25 Things that Won’t Exist in 25 Years

While twenty-five years sounds like a relatively short period of time, it’s an eternity from cultural and technological perspectives. The rate of change and progress in both categories is accelerating, which means even things that we assume will be around for years to come probably aren’t safe. Below is a list of widely used technologies and cultural institutions — some longstanding — that I predict won’t be around in 25 years based on current trends and an accelerating pace of change. To be sure “won’t exist” is probably hyperbole (CDs still “exist”), but gets across the sentiment — a significant decline in use compared to today with an inevitable end in sight. These predictions are limited to the U.S., while also acknowledging that I live and work in the bubble of Silicon Valley (we’re right about 10–25% of the time). Until the 20th Century, the only way for the average person to see wild animals in action was at a zoo. Today, videos of animals in the wild — either in programs like or on YouTube are more educational, entertaining, and ethical. Animal ethics and rights movements will increase their (sanctuaries are a different story). Zoos: Planet Earth amateur footage calls for zoos to close Access control will go digital, powered by computer vision and biometric identification. Your face, gestures, and voice will be your keys to everything. I covered this in my article . Keys: The Cameras are Coming when it comes to objectifying women’s bodies on the sidelines of professional sports played by men. Cheerleaders: The writing is on the wall Perhaps the most controversial of these predictions, as the NFL as a whole is worth over $75 billion+, and >100 million people still watch the Superbowl. and traumatic brain injury will continue to be uncovered. The league will continue to adopt rules focused on player safety, which will “ruin the game” according to the most ardent fans. Many parents will stop allowing their children to play over safety concerns, which will decrease the quality of play at top levels, further compounding the decreased interest of fans. The NFL: The effects of playing football As more / legalize (and benefit from tax revenue) and scientific evidence of the medical benefits continue to be revealed, it’s only a matter of time before we see legalized and regulated at a federal level. Federal ban on cannabis: states countries the new multi-billion dollar CPG category The 119th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade? (I don’t believe Amazon would find value in the naming rights, except symbolically) The Thanksgiving Day Parade: Macy’s Walmart While transitioning fully to fleet-based autonomous electric vehicles may take longer than 25 years, OEMs are investing seriously and heavily in electrification. GM’s head of product commented in 2017, “ ” combustion engine cars: New General Motors believes the future is all-electric . Even more quickly than smartphones were adopted, we’ll transition to spatial computing / augmented reality head mounted displays, which will increasingly take the form of a Handheld smartphones: standard-looking pair of eyeglasses. Coal power plants: Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration Expect Facebook to continue acquiring other platforms as they did with Instagram and Whatsapp (among others). The average age of Facebook users has risen significantly and a sizeable amount of young consumers have . Perhaps there’s a name change a al “ ” down the line? Facebook (the platform, not the company): avoided the original Facebook entirely Alphabet Replaced by virtual assistants that can make calls among many other tasks. Amazon has already partnered with homebuilders Landline phone lines in new homes: to build Alexa into new homes. In the aftermath of the Trump Administration — which won while losing the election by 3 million votes — political sentiment and voting technology will address the issue that a Wyoming voter has 3.6x the influence as a voter in California in Presidential Elections. The current Electoral College: Source: The Washington Post Breakthroughs in battery and charging technology will free us from charging cables, perhaps utilizing WiFi networks — a technical use case . Wired charging: Apple has filed a patent for Long the standard-bearer of measurement used by television networks to sell ads in the $70B+ TV advertising industry, Nielsen’s surveying / sampling methodology will become archaic as MVPDs and networks aim to capture and own accurate customer & viewership data while implementing programmatic DAI (dynamic ad insertion) targeted to individual viewers, enhancing ad engagement and effectiveness. Nielsen TV Ratings: Google will likely be a big enabler here. The technology has arrived to falsify video and audio content to convincingly produce a video of an individual and things they never did. Seeing is no longer believing. Verification software / solutions will arise, but will lag behind consumer skepticism of falsified video shared virally on social platforms. Trustworthy video evidence: saying doing Human bodies differ in genetics, blood types, size, chemical balance, age, etc — yet are prescribed the exact same prescriptions and doses for many medical conditions. One day this will look barbaric, as . One-size-fits-all medicine: precision medicine personalizes treatments to individual patients Each of these diseases , and should be within 25 years (as long as people continue to get vaccinated…) Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella: are nearly eradicated eCigarettes / “vapes” are , likely less harmful (though still unhealthy), and being rapidly adopted by young demographics of smokers. Cigarettes: less expensive Will be replaced by , who are better at their jobs for a fraction of the price (or free). Human Personal Assistants / Secretaries: virtual assistants . The gender pay-gap: Hopefully Logistics, shipping, and last-mile delivery networks will be ubiquitous and efficient, due in part to . Competition will drive shipping fees to $0 (or at least baked-in to the price of goods). Shipping fees: autonomous vehicles — especially semi-trucks While books, packaging, and other commercial and industrial materials will still be printed, consumers will have no use for printers, as everything is handled digitally. We can only hope that . Consumer printers: CVS stops printing receipts by 2043 Generally speaking, as humanity has progressed we’ve placed a higher value on life. Capital Punishment (a.k.a. the death penalty): Number of executions by year in the U.S. in curing baldness (regrowing lost hair). Whether or not these specific treatments and drugs achieve commercial viability, it’s likely that being bald is optional by 2043. Baldness: 2018 saw multiple supposed “breakthroughs” One day it will seem barbaric that we used to to order coffee or food, pay at a store, or enter an event or bar. Ordering ahead and delivery will be the norm for food ( ). Retail and convenience stores will have -esque cashierless checkout. Computer vision and biometric identification will enable your face to . Standing in line: stand in line and wait over 10% of Starbucks transactions are already ordered ahead Amazon Go be your ticket into a concert, or verify that you’re of age to enter a bar So, there you have it. Twenty-five things that won’t exist in twenty-five years. Do you agree? What have I missed? Let me know in the comments below. If you enjoyed this, please “clap” (I feel like …) and . You can check out some of my previous articles: and Jeb Bush follow me on Medium The Cameras are Coming , The Future of Car Travel: Advertising and Retail? , How Binge Watching Doomed Comedy . I’m currently an investor at Sinai Ventures in San Francisco. I previously worked in digital TV strategy at 21st Century Fox in Los Angeles. Northwestern Alum. Chicago Native. Feel free to reach out here, on Twitter , or LinkedIn .