Proof We Are Already Living in an Amazing Sci-Fi World
Invited by Deborah and Jen to join The Mentor Project, a US-based 501-C charity that brings together experts from astronauts and neuroscientists to engineers and futurists to mentor the next generation of students.
Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
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Deborah and Jen invited Matthew to join The Mentor Project, a US-based 501-C charity that brings together experts across many fields, from astronauts and neuroscientists to engineers and futurists. Its members believe in the value of mentorship, and in passing knowledge, information, innovation, culture, values and inspiration on to the next generation of students around the world.
It is a cause Matthew fully supports. He founded two philanthropic organisations, the World Futures Forum and XPotential University, which aim to bring people together to solve the world's greatest challenges, reduce inequality, and make sure the future and its benefits are shared equally and accessible to everyone, whatever their abilities, background or location.
"Many people today don't realise that we live in a world where science fiction is already literally science fact."Matthew Griffin, Miami, September 2020
His presentation, titled 'Proof we are already living in an amazing Sci-Fi world', revealed what he calls our world's parallel universe, one that few people see, where science fact is already stranger than science fiction.
He showed the audience how breakthrough after breakthrough is already making the impossible possible, from the development of the world's first molecular assemblers to a new breed of creative machines that will one day exceed humanity's flair for creativity and innovation. His point for the students was simple: many people still don't realise that science fiction is already science fact.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Fiction is already fact.
Matthew's core message in Miami in September 2020 was that many people do not realise science fiction has become science fact. For a leadership team, the risk is not a lack of change. It is that the change sits outside the sectors you watch.
Some breakthroughs are far off.
Molecular assemblers are imagined machines that could build almost any object, atom by atom. Our data puts the first product around 2060 and the readiness level at 2, so the action is to watch. Treat them as a long horizon signal, not a plan for this budget cycle.
Creativity is no longer only human.
Matthew pointed to creative machines that may one day exceed humanity's flair for creativity and innovation. Our data puts wide use around 2028, with an action of prepare. Teams in creative and product roles should decide now where human judgement stays essential.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Which breakthroughs sit outside the sectors we currently monitor?
Where would creative machines change our products, media or research first?
How do we share the benefits of new technology more widely?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
It argues that capabilities once seen as fiction are already real. Organisations should widen what they scan, and treat students and the next generation as a source of talent and ideas. The session also stresses that the benefits of the future should be shared and accessible to everyone.
How do molecular assemblers relate to this session?
Matthew used the world's first molecular assemblers as an example of the impossible becoming possible. Our data rates the technology as early stage, with a readiness level of 2 and a first product around 2060. The action is to watch.
How do creative machines relate to this session?
Matthew described a new breed of creative machines that will one day exceed human flair for creativity and innovation. Our data puts wide use around 2028 and recommends that leaders prepare.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
311 offers a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. Sessions are held in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
Hundreds of emerging technologies reshaping culture, industry and society.
311 Institute's Future of Exponential Technology Codex explores hundreds of emerging technologies and their implications for global culture, industry and society, the breakthroughs behind Matthew's case that science fiction is already science fact.
