Shaping Tomorrow: The Power of Futuristic Thinking in Education

In 2017, I founded a think tank dedicated to a simple idea: those who will face tomorrow’s challenges are best equipped to solve them. Focusing on bringing in only young people aged 11 to 19, my goal was to harness their inherent digital nativity and shape them into the leaders and problem-solvers of the future. This initiative was not just about teaching research skills; it was about changing the way these young minds perceived the world around them and their ability to influence it.

The participants, now young adults, are testaments to this philosophy. Many have proceeded to impressive roles in universities, industry, and research, continually applying the foresight and skills they developed through collaborative research in the think tank. Their success highlights a critical point: early exposure to forward-thinking research not only prepares individuals to thrive in unforeseen futures but also positions them to make good decisions that allows them to lead and innovate.

As a thought leader, I'm often asked about my focus areas, especially in light of current debates on academic integrity and the use of tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini by students. While these concerns are incredibly important and we actively address them with specific strategies and policies, my overall vision for education encompasses a broader perspective.

This approach was profoundly influenced by my early experience with preparing for the Millennium Bug in 1998 while working at an Inc. 500 company in California. The Millennium Bug, also known as the Y2K Problem, was a computing issue where many computer systems and software programs were expected to fail or produce errors at midnight of New Years Eve between 1999 and 2000, due to the way they represented the year with only the last two digits, potentially interpreting the year 2000 as 1900.

During this crisis, I learned the critical importance of not just solving the problem at hand, but anticipating and preparing for future challenges that do not yet exist. This experience shaped my ability to foresee and navigate long-term technological impacts, an outlook that was further honed through founding and leading a forward-thinking international award nominated futurist think tank. My focus always extends beyond immediate issues, employing a strategy that applies the long view to ensure that we are preparing for the realities and challenges ahead. This forward-thinking vision drives my current strategies and initiatives, aiming to equip a generation of students who are eager to shape the future.

Today, we stand on the brink of a technological revolution with the rise of quantum computing and generative AI. These are not simply technological enhancements but fundamentally transformative forces that will redefine our very existence.

Quantum computing uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform computations at speeds unachievable by traditional computers, opening new frontiers in medicine, environmental science, and cryptography. In 2019, Google claimed to have achieved quantum supremacy with its 54-qubit Sycamore processor, which is organized in a 2D array. This claim, based on a concept introduced by John Preskill in 2012, asserts that their quantum computer solved specific problems in just 200 seconds—tasks that would take classical supercomputers approximately 10,000 years to complete (Source).

Although this claim was disputed by IBM and others, the field of quantum computing has continued to advance rapidly. For example, in 2021, Chinese researchers reported that their photonic quantum computer, Jiuzhang, performed a calculation in minutes that would take traditional supercomputers more than 2 billion years, marking another significant milestone in the development of quantum computing capabilities (Source).

Quantum computing promises to revolutionize our capabilities by performing complex calculations at unprecedented speeds, impacting everything from climate science to medicine. Meanwhile, advances in AI are not only speeding up the development of quantum technologies but are also being accelerated by them, creating a symbiotic relationship that pushes both to evolve faster than ever before. This is creating a rapid cycle of technological evolution.

This synergy between AI and quantum computing is crucial. It will fundamentally change our world, pushing us to rethink how we educate our future leaders. These technologies will not just enhance our current systems; they will completely transform the world. As educators and leaders, our responsibility is to develop educational strategies and curricula that transcend traditional learning, integrating these advanced technologies to prepare students to face the world's most complex challenges.

While the notion of K-12 students carrying quantum computers in their pockets in the near future may seem far-fetched, the pace of technological advancement suggests that radically powerful computing capabilities could soon be commonplace. Quantum computing technology is still in its early stages and currently requires complex, controlled environments to operate. However, with rapid advancements and miniaturization trends, it's conceivable that within the next 10-25 years, quantum computing could become more accessible and integrated into everyday devices. This evolution will necessitate that our K-12 educational strategies begin to adapt now, preparing students to leverage such technology responsibly and innovatively.

My role as Head of Artificial Intelligence at Globeducate - an organization of K-12 international schools, with a reach spanning four continents, over 40,000 students, and 12,000 staff - is to steer our educational AI strategies, not just to cope with advanced AI changes but to lead them.

By fostering a culture of innovation and forward-thinking among our staff and students, we are setting the groundwork for educational leadership in the era of quantum computing and sophisticated AI. Looking towards 2035 and beyond, our focus is on preparing for the realities of quantum and AI integration into everyday life. By fostering an AI literacy curriculum that anticipates the profound impacts of these technologies, we are preparing our students not just to adapt, but to drive the future.

This commitment to the long view is what defines my strategic approach to my everyday tasks. Leadership is not only about navigating the present but shaping the future. As we continue to prepare for a world where education and technology intersect in ways we are only beginning to understand, let's embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for us in year 2035, 2045, and beyond, ensuring our students are ready to not only face the future but define it.