Experts predict five eerie futuristic ideas that will completely change our lives by 2050
While the future is undeniably scary, there are a lot of good things we have to look forward to as well.
I think we can all agree that at some point in our lives, we've feared that tech and artificial intelligence are going to take over the world (or at least our jobs), and that a lot of people have a largely pessimistic point of view when it comes to the future.
New research by insurance group Zurich found that only 17 per cent of Brits feel optimistic about what lies ahead, and 56 per cent were feeling negatively about it all.
But the future of tech isn't all job-stealing and life turning into The Matrix; there are a handful of ways it'll help us — and these things could all come into play by 2050.
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Giving a more positive outlook, futurologist Tom Cheesewright said: "It’s become fashionable to bemoan a future dominated by AI, robotics and relentless technological change, but really, we have a lot to look forward to.
"When you take a step back and look at the progress we’ve made so far in the 21st century, from decoding the human genome to renewable energies becoming the fastest-growing power sources, it’s clear that human ingenuity has the power to outpace pessimism."
He went on to say that 'the next 24 years have the potential to be the greatest era of human progress in our long history'.
Cheesewright has since joined forces with astrophysicist Dr Alastair Reynolds, and these are the ways they think tech might benefit us for the better by 2050.
Bio-printed body parts
Experts believe that by 2050, bio-printers will be able to create complex organs like kidneys, livers, or even eyes using patients’ cells, with zero rejection risks and no waiting times for matching donors.
Some progress is already being made towards achieving this. Last year, researchers from UC San Francisco and Cedars-Sinai said they'd made the first steps to growing organs from scratch.
If we're at this stage now, who knows where we'll be in 24 years' time?
Space elevators
While this sounds like something straight out of Roald Dahl's book 'Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator', experts believe that by 2050, we'll see the construction of the world’s first space elevator (a towering structure with the dual purpose of carrying both cargo and passengers into orbit).
Japanese construction company Obayashi has echoed similar sentiments about a 2050 deadline.
It stated on its website: "The space elevator is planned to be built by the year 2050 with a capacity to carry 100-ton climbers. It is composed of a 96,000-km carbon nanotube cable, a 400-m diameter floating Earth Port and a 12,500-ton counterweight.
"Other facilities include Martian/Lunar Gravity Centers, an Low Earth Orbit Gate, a Geostationary Earth Orbit Station, a Mars Gate and a Solar System Exploration Gate."
Androids and robot roommates
Supposedly, robot roommates will be 'common, if not ubiquitous' in 24 years' time, as well as becoming more affordable.
Several humanoid bots are already being made, but at a cost. Tesla's Optimus robot, which is expected to go on general sale this year, will currently set you back around $20,000, says Sherwood News.
Norway’s 1X Technologies robot, named Neo, also costs a similar price for early access. They're currently available to pre-order with a $200 deposit, and customers in the US are expected to get their deliveries this year.
Lab-grown meats
"The rate we eat meat will continue to fall, as alternative sources of protein become more common, and the remaining carnivores opt for quality over quantity," the experts say, adding: "Lab-grown meat will be cheap enough, and tasty enough, to be viable for those hoping to reduce meat consumption on ethical grounds."
In March 2025, BBC News reported that lab-grown meat could hit UK shelves as early as 2027. Meanwhile, the US cleared lab-grown meat for sale back in 2023.
A lot of people are seemingly still on the fence about it, however, but this may all change come 2050.
Death of smartphones
Love or hate them, smartphones are a big part of modern-day living, but by 2050, it's expected that they'll be replaced by smart glasses.
Do you plan on throwing away your phone anytime soon in favor of smart glasses?
Topics: Technology, Science, World News, Artificial Intelligence
Niamh Shackleton