Future Beat: What's next?

I’m going to start this edition of Future Beat with some quick and exciting news.

We now have a new, dedicated Future section on our website. Be sure to check it out and bookmark it so you can have easy access to all the tech, science, business and societal trend stories that will be impacting all of our lives in the months and years ahead.

With so many developments taking place regarding artificial intelligence, quantum computing and similar topics, we think you'll find it to be the perfect place to check on a regular basis for the latest news, analysis and opinions.

Of course, our Future Beat newsletter remains a big part of our offerings, so without further ado, let's take a look at the major developments shaping the world we live in.

Cody Sigel Combs , Future Editor

The Big Story

Boeing's new direction

In brief | Something had to give at Boeing, and it finally did, sort of.

Amid mounting scrutiny over various safety concerns, the aerospace giant's chief executive announced he would step down at the conclusion of 2024 as part of a broad restructuring.

Yet despite this attempt to lance the boil, Boeing's growing list of problems won't be fixed overnight.

Almost inevitably, it appears Boeing's European rival, Airbus will benefit from the company's woes.

Yet at the heart of this corporate shake-up, there's no room for schadenfreude, especially when passenger safety is ultimately the only thing that matters.

Why it matters | Futurists often debate about travel and how we'll get from point A to point B in the years ahead.

Ultimately, aviation remains a big part of those forecasts.

Despite our interconnected digital world, we still want to travel, and at risk of stating the obvious, we want to travel in a safe manner.

Boeing is a company that engenders affection from many because it makes something that touches and improves so many lives. Any sort of dent to that image is a dent to the overall aviation industry.

Now, amid all the debate over what the company should do, many are weighing in, including Emirates Airline's president Tim Clark, who told The National'saviation reporter Deena Kamel what qualities the next Boeing chief executive should have.

He's not alone in talking about the importance of Boeing's next moves, with countless analysts and business leaders giving advice.

The sheer amount of concern speaks volumes about the importance of Boeing, and just how much safety culture should be prioritised in the months and years ahead.

It affects the whole industry.

Quoted | “It is little wonder that the machinists' union wants a seat on the board, simply to ensure that the voice of the factory floor is part and parcel of the decision process and is fully integrated into the governance model’s risk-management strategies … whether, yet again, this changing of the guard will resolve Boeing’s issues, only time will tell, but time, unfortunately, is not on their side.”

– Tim Clark, Emirates Airline President

Future in focus

Smart glasses | The much-hyped and later discontinued Google Glass technology has found a second life through Envision, a company that builds hardware and software tools for the visually impaired

Moonraking in space | Clean-up solutions for space debris are now emerging with a satellite “grabbing” project scheduled for launch in 2026. Here's a closer look

Muslim Pro | How an app downloaded 150 million times is helping Muslims observe Ramadan, and why the company behind the app says it's just getting started

Predicting the future: Signal or noise?

Producing water from air is becoming an efficient and sustainable reality due to scientific advancements in the UAE. Khalifa University is among the leading institutions and companies transforming this concept into practical reality.

It has developed solar-powered water generators that offer a sustainable solution to the Middle East's lack of rain.

This is a signal: Although it might seem like a novelty, there are several companies currently providing devices that take the humidity out of the air and in turn, convert it into drinkable water.

It's the sort of thing that even when you see it, you don't necessarily believe it, but rest assured, it's real (I took several sips of the water), and it's a viable solution for areas that need water.

All that said, many of these devices need to be connected to the power grid, and that's where the difficulties often arise.

This solar powered solution offered by Khalifa University, could pave the way for many of these devices to actually be installed, while also putting a sustainable spin on water security solutions, which often (and surprisingly), can consume a lot of electricity.

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