(Editor’s note: As a futurist, I am comfortable with uncertainty but I will admit that the dizzying advances in artificial intelligence have left me grappling to understand the implications of this technology. I fear that no one–not even the developers of AI nor the world’s brightest people–understand where all of this headed. It may not…

Think: “I think it is the beginning of a paradigm shift. I think this technology is very suitable for the legal industry.” This is just one quote from this informative article, Generative AI is Coming For the Lawyers., which I encourage everyone in the legal industry to read–and think about. (The situation for lawyers is…

Think: As long-time subscribers know, I am a big proponent of “thinking exponentially.” In this visually stunning article, Our World in Data, the author demonstrates how quickly the world can (and is)changing–and this is something we all need to spend some time thinking about. Think: I know I keep harping on artificial intelligence, but that’s…

Think: Does the world hold massive amounts of hidden hydrogen? It is an intriguing question and if the answer is yes, as this highly informative article in Science suggests, it could truly be a game changer. For another informative “primer” on hydrogen, I recommend this MIT Review article, When Hydrogen Will Help Climate Change–and When It…

  Think: It goes without saying that the world is a risky place. Still, few leaders spend much time thinking about these risks. This report on the biggest global risks in 2023 is a good place to start. Be forewarned, however, since the report was issued, we have already witnessed how a horrific earthquake in…

  Think in Questions: In today’s rapidly changing world one of the greatest mistakes I see all of us make (and I definitely include myself in this accusation) is that we do not spend enough time asking questions. To this end, I enjoyed this short post from one of my favorite thinkers, Seth Godin: Reimagining…

Think Thin: MIT is now working on creating super-thin, flexible solar panels that can be coated or painted onto almost any surface. This means that soon houses, cars, boats and robots could have a new, clean way to help power themselves. If the technology scales, it could be a game-changer. Think Different: The jury is…

  Think Smart: I just returned from Bowling Green, Kentucky where I delivered the keynote at the Kentucky Commodities Annual conference. Among the trends I discussed was artificial intelligence. No sooner had I ended my talk than I came across this informative article: AI for Better Crops. Think Even Smarter: Artificial intelligence–especially ChatGPT and OpenAI–have rightfully…

  Think Optimistically: The organization, Reasons to be Cheerful, does an excellent job curating articles which highlight all of the positive change individuals, businesses and organizations are doing to create a better and more beautiful world. At years end, it highlights the top 180 reasons to be cheerful. Among my favorites: France is covering every…

Editor’s note: I am on vacation for the next two weeks. This week’s “Friday Future 5” will be abbreviated. Think Big: There is a saying among futurists, “Nuclear fusion is the future of energy–and always will be.” This joke will likely have legs for the next decade or two, but last week’s fusion breakthrough was…