What does the future hold? An annual prediction for every year from 2024 until 2170.

On July 8th 1889 The Wall Street Journal published its first issue, establishing a legacy as one of the most influential financial newspapers globally.

The name "The Wall Street Journal" was the idea of Charles Bergstresser, the third person who teamed with Dow & Jones to create the news company that started publishing the newspaper in 1889. The first issue was four pages, and cost two cents. Source

For 135 years, WSJ's insights and analyses have continued to guide business leaders and investors, shaping our futures & informing key decisions.

As we celebrate this incredible milestone, it's inspiring to consider what the next 135 years might hold for the world. It also got me thinking that even predicting trends beyond a few year's is actually quite tricky. So here are my two cents (see what I did there!).

I had lots of fun, training both Claude and OpenAI on all sorts of things in-order to come up with predictions. And it was remarkable how many Sci-Fi elements may come to be real: from teleportation, time travel, through to mining other planets. Keep an eye out for carbon capture, quantum computing, space travel, AI, global warming, population, and medical predictions too.

There are some great resources out there such as FutureTimeline.net and by combining real human predictions with potentially wild hallucinations from ChatGPT 4.o and Claude 3.5 together I've made a predictions soup! In fact, I think I've over catered...

Here's a glimpse into potential future advancements and innovations for the next 135 years:

2024-2039

• 2024: Global population reaches 8 billion. First successful human trial of a CRISPR-based treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
• 2025: AI-driven healthcare becomes mainstream, offering personalised treatment plans and predictive analytics to prevent diseases. Universal real-time language translation earbuds hit the market. Space tourism becomes accessible to upper-middle-class consumers.
• 2026: Cities begin implementing extensive autonomous transport networks, reducing traffic congestion and accidents. Lab-grown meat accounts for 10% of global meat consumption. First permanent human settlement on the Moon is established.
• 2027: Significant advancements in quantum computing solve complex problems in minutes that currently take years. Global average temperature increase reaches 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• 2028: Several countries pilot Universal Basic Income (UBI) programs to address job displacement due to automation. First human-level AI passes the Turing test convincingly. Olympics feature the first cybernetically enhanced athletes.
• 2029: Global renewable energy usage surpasses 50%. First successful human brain-computer interface allows direct mental control of devices.
• 2030: New technologies significantly reduce carbon footprints, aiming for a net-zero emission world. World population hits 8.5 billion. Mars receives its first human visitors.
• 2031: Internet access becomes universal, thanks to satellite networks providing coverage to remote areas. Fully autonomous vehicles account for 30% of global traffic. First genetically modified "designer baby" is born.
• 2032: Biotechnology creates advanced prosthetics and implants, enhancing human capabilities and quality of life. Global literacy rate reaches 95%. Fusion power plant achieves net energy gain for a sustained period.
• 2033: Renewable energy sources surpass fossil fuels, becoming the dominant form of energy production. First city-wide implementation of air-cleaning buildings and vehicles. Virtual reality surpasses traditional media for entertainment consumption.
• 2034: Major urban areas transform into smart cities, utilising IoT for efficient and sustainable living. Global average lifespan reaches 80 years. First off-world mining operation begins on an asteroid.
• 2035: Genetic editing technologies like CRISPR are widely used to prevent hereditary diseases. Carbon capture technology reduces atmospheric CO2 to 2010 levels. Neural implants for memory enhancement become available.
• 2036: Education systems are revolutionised by AI, providing personalized learning experiences. First AI elected to a national parliament. Ocean cleanup efforts result in 50% reduction of plastic waste in major ocean gyres.
• 2037: Global population reaches 9 billion, straining resources and requiring innovative solutions for sustainable development. Global poverty rate falls below 3%. First successful human head transplant performed.
• 2038: Innovative battery technologies store energy more efficiently, powering everything from smartphones to electric cars. Holographic communication becomes mainstream. Mars colony becomes self-sustaining.
• 2039: Mining operations commence on asteroids, extracting valuable minerals for use on Earth. First human born on Mars. Global internet coverage reaches 99% of the population.

