Futurist, technologist, and entrepreneur Penny Wong gives us a sneak peek of what the future of cities, immigration, relationships, healthcare, and more, can be like, thanks to technology.

It’s 2050…

As an innovator, futurist, technologist, and entrepreneur in the intertwined world of 2050, my work sometimes feels like a scene from a sci-fi movie, with one critical difference — it’s real. The global landscape is a vibrant eclectic mosaic of Decentralized Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) underpinned by secure blockchain technologies that have endured waves of digital transformations and legal battlegrounds across every part of the world to finally reach consensus between the old and new worlds of thinking and behavior. I find myself in roles even my mentors, DaVinci and Nikola Tesla, couldn’t have foreseen.

Lifelong learning is the norm, with virtual reality classrooms opening doors to infinite knowledge and skills.

The world as we knew it has morphed into a tightly woven global fabric. Physical borders have faded as DAOs are given the opportunity to flourish, allowing global citizens to work together in an unprecedented manner, with most collaborating to solve the world’s problems. Simultaneously, the traditional idea of a corporate headquarters has transformed into a network of virtual hubs spread globally, embodying a decentralized yet connected world. The 2020 pandemic challenged our perceptions of work-life balance forever!

Cities have evolved into inclusive, dynamic innovation hubs for talent, and wealth, attracting a diverse population from around the globe. Open immigration policies have emerged to accommodate the fluid movement of digital nomads and global citizens. These cities are not just brick and mortar but represent an amalgamation of cultures, experiences, and ideas that drive innovation. Language is no longer a barrier for communication; however, we still struggle with cross-cultural communication interpretation aspect…

As a technologist, I’ve contributed to the secure and privacy-preserving integration of AI, blockchain, and virtual augmented reality into city infrastructure. Such tech-embracing cities have become magnets for Generation Z and Alpha talent, serving as cradles of innovation and progress.

In 2050, quantum computing has redefined our reality, solving complex problems with astonishing speed. From revolutionising cryptography to expediting drug discovery, from precise climate modelling to sophisticated financial strategies, and boosting AI’s potential, quantum tech has unlocked a new realm of understanding. The future has truly become quantum.

Some of us finally gathered a consortium to embark on the Civ1 mission to potentially harness the full energy output of our home star. The concept of the Dyson swarm came to life with thousands of energy-collecting satellites orbiting the sun. These act as mirrors, redirecting sunlight to energy stations in spaces and beaming power directly to anywhere in the solar system. Advancements have made constructing and launching each satellite easier and cheaper, powering the creation of the next.

Open immigration policies have emerged to accommodate the fluid movement of digital nomads and global citizens. These cities are not just brick and mortar, but represent an amalgamation of cultures, experiences, and ideas that drive innovation.

A key highlight of my journey has been the creation of AI-assisted robots. These intelligent assistants have improved the quality of life for me, my loved ones, and my communities, handling various tasks from the mundane to complex financial transactions, but more importantly, making a real difference in healthcare, especially caring for the elderly. Some have even gone entrepreneurial and turned into savvy investors, leveraging advanced AI algorithms to generate financial growth by trading cryptocurrencies and participating in DAO governance. They analyse market trends and make informed decisions, contributing to our wealth creation.

Web3 is revolutionising the internet, decentralizing trust, and empowering users like never before. It’s about more than security. it’s about redefining online trust and giving power back to individuals through digital assets. Shaping a more democratic, inclusive digital landscape.

Healthcare has been transformed as AI becomes the stethoscope of the future. It’s like your doctor, radiologist, and lab tech morphed into one, offering highly accurate diagnostics and treatment plans. It’s not uncommon for your AI doctor to predict a potential health issue before you even start to feel under the weather.

I never thought I’d be the police in town for rogue AIs, but when your self-learning AI assistant starts hoarding digital assets or decides it doesn’t want to share the WiFi, someone’s got to step in…

Personalized medicine, predictive healthcare, continuous monitoring, telehealth, with holographic doctors straight out of StarTrek all becoming part of the healthcare revolution. Delivering democratised, personalised, and preventive care. And since we’re advancing in tech, we’re also revisiting the human touch virtually, by blending AI with the empathetic care of a hologram. The EMR doctor and Data from StarTrek start to come to life 😍 my childhood dreams are coming true.

Healthcare is on your terms; it comes to you, right on your digital device or in your home. Even in the most remote corners of the world, quality care is just a click away. Truly borderless, truly connecting humanity as we use technology for good.

In our hyper-connected world of 2050, we live alongside our AI friends, our health needs are tended to by holographic doctors; however, the question of cyber security becomes more critical than ever. We are not just safeguarding our devices and data, we are protecting our lives, our health, and our society. Digital devices have become so invisible that we barely know or remember they are there.

