways for people to experience the world around
them. XR technology is already finding very real applications in our world, and is likely to dramatically
change the way we interact with technology. In fact, mobile-based AR experiences, such as the
Pokemon Go app, generated over $3 billion in global revenue in 2018. XR is also the user interface
into the metaverse, the idea of a virtual universe where we can be whoever or whatever we want,
while exploring the digital world of gaming, meeting up, going to events, or anything along the lines
of the movie 'Ready Player One'.
But accessibility and availability are obvious obstacles to overcome, given that XR headsets can be
pricey, bulky, and clunky. But the technology will become more common, affordable, and
comfortable to use, which will only increase the chance of widespread use. The biggest challenges
will include privacy and the potential mental and physical impacts of highly immersive technologies.

12. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
3D PRINTING
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, means creating a 3D object from a digital
file by building it layer by layer. 3D printing may seem distinctly more low-tech than artificial
intelligence or gene editing, but it has the potential to completely transform manufacturing and
other industries.
Using 3D printing, the factories of the future could quickly print spare parts for machinery on
site. Entire assembly lines could be replaced with 3D printers. We could print human tissue for
transplant, print weapons, even print food.

13. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
3D PRINTING
3D printing technology brings many opportunities, but it also brings some downsides, challenges, and
obstacles to overcome. While it has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing
by using fewer materials overall, we have to consider the environmental impact of the printers
themselves.
3D printing also presents problems for intellectual property owners, since the technology enables
counterfeiters to produce fake license goods cheaply and easily. There's also the problem that weapons
can be easily 3D printed. One thing I find particularly exciting about 3D printing is the potential it brings
for mass personalization of products. Thanks to 3D printing, products and Designs can be customized
to suit one-off requests in orders, and this could cover anything from personalized sneakers to food
that's personalized to our individual nutritional needs.

14. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Keep an eye on these technologies, as I believe they have the biggest potential to impact
the future of human life and our society. To stay on top of these and other trends, sign up
for my newsletter, and check out my books ‘Tech Trends in Practice’ and ‘Business Trends
in Practice.'

15. © 2021 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker,
futurist, and a strategic business & technology advisor to governments and
companies. He helps organisations improve their business performance, use data
more intelligently, and understand the implications of new technologies such as
artificial intelligence, big data, blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is
a frequent contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for
Forbes. Every day Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers
and shares content that reaches millions of readers.

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www.bernardmarr.com