2040-2059

• 2040: AI dominates financial services, offering advanced investment advice and risk management solutions. World population reaches 9 billion. Nanobots capable of targeted drug delivery and cell repair enter widespread medical use.
• 2041: Robots perform complex surgeries and provide care for elderly and disabled individuals. First successful hibernation of humans for long-distance space travel. Personal AI assistants become indistinguishable from human assistants.
• 2042: The first human colony is established on Mars, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. Global shift to lab-grown and plant-based meat reduces livestock-related emissions by 70%. First human-animal hybrid organs approved for transplantation.
• 2043: Infrastructure is built to withstand extreme weather conditions, mitigating the impacts of climate change. Teleportation of complex molecules achieved. First permanent settlement established on Venus' upper atmosphere.
• 2044: Medicine is tailored to individual genetic profiles, improving treatment effectiveness. Global average IQ reaches 115 due to improved nutrition and education. First commercial space hotel opens in Earth orbit.
• 2045: Nuclear fusion becomes a viable energy source, providing a near-limitless supply of clean energy. Technological singularity occurs as AI surpasses human intelligence in all areas. First successful human mind upload to a computer.
• 2046: Agricultural practices are optimized by AI, increasing yields and sustainability. Global energy consumption becomes 100% renewable. First contact with microbial life discovered on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons.
• 2047: Innovative technologies manage and distribute water resources efficiently, addressing scarcity issues. Human lifespan extension treatments push maximum age to 150 years. Quantum internet becomes operational, enabling unhackable global communication.
• 2048: The shipping industry is revolutionised by autonomous ships, reducing costs and improving safety. First human-free city run entirely by AI and robots. Mars terraforming project begins.
• 2049: Vertical farming becomes prevalent in urban areas, reducing the need for arable land and lowering transportation emissions. Global currency unification implemented. First human expedition to the Kuiper Belt. AI predicted to be better than humans at writing best-selling books.
• 2050: Advanced brain-computer interfaces enable seamless integration between humans and AI, enhancing cognitive abilities. World population stabilises at 9.7 billion. Interplanetary internet established between Earth, Moon, and Mars.
• 2051: Regenerative medicine enables the repair or replacement of damaged tissues and organs, extending human lifespan. First successful wormhole creation in laboratory conditions. Ocean desalination provides freshwater to 50% of coastal populations.
• 2052: A global renewable energy grid distributes clean energy worldwide, ensuring energy security for all. Global reforestation efforts increase Earth's forest cover by 25%. First human clone with enhanced abilities is born.
• 2053: AI assists in legal processes, ensuring fair and efficient judicial outcomes. Antimatter production becomes economically viable for space propulsion. Virtual worlds indistinguishable from physical reality. AI is predicted to be better than humans at performing surgery.
• 2054: Solar power satellites collect and transmit energy to Earth, providing a sustainable power source. First manned mission to Venus. Global food production shifts primarily to vertical farming and synthetic foods.
• 2055: Geoengineering projects actively manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Human-level AI granted full legal rights in most countries. Atmospheric carbon levels return to pre-industrial revolution levels.
• 2056: Hyperloop systems provide ultra-fast transportation between major cities, revolutionising travel. First successful time travel experiment sends particles one second into the past.
• 2057: Smart clothing becomes a trillion-dollar industry, integrating technology for health monitoring, communication, and fashion. Human-dolphin translation device allows interspecies communication. First permanent settlement on Titan, Saturn's largest moon.
• 2058: A global health network monitors and responds to pandemics and health crises in real-time. Global average temperature stabilises at 1°C above pre-industrial levels. First human with fully synthetic organs.
• 2059: Telepresence technology allows people to interact and collaborate as if they were physically present, despite being miles apart. Teleportation of small organisms achieved. Asteroid mining accounts for 30% of rare earth element production.

