Under the title of The Synthocene Era: Merging Human and Machine Intelligence, strategic foresight agency The Future Laboratory presented its trend briefing for businesses (and the world at large) at London’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) venue last week.

The Future Laboratory’s co-founder Martin Raymond opened the day with some intriguing updates: AI has already outbidden and outplayed human intelligence and creativity. As we move towards a co-intelligence between humans and machines, what does it mean to be human and how do we adopt our strategies accordingly? “We cannot afford unpredictability in the age of the synthocene. We have to get it right all the time; machines only have to get it right once,” he remarked. Raymond advised we negotiate our future with AI and pierce our fear bubble.

Here are seven further insights from the day’s discussions:

A majority of (especially younger generations) are welcoming the inclusion of AI, especially in the health and wellness industries. They want to see the power of AI in the hands of citizens over business and governments.

The Future Laboratory’s internal research arm, Future:Poll, surveyed 2,000 individuals across the UK and US about their feelings regarding a tech-augmented future. According to this study, 71% of Gen Z see the acceleration of technology as a positive thing, with these numbers dropping across older generations. Across all participants, 27% wanted to see innovation driven towards health and wellness, with this figure reaching 32% for those ages 55 and older. As for who they want to see controlling this technology, 34% voted for citizens, 26% for governments, and 14% for businesses. Only 8% of participants ages 55 and older wanted to see this power in the hands of businesses. Those in the UK were more likely to grant their government power than those in the US (32% versus 20%), while more US participants wanted to see these tools in the hands of businesses (16% versus 12%), indicating varying levels of trust between the countries.

Businesses should prioritize purposeful applications of technology over novelty innovations, and ensure inclusive access to these tools.

Climate change came in second ranking (20%) to health and wellness for preferred application points. In terms of granting access to these tools, affluence and education are two barriers to entry that businesses should address. Wider positive impacts should take priority over attention-grabbing novelties.

Democratically accessible tools like OpenAI and ChatGPT are a testament to consumer desire to interact with these tools. According to the New York Times, the valuation of OpenAI grew to £61 billion ($81 billion) in ten months, while searches for ChatGPT on Google grew by 2,000%.

ASI is the new AI, but with this new frontier comes increasing caveats.

ASI (Artifical Super Intelligence) or AI with human-like understanding is set to become the new standard by as early as 2027. With this acceleration also comes an increasing responsibility to formats such as deepfakes, but with no incentivisation for companies to counteract them, there isn’t any signs of them waning anytime soon. Furthermore, with culture becoming homgenized through algorithms in an increasingly online world, some are choosing to move away from mainstream platforms in favor of independent spaces like Substack or prioritizing in-person events over apps altogether.

The search for becoming superhuman will only continue to grow.

The wearable medical device market is expected to grow to £128.43 billion ($167.94 billion) by 2030, according to Grand View Research, but a cyborg future where AI will be integrated into our bodies will be the next iteration. With Gen Alpha, being tech-native, this concept is also becoming more widely accepted. The internet already functions as an external cortex, but Brazilian start-up Orby is using noninvasive neuromodulation to aid those with Parkinson’s and strokes by using AI to process brain signals into electrical waves to stimulate neural tissues. Nanobots, or tiny devices that communicate with our neurons, connecting cloud-based computing with the human brain could lead to an era of organoid intelligence (OI), defined by biocomputers driven by living human brain cells.

AI will boost emotional intelligence in Gen Alpha and Gen Beta.

While AI will in no way replace human relationships, the technology itself will become a tool in generating EQ (emotional quotient). Moxie is an AI robot with play-based conversational learning abilities to teach five-to-ten-year-olds emotional and social skills. Industrial design consultancy Morrama partnered with a child psychiatrist to create AI tools that support children ages six and up in managing emotions and building connections. The US market for humanoid and animal-like healthcare companion robots are is expected to reach £4.3 billion ($5.6 billion) in 2030, according to Grand View Research. Meanwhile the AI  Friend wearable offers continuous companionship by constantly listening in on its wearer and sending relevant prompts and comments via text message.

Body-focused wellness will still have a place in this high-tech future.

Despite all the digitally led advances at our fingertips, there is still a power in presence. The rise in primal therapy, which centers around reconnecting to fundamental human experiences; classes like Sanctum, which combines Western fitness approaches with Eastern well-being practices; and Nike BreathLab, a reactive installation at the brand’s House of Innovation in Paris that syncs with the user’s breath using AI, focus on wellness centered in the human body.

Phygital models are redefining retail.

Future shoppers might not only be going to the store but having the store come to them. According to Ericsson, by 2030, three-quarters of consumers expect to be able to project their home inside the store when trying out new products. With archi-tainment, the architectural elements of the store itself are becoming integrated into the shopping experience with digital and MR (mixed reality) elements. In-store AI advisors finely attuned to a customer’s emotions and previous shopping behaviors are accompanying them along the way.

Whether it’s educational devices at an elementary school level or pioneering medical breakthroughs with machine learning, the convergence of our physical and digital worlds will continue. Being intentional, responsible, and mindful of this fusion between AI and humanity is of the utmost importance. Even for those operating outside of a solely tech-driven realm, The Synthocene Era has future strategic implications. Fiona Harkin, Director of Foresight at The Future Laboratory states, “As we explore the intricacies of this new era—from AI’s role in augmenting our cognitive abilities to humans merging with tech to become Human+—we must recognize that the path forward is not just about harnessing the latest advances; it’s about remembering what it truly means to be human in a rapidly evolving landscape.”