The Future According to Now

Technologists are building computer algorithms that will soon match something that has, until now, been uniquely human: The ability to recognize a person as soon as they walk into a room, even if they’re not looking right at you. There will soon be a day when your home knows exactly who you are. We explore the potential of 3D scanning technology, and the ethical questions surrounding its adoption, in this episode of “The Future According to Now”, a podcast from Atlantic Re:think, the branded content studio at The Atlantic and Fidelity Investments. Follow along at theatlantic.com/fidelitypodcast, @atlanticrethink, or let us know what you think of the program by leaving us a rating or review.

Plastic was once considered revolutionary, but as our oceans become clogged with plastic waste, and the petroleum-based production process continues to expel massive amounts of greenhouse gases, the material we rely on so heavily is now considered an environmental hazard. Several startups are introducing eco-friendly alternatives, and they’re being rewarded with contracts from large-scale manufacturers. We explore the burgeoning eco-plastics revolution in this episode of “The Future According to Now”, a podcast from Atlantic Re:think, the branded content studio at The Atlantic and Fidelity Investments.

By the year 2050, more than 60 percent of the world’s populations will live in cities. Researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy makers are working on ways to give our huge urban areas a technological upgrade, planning the connected infrastructures that will support tomorrow's "smart cities."

When a crash is inevitable and a human is at the wheel, the driver makes a split-second decision. In a car controlled by algorithms, this choice is predetermined by a programmer. Should your car hit a pedestrian to save your life? Should your car sacrifice your life to save the lives of others? Self-driving cars will become a reality in the near future, but what of the moral quandaries involved?

The artificial intelligence marketplace is primed to surge from $8 billion this year to $47 billion by 2020. AI’s prime contribution will be to work through the enormous amount of data that modern technology is producing, make sense of the big data by discovering trends and patterns, and suggest ways forward. Already, algorithms are conducting research for law firms and writing stories for newspapers, among other tasks. As AI continues to evolve, it will continue to transform the way businesses function and how people live their lives, augmenting—not replacing—human intelligence and expertise.

The search for cures to hundreds of diseases and conditions has in recent years become increasingly focused on genes and genetic mutations. Scientists have begun to understand which genes are linked to certain diseases, which genetic mutations lead to certain reactions to medicine, and much more. Now, an emerging technology is utilizing this research in a revolutionary approach to treatment: recoding our genes. Researchers are using this approach to adjust human genes in order to eliminate all kinds of diseases.

Doctors are on the verge of using 3-D-bioprinted human organs and bones in their patients’ transplants and bone grafts. Astronauts will soon use 3-D printers to repair damaged spaceships and the space station. 3-D printing technology has advanced remarkably since it was first introduced–but to truly impact the way we live our daily lives and the way industries operate, the tech must continue to evolve.

There’s a silver tsunami coming: By 2050, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will double, and the number over 85 will triple. In an ideal world, each would have at least one human caregiver to meet their physical and emotional needs as they age. But that’s not a reality for most people. Enter the robot caregiver. Robots could help solve this workforce crisis, just as robotics have already started to impact the wider health care industry.

BRAND NEW! Applying the trademark deep-reporting of The Atlantic with the expertise of Fidelity Investments, “The Future According To Now” podcast explores the technological innovations that hold true potential to impact our lives in the near future.