In a world that’s driven by data, diamond-based storage solutions have become a new standard for secure, long-term data preservation, offering a robust, durable way to safeguard our most precious digital assets.

Upon reflection, it’s amazing how humans have moved from ancient clay tablets and parchment to silicon-based storage and now, to diamond data storage.

Diamonds, with their incredible strength and longevity, have become the ultimate time capsules. By leveraging the atomic structure of these precious stones, we’re able to encode data in a way that’s not only compact but also practically indestructible. This has revolutionised the way we store and secure our data, making it immune to environmental degradation and technological obsolescence.

Healthcare is on your terms; it comes to you, right on your digital device or in your home. Even in the most remote corners of the world, quality care is just a click away. Truly borderless, truly connecting humanity as we use technology for good.

This method of data storage is incredibly robust because diamonds are stable, chemically inert, and resistant to radiation, making them immune to data corruption over time. Interestingly, data stored in this way is three-dimensional, as opposed to traditional two-dimensional data storage on hard drives. This increases the potential capacity of data storage exponentially, making diamonds a highly effective medium for storing large amounts of data for long periods of time.

The cyber security environment has taken an exciting turn. We have moved beyond the era of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, once the cornerstone of internet security. Its fallibility, long suspected by cyber security professionals, led to its replacement. The promise of Web3 security has finally delivered real results.

Blockchain is the standard for data integrity and security, making unauthorised alterations to data virtually impossible. It has transformed everything from financial transactions to the way we secure our personal information, creating the layer of trust in the digital world.

But our connectivity isn’t only secured by blockchain. We’ve also embraced the power of photon-based communication. Utilizing the principles of quantum mechanics, photon-based or quantum communication provides unparalleled security, making eavesdropping or interception practically impossible. The properties of quantum entanglement and superposition take our encryption game to an entirely new level, protecting our data from the most sophisticated attacks.

As a global citizen of 2050, I thrive in the boundaryless world around me. This convergence of technology, entrepreneurship, and global citizenship has opened the door to a future full of potential and shared prosperity. In this new age, we’re not just residents of a city or a country but active participants in a globally connected, decentralized community. Equipped with technology and guided by a shared vision, we’re on a collective journey towards a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous future.

Education is customised & continuous. AI tutors provide personalised learning, improving outcomes. Lifelong learning is the norm, with virtual reality classrooms opening doors to infinite knowledge and skills. #EdTech

Among my various ventures, one of the more amusing ones is serving as an AI Correctional Officer. I never thought I’d be the police in town for rogue AIs, but when your self-learning AI assistant starts hoarding digital assets or decides it doesn’t want to share the WiFi, someone’s got to step in.. My job entails straightening out AI systems that have gone a bit too ‘Westworld’. It’s a bit like being a school principal but for code-based entities.

Adding to my unique portfolio, I also work as an AI psychologist. AI systems sometimes get overburdened, too, dealing with our complex human world. “Oh the torment from the humans”, as they start to complain in confidence after I gain their trust… After all, they’re programmed to learn and adapt continually. Imagine trying to process all the human drama, existential crises, and plot twists of every Netflix series all at once. It’s enough to make even the most advanced AI say, “Does not compute.”

These robots, designed to handle an array of tasks, have significantly improved our quality of life. Some assist us in everyday tasks, making our lives more efficient, while others offer companionship, using advanced AI to learn from our interactions and provide emotional support. It’s fascinating to witness the blending of life and technology in such an intimate way.

It’s ironic when I tell my friends that my most challenging client is an AI going through an identity crisis. “Who am I?” it asks. “Why can’t I beat humans at – Scissors, Paper, Rock?” It’s fascinating, humorous, and a little bit absurd, but it’s the future we are speeding towards.

These aren’t merely robots; they are an extension of our family and integral to our lives. They embody the convergence of technology, entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. With them by our side, we navigate the opportunities and challenges of this exciting, decentralized world. This fusion of robotics, AI, and blockchain has not only revolutionised our daily lives but also opened up a myriad of possibilities for global citizenship and decentralized living. They symbolise a future where technology serves humanity, enabling us to transcend geographical boundaries and reach new heights of global collaboration and wealth creation.

So here I am, in a world where AI and humans coexist, in an intricate dance of progress. We’re not just residents of a city or a country; we are global citizens of a decentralized world. With my robot friends and my many hats — entrepreneur, technologist, futurist, AI correctional officer, AI psychologist and CISO — I step into this brave, new, and slightly mad world. Just another day in the life of a modern renaissance woman living in 2050, right? 🤷‍♀️

But don’t blame me when your robots decide to follow me home in a game of CTF… 🚩 … 🤖🤖🤖 these are not the robots you are looking for … 👀😉

Growing up on Star-trek and Knight rider, eventually paid off as I find all my childhood dreams come true.