Welcome to this 122nd issue of our newsletter “Weak Signals and other Trends”.
Each week, I sift through hundreds of sources of inspiration to track where we’re heading. If you are a new subscriber to this newsletter, take the time to send me a note and introduce yourself, I love to understand who is reading.
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I have prepared this newsletter this week from Montreal, Canada. This is what I noticed this week, thank you for sharing with those who look into the future.
Estelle.
Competitive Intelligence
The Ease of Tracking Mobile Phones of U.S. Soldiers in Hot Spots. The government was buying up reams of consumer data. A new push to carve data collection out of the humanitarian tech stack. Ways to find related websites. Forecasting weather. Marginalia, a search engine that surfaces non-commercial websites.
Strategic blindspots and business models
Looking at the familiar with “alien eyes” allows you to unlock new business model opportunities while avoiding risks stemming from strategic blindspots. This section also is about the risks we miss.
How the Media Industry Keeps Losing the Future. John Deere Announces Strategic Partnership with SpaceX. JPMorgan filed a patent application for a system to use artificial intelligence for “personal financial planning.” Mapping the crops with the most potential in a changing climate. Solar dimming could have severe unintended consequences that affect the entire planet. The Great Paradox of the U.S. Market!
Our future
We Are Entering a Maker Renaissance. Ghost Kitchens Are Advertising AI-Generated Food. USPTO says AI models can’t hold patents. The Fandom Forecast 2024. Scenarios for European Space Exploration 2040-2060. Building Positive Futures for Generative AI Adoption in Healthcare. The rapid Expansion of Arctic Shipping.
We keep you updated on those trends and more on Twitter.
Weak signals
Weak signals are indicators of a change, a trend or an emerging risk that might become significant for the future. They allow us to run hypothesis, expand our thinking, and challenge assumptions. How will you interpret those in your industry or field of expertise?
The signals we're watching in 2024. How the loneliness crisis is fueling "stan culture". The world's largest collection of found grocery lists. I Love Reading 1980s Computer Magazines, and So Should You. Why eggshells are cracking more. A news site entirely generated by AI. Cubicles are making a comeback.
Our article: Making Sense of Weak Signals.
On our radar
I have been preparing for a couple of clients an outlook of the immense wealth transfer that will take place as boomers age and prepare to give tens of trillions of dollars to their heirs over the next few decades: The 2023 UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report. The great wealth transfer is also set to affect women the most. Will the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’ transform the markets? The rise of a new 'inheritance economy'? Is Asia's next generation ready for $2.5 trillion wealth transfer?
Book a speaking engagement about weak signals and emerging trends.
Down the rabbit hole
This section highlights a subject that led me to many useful threads, or a single site, that opened many doors: “A rabbit hole is not a distraction. A rabbit hole is your brain trying to tell you to pay attention to something you’re curious about. Ignore algorithmic rabbit holes” ( by are.na):
This week, I discovered the book of graphic presentations. The book runs more than 500 pages, nearly all of which include the sort of vintage, hand-created visualizations.
Hodgepodge discovery
Articles for curious minds and the polymaths
Over a weekend in 1995, a small group gathered in Ohio to unleash the power of the internet by making it navigable. The intriguing maps that reveal alternate histories. Making Alarms More Musical Can Save Lives. A deep dive into Dream Tech, the emerging industry that aims to capitalize on people’s dreams. The decimal point was invented around 150.0 years earlier than previously thought. The psychology and neuroscience of curiosity.
Numbers
41%- Close to half of UK architects are now utilising artificial intelligence to carry out their projects
800$- UBS says that to justify Apple’s current valuation, everyone needs to spend $800 a year on Apple products.
15%- A recent survey found that ~15% of Americans had bought a home with someone other than a romantic partner.
Feeling good
Merriam-Webster's list of beautiful and useless words. Cities moving.
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