Life in 2053: The Dirty Little Secret of the Future with Brian David Johnson

For the Summer of 2023, a dozen futurists talk about what life will be like for humans in 30 to 50 years. Each guest is asked to paint a picture of the changes that we will experience between now and 2053 or 2073. Then they are asked what mistakes we are making today that the people of 2073 will look back at in disbelief. The goal of these episodes is to spark the imagination of listeners about the future we have the ability to create.

In this episode, futurist Brian David Johnson (aka BDJ) paints a picture of life in 2053 with an emphasis on what he calls “the dirty little secret of the future” and that is that life then will look a lot like it does today, but with far more advanced technology. He also talks about how each of us would benefit from having a teenager as a mentor, why being fearful of novel technology is natural, and how we can overcome that fear. BDJ wraps up the interview by talking about how some of the things we are doing today – like the way we interact with our devices and living in homes that are not filled with smart devices - will be looked at in 50 years with a sense of disbelief.

Brian David Johnson was Intel Corporation’s first-ever futurist. Currently, he is a professor at Arizona State University's Global Futures Laboratory and the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. BDJ also works in a private practice with a broad range of groups, including governments, militaries, corporations, nonprofits and start-ups, to help them envision their future. BDJ holds over 40 patents and is the best-selling author of both science fiction and fact books: A Threatcasting Textbook, The Future You, WaR: Wizards and Robots, and 21st Century Robot.

“If you are fearful, let’s talk about it. Let’s get out there and say ‘well, what is the future you want? What is the future you want to avoid’ and start having those conversations, because you get to pick. You have that agency. And in that fear, that helps to push it away. It’s to see the opportunity, but at the same time there are some dark things there. That’s OK. Let’s talk about it now. Let’s not just be afraid and give up our agency for the future.” Brian David Johnson talking about how he helps people overcome their fear of technology and the changes technological advancement brings.