Participants at the Dubai Future Forum 2024 identified seven transformative developments that will reshape humanity’s future: the shift in evaluating growth, the dominance of solar energy, a return to the moon, the creation of a genomic bank, brain-computer implants for healthy individuals, the rise of alternative education, and AI’s integration into corporate boardrooms.
Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, emphasized the need to plan for the future and seize emerging opportunities.
In his keynote, he called for leveraging innovation, policy, and technology to enhance quality of life and foster global collaboration, reflecting the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Belhoul questioned the continued reliance on GDP as a measure of national progress, noting its inability to account for well-being and environmental impact. He welcomed the UN’s ongoing revision of its framework to incorporate these dimensions, signaling a major shift in evaluating growth.
On renewable energy, Belhoul pointed to solar power’s vast potential, stressing that global solar capacity, which stood at 220 gigawatts in 2022, is expected to double by 2025. In this context, he underlined the importance of natural resources in advancing sustainability and energy security.
Humanity is also set to return to the moon, with NASA planning a lunar mission after a 50-year hiatus. Belhoul expressed optimism about the new knowledge this mission could yield given recent technological advancements.
Moreover, the establishment of a genomic bank with over one million samples is expected next year, paving the way for personalized healthcare and disease prevention. While he hailed this as a scientific milestone, Belhoul urged caution over its ethical aspects.
In education, he stressed that a shift toward personalized learning is evident, with five million students projected to study outside traditional schools by next year. This reflects the growing role of technology in tailoring education to individual needs, he said.
Belhoul also discussed brain-computer implants, predicting that the first implant in a healthy person could happen within a year, raising profound questions about humanity’s relationship with technology. Additionally, he foresaw the appointment of the first AI-powered board member at a Fortune 500 company, sparking debates about AI’s role in leadership.
Belhoul urged policymakers and innovators to address these trends responsibly to ensure that technological advances align with human values and boost global well-being.
