The second edition of Dubai Future Foundation’s annual report, “Navigating Megatrends Shaping Our Future in 2024”, published today during WGS, has highlighted ten megatrends shaping the world.
The report examines the indicators shaping these megatrends, supported by evidence from today and future expectations.
One of these trends is the materials revolution, where new types of materials will create a shift in industry with solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI), such as biopolymers, biorefineries, and chemical recycling, facilitating the development of new biological and novel materials that could rival plastics.
Secondly, it is highlighted that the availability of raw data will vastly increase, which it said will be enabled by developments such as 5G and 6G in addition to advanced connectivity.
The Internet of Things (IoT) will continue being deployed in healthcare, agriculture, and smart cities, especially in the Middle East, it is noted.
Meanwhile, the cybersecurity sector will boom amid a sharp rise in smart home devices and wearable tech, and, the debate on the future of decentralised finance will continue.
Advances in tech and growing energy demand are also set to drive the pursuit of alternative sources of energy, with novel materials and machine intelligence enhancing current sources of energy, including their distribution around the world and in space.
Approaches to conservation will be more interdisciplinary and future-focused, it was shared, and environmental impact management will become increasingly holistic.
Advances in communications, computing, and advanced machine intelligence are also set to accelerate the creation of a borderless world that will change how we work, live, and connect.
The spread of 5G and 6G networks, the report notes, will also enhance the applications of autonomous technologies and IoT. As quantum technologies become scalable and reliable, immersive experiences will become even more realistic.
Robotics and automation will also increasingly be deployed across industries beyond automotive, manufacturing and supply chain logistics. However, alongside opportunities for efficiency and innovation, the report highlights that there will also be ethical challenges to address.
Elsewhere, new workplace norms will emerge, with people needing to adapt to non-traditional skill sets in digital literacy, communications, culture and sustainability.
Accelerated progress in advanced machine intelligence, nano- and biotechnology, additive manufacturing, and IoT will also transform health and nutrition.
Further, it forecasts that technology will reduce, if not eradicate, some communicable and non-communicable diseases and enhance the sustainable use of and access to water and food.
Speaking about the report, His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, said: “This report has been launched in line with DFF’s efforts to identify and communicate those trends with most potential to shape opportunities and strengthen local and international partnerships to overcome current and future challenges.”
“The challenges that face us on our journey to the future require that we are agile enough to be able to adapt to rapid change. It is vital we pay attention to the signals we detect – only then can we be prepared to overcome challenges and seize opportunities. The World Governments Summit provides a platform for discussing these challenges and exploring the opportunities.”
Read the full report here.