"There is no shortage of big opportunities.. There is a shortage of bold leadership!" = Futurist Jim Carroll

One of my fellow futurists recently included this line in a post I read - "We should be pulling more photons from the sun." He wrote it as an observation when he was flying into an American city, and saw an absolute dearth of solar panels on the roofs of homes and buildings. Solar energy - the infrastructure at least - has become desperately cheap and tremendously productive, and we are missing such a big opportunity.

This idea of things we are not doing but should be grabbed my attention, of course, so I set off to take a look at the material I've written in my blog since 2002 that might fit the theme. Much of my material covers not just my Daily Inspiration posts, one of which you are reading now, but reports on keynotes, trend overviews, research summaries, and more.

And so with that, I give you this list of A List of 101 Things We Could be Doing Right Now (But Aren't Because There is a Shortage of Bold Leadership. I used Google Notebook LLM to analyze my material, given that there are almost 5,000 posts. There is a PDF version, of course, that I also used with my new handy-dandy AI-slide generation tool that an AI helped me write - written in Python, it's become an invaluable tool. It's a BIG FILE - grab it here.

This list should inspire more bold thinking, but also some sad reflection, since it is indicative of the sad state of leadership in our world today.

  1. Moving agriculture to 24-hour operations using robotics and autonomous technology. ... to dramatically increase food production efficiency, reduce dependency on manual labor, and optimize resource utilization for greater agricultural output and food security.
  2. Implementing digital twin technology in construction to accelerate design and management. ... to enable virtual modeling, simulation, and real-time monitoring of construction projects, leading to reduced errors, faster project completion, improved safety, and optimized lifecycle management of built assets.
  3. Building multi-story vertical farms for urban crop production. ... to ensure local food security, reduce transportation distances and associated emissions for produce, minimize water usage and pesticide application, and provide fresh crops year-round directly in densely populated areas.
  4. Utilizing AI for driverless tractors and weed-zapping robots in farming. ... to enhance precision agriculture, reduce the need for herbicides, lower fuel consumption, optimize planting and harvesting operations, and free up human farmers for more strategic tasks.
  5. Implementing bio-connectivity for virtual hospitals and remote patient monitoring. ... to expand access to healthcare services, enable continuous health tracking for chronic conditions, reduce hospital readmissions, and provide more personalized and timely medical interventions regardless of patient location.
  6. Recognizing that every industry is becoming a software industry driven by technology. ... to ensure businesses proactively integrate digital tools, data analytics, and software-defined processes to maintain competitiveness, innovate rapidly, and meet evolving customer expectations.
  7. Shifting construction to offsite manufacturing and rapid onsite assembly. ... to improve construction quality and consistency, reduce project timelines, minimize onsite waste and disruption, and enhance worker safety through controlled factory environments.
  8. Applying 3D printing and new material science in construction. ... to enable greater design freedom, facilitate the use of sustainable and innovative building materials, reduce material waste, and potentially lower construction costs for complex structures.
  9. Adopting mass customization and build-to-demand in manufacturing. ... to meet individual customer needs more precisely, reduce inventory waste associated with mass production, and enhance product relevance and customer satisfaction.
  10. Utilizing intelligent robotics in manufacturing. ... to increase production speed and throughput, improve product quality and consistency, enhance worker safety by automating dangerous tasks, and enable more flexible and adaptive manufacturing lines.
  11. Investing in drone tech, robotics, and advanced last-mile logistics for retail delivery. ... to speed up delivery times, reduce operational costs, lower carbon emissions from traditional delivery vehicles, and meet consumer demand for faster and more convenient shipping.
  12. Transitioning automotive fleets to electric vehicles. ... to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from transportation, lower reliance on fossil fuels, and decrease vehicle operating costs due to cheaper fuel and maintenance.
  13. Developing vehicles as connected, computer-like devices. ... to enable advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), over-the-air software updates, predictive maintenance, enhanced infotainment, and the future integration of autonomous driving capabilities.
  14. Building distributed, connected energy hyper grids with renewables. ... to increase energy system resilience, integrate diverse renewable energy sources more effectively, reduce transmission losses, and empower consumers with more control over their energy generation and usage.
  15. Applying genomic medicine and pharmacogenetics to prevent illness. ... to enable highly personalized disease risk assessment, tailor preventative strategies based on an individual's genetic makeup, and optimize drug selection and dosage to maximize efficacy and minimize adverse effects.
  16. Using molecular cancer diagnostics for early identification. ... to detect cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages, leading to significantly improved patient outcomes, reduced treatment intensity, and lower healthcare costs associated with late-stage cancer care.
  17. Implementing autonomy in vehicles and machinery across industries. ... to improve operational efficiency, enhance safety by reducing human error in hazardous environments, enable 24/7 operations, and optimize resource utilization in sectors like mining, logistics, and agriculture.
  18. Developing AI co-pilots specifically for accelerating complex scientific research and engineering design tasks. ... to augment human intelligence, rapidly process vast datasets, identify novel patterns and solutions, and significantly shorten the timelines for discovery and innovation.
