Jason Strong - Future You: Essential Future Technologies You Need To Know To Survive The Digital Era

It is hard to believe the World Wide Web has been in existence since just 1990. In the same 28 years it takes the average person to finally purchase their first house, the World Wide Web has morphed into a ubiquitous presence on which the whole of modern civilisation has become entirely dependant upon. With the rate of change in technology growing exponentially, it becomes both difficult and intimidating to imagine life in a further 28 years. Will fossil fuels and the resulting environmental damage destroy our world beyond repair? Will artificial intelligence become so advanced that it displaces humans as the dominant life form on earth? Who will be the winners and losers in an era of constant and rapid technological evolution? More importantly, where do you, as a blue collar, white collar, business owner or student, stand in a world where technology is transforming whole industries by the month. For some there will be boundless opportunities, for others there is only hardship and misery. The only certainty is the very reasoning for writing this book; those who are willing to learn, adapt and evolve will open themselves to immeasurable opportunity. Those who do not will find themselves quickly displaced by increasingly more capable technology.

The modern world is now entering a fourth industrial revolution. The previous three (steam, mass production, and the digital revolution) saw employment rise in line with productivity, benefiting both businesses and consumers. Higher productivity creates higher paying jobs, in turn creating more disposable income. More disposable income allows consumers to purchase more, which further increases demand and the cycle of prosperity continues. This pattern has been the catalyst for the rapid economic growth seen in developed countries for the last century or so. This fourth revolution, one where the lines between the real and digital worlds are blurring, is worryingly different, however. Employment and productivity are now diverging. Despite employment reaching a record high in much of the developed world, productivity (global output) is flat lining. The importance of this finding can not be overstated; productivity, and hence the prosperity of society, is becoming less dependent on human input. Businesses are now turning to robotics and artificial intelligence, which can be much more efficient, to fill this productivity gap. The robot revolution is spreading beyond blue collar jobs such as supermarket cashiers and restaurant waiters into white collar territory, such as lawyers, financial analysts, and even doctors. No one can assume they are safe. Are you going to simply stand by and let luck determine your fate? Or are you going to exploit and leverage the upcoming technologies and trends outlined in this book to take control of your own destiny?

Having had an extensive career in the automotive and construction industries, I have seen first-hand both the innovation and damage automation can reap. GPS led construction plant like excavators and dumpers, are now more accurate and more efficient than even the best human operators. Automated robotics can build cars quicker, cheaper and to a better quality than a human ever could. It is first-hand knowledge and experience that I bring to you, with the hope that you will embrace not only the entailed knowledge but also the corresponding advice and insights to ensure you do not get lost in the world of rapid change, but instead use it to leverage results and get ahead of your competition.

This book will give a comprehensive overview of some of the most disruptive technologies and industries in the near future, with particular focus on artificial intelligence and automation and the effects they will have on business and employment. We won't get stuck into nitty-gritty details, that is the job of other, more specialized, books. Instead, you will build a strong foundation of knowledge of how some of the most disruptive industries will change how we live and work along with the many opportunities it will create. You will learn of trends and patterns these technologies create and come to some enlightening conclusions. Ill let you into one of the biggest: you will never win a fight against technology. As technology becomes increasingly faster, cheaper and more capable, those who resist and fight will only prolong the inevitable pain and misery while those who accept it and use it to their advantage will enjoy a rewarding and prosperous life.

This book is inspired by the mantra of one of the most revered businessman of the past century, Warren Buffett. Seen as one of the most successful investors ever, he maintains that the best investment you can make is in yourself. The best place to start is by learning as much as you can, such as with this book. You are also never too old to learn or retrain; as we will see, those who are taking online degrees are on average in their mid-30s, have at least one child and are in full employment. There is no excuse. There is also no excuse to delay. As AI in the workplace gets exponentially more common, those who are the least prepared will be the first to go. Can you afford to be that person? I know I cant, so without further ado, lets address the elephant in the room and our first topic - artificial intelligence.