2060-2079

• 2060: Smart materials are widely used in construction and manufacturing, adapting to environmental conditions and improving efficiency. World population reaches 10 billion. First successful human mission to the Jovian system.
• 2061: Breakthroughs in anti-aging research significantly extend human lifespans, with many living beyond 120 years. Global implementation of universal basic income. First artificial womb allows external human gestation.
• 2062: A global governance framework regulates AI development and usage, ensuring ethical standards. First human with a fully synthetic brain. Mars population reaches 1 million.
• 2063: Automated systems handle routine legal matters, reducing the burden on human courts. Interstellar probe reaches Alpha Centauri. Earth's oceans fully mapped and explored.
• 2064: Large-scale space habitats house human populations, providing an alternative to Earth-based living. Human-like androids become common in households. First permanent settlement in Mercury's polar craters.
• 2065: Genetic therapies cure most hereditary and acquired diseases, enhancing human health. Global literacy and numeracy rates reach 100%. First successful manipulation of the human genome to prevent aging.
• 2066: Cities achieve climate neutrality, with zero carbon emissions and sustainable living practices. First human born in interstellar space. Earth's biodiversity returns to pre-2000 levels due to restoration efforts.
• 2067: AI optimises economic models, ensuring sustainable growth and equitable distribution of resources. Quantum computers solve previously unsolvable mathematical problems. First manned mission to Pluto.
• 2068: Neurotechnology enhances cognitive abilities and treats neurological disorders effectively. Human-animal communication translator developed. Solar system-wide internet achieved.
• 2069: Massive projects restore ecosystems and biodiversity, reversing centuries of environmental damage.
• 2070: World population peaks at 11 billion. First human with the ability to directly connect and disconnect from the global AI network at will.
• 2071: First successful hibernation of humans for interstellar travel. Ocean colonization begins with underwater cities.
• 2072: Earth's entire energy needs met by a Dyson swarm around the Sun. Nanotechnology and picotechnology revolutionize manufacturing and medicine, allowing manipulation of matter at atomic and sub-atomic levels for unprecedented precision and capabilities.
• 2073: Human consciousness successfully transferred between bodies. First manned mission beyond the solar system.
• 2074: Global weather control system implemented. Terraforming of Mars reaches halfway point.
• 2075: Human lifespan reaches 200 years.
• 2076: Teleportation of complex organisms achieved. First human colony established on a planet outside the solar system.
• 2077: Earth becomes a type 1 civilization on the Kardashev scale. First artificial planet constructed.
• 2078: Time manipulation technology allows localized time dilation. Human-AI hybrid species emerges.
• 2079: Warp drive technology successfully tested. Global implementation of thought-based communication.

2080-2099

• 2080: World population stabilises at 12 billion. First human born with natural immunity to all known diseases.
• 2081: Gravity manipulation technology developed. Mars becomes fully terraformed and habitable.
• 2082: Human evolution artificially accelerated, creating a new subspecies. First successful travel to parallel universe.
• 2083: Global implementation of molecular assemblers eliminates scarcity. First manned mission to the galactic core.
• 2084: Earth's damaged ecosystems fully restored to pre-industrial revolution state. Interstellar colonisation begins in earnest.
• 2085: Human consciousness successfully merged with global AI network. First artificial star created.
• 2086: Time travel tourism becomes possible for short jumps to the past. First contact with intelligent life from another galaxy.
• 2087: Humanity achieves immortality through consciousness transfer. First human colony outside the Milky Way galaxy.
• 2088: Earth's core tapped for virtually limitless energy. First successful manipulation of dark matter.
• 2089: Human-AI hybrid species becomes dominant on Earth. First artificial galaxy created.
• 2090: World population reaches 15 billion, spread across multiple planets and habitats. Intergalactic internet established.
• 2091: Humanity collectively evolves into a higher form of consciousness. First successful creation of a pocket universe.
• 2092: Time becomes fully manipulable, allowing non-linear existence. First human born with natural ability to traverse dimensions.
• 2093: Earth transformed into a planetary supercomputer. Colonisation of multiple galaxies underway.
• 2094: First successful creation of new forms of matter.
• 2095: Medical technologies cure most diseases, extending life expectancy further.
• 2096: Creation of artificial universes with customisable laws of physics. ?
• 2097: Resources from space are used to support Earth and space colonies, reducing dependency on terrestrial resources.
• 2098: Time ceases to be a linear concept for humanity.
• 2099: Humanity evolves into a singular cosmic entity. Ability to create new forms of life and consciousness at will.
• 2100: Human civilisation becomes a type 3 civilization on the Kardashev scale. Complete understanding and control of all universal laws achieved.
• 2101-2170: Humanity continues to evolve beyond current comprehension, exploring and shaping the multiverse in ways impossible to predict or describe with our current understanding of reality.

Which if any of these are you intrigued about or keen to see, or not see, become a reality?

Whatever your view - the enduring nature of the Wall Street Journal is food for thought in these ever changing times.

And if you made it to the end, thank you!