  19. Investigating new materials science for breakthrough products. ... to unlock novel functionalities, improve performance characteristics (e.g., strength, conductivity, efficiency), enable entirely new technologies, and drive innovation across diverse sectors from electronics to aerospace.
  20. Developing bio-inspired and neuromorphic robotic systems for complex and dynamic environments. ... to create robots that can navigate, learn, and adapt more effectively in unstructured and unpredictable settings, mimicking the efficiency and resilience of natural biological systems.
  21. Engineering and deploying quantum sensor networks for breakthroughs in medical diagnostics, resource discovery, and fundamental physics research. ... to achieve unprecedented levels of measurement sensitivity and precision, enabling new insights and capabilities in areas like early disease detection, mapping Earth's resources, and exploring the universe.
  22. Embedding chips and connectivity for hyperconnectivity in everything. ... to create a vast network of intelligent devices (Internet of Things) that can communicate and share data, enabling smarter systems, automated processes, and more informed decision-making in all aspects of life.
  23. Applying Manufacturing 2.0 principles for maximum agility and flexibility. ... to enable manufacturers to quickly adapt to changing market demands, produce smaller, customized batches efficiently, and integrate new technologies like AI and IoT for smarter, more responsive production systems.
  24. Implementing contact-less payment technology in retail and other sectors. ... to enhance transaction speed and convenience for consumers, improve hygiene by reducing physical contact, and streamline payment processing for businesses.
  25. Building 5-star Green Star (or equivalent high-standard sustainable) buildings as costs become neutral. ... to minimize environmental impact, reduce operational energy and water consumption, improve indoor environmental quality for occupants, and enhance long-term asset value.
  26. Adopting Additive/3D manufacturing. ... to accelerate the potential for rapid prototyping, customized part production, on-demand manufacturing, and the creation of complex geometries, leading to faster product development and supply chain optimization.
  27. Preparing the workforce for roles controlling robots and using advanced technology. ... to ensure that employees have the necessary skills to collaborate with automated systems, manage new technological tools, and transition into higher-value jobs created by technological advancement.
  28. Utilizing sophisticated robotic technology for tasks like gentle harvesting. ... to improve the quality and yield of delicate agricultural produce, reduce food loss due to damage, and address labor shortages in the agricultural sector.
  29. Implementing drone aerial technology for crop monitoring. ... to enable farmers to efficiently assess crop health, identify pest infestations or nutrient deficiencies early, optimize irrigation and fertilization, and improve overall farm management and yields.
  30. Implementing AI-driven generative design and robotic fabrication for highly customized and resource-efficient construction. ... to create optimized building designs based on specific performance criteria, automate complex construction tasks, minimize material waste, and enable novel architectural forms.
  31. Developing local community hyper-grids based on renewables. ... to enhance energy independence for communities, improve grid stability and resilience against large-scale outages, and facilitate the local generation and sharing of renewable energy.
  32. Utilizing connected fleets for predictive maintenance and zero downtime. ... to monitor vehicle health in real-time, anticipate potential failures before they occur, schedule maintenance proactively, and maximize the operational availability of transportation and logistics assets.
  33. Implementing IoT for connected devices everywhere. ... to gather vast amounts of real-world data, enable remote control and automation of devices and systems, and create new services and efficiencies across homes, cities, and industries.
  34. Exploring neighborhood-level swarm intelligence for energy management. ... to allow groups of interconnected devices (like solar panels, batteries, EVs) to cooperatively optimize energy consumption, storage, and distribution at a local level, improving efficiency and stability.
  35. Developing real estate strategies that include urban vertical farms. ... to integrate sustainable food production directly into urban environments, create mixed-use developments that enhance local food access, and repurpose underutilized urban spaces.
  36. Utilizing bio-connectivity for remote monitoring of senior patients at home. ... to enable elderly individuals to live independently for longer, provide caregivers with real-time health alerts, and allow for timely intervention in case of emergencies or declining health.
  37. Integrating sophisticated technology (UI, compute, connectivity) into manufactured products. ... to transform traditional products into smart, connected devices, offering enhanced user experiences, new functionalities through software, and valuable data insights for manufacturers and users.
  38. Accelerating education and training for robotics and advanced manufacturing. ... to build a skilled workforce capable of designing, operating, and maintaining the advanced technologies that are transforming industries, ensuring future competitiveness.
  39. Researching acceleration of brain science and regenerative medicine. ... to develop new treatments for neurological disorders and injuries, find ways to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs, and ultimately improve human healthspan and quality of life.
  40. Exploring cellular agriculture for sustainable food production. ... to produce meat, dairy, and other animal products directly from cell cultures, potentially reducing the environmental impact of traditional livestock farming, improving animal welfare, and enhancing food safety.
  41. Developing AI-based real-time food planning. ... to optimize food production, distribution, and consumption based on real-time demand and supply data, thereby reducing food waste, improving food system efficiency, and enhancing food security.
  42. Accelerating discovery in healthcare science. ... to speed up the identification of new disease mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and diagnostic tools, leading to faster development of innovative treatments and cures for a wide range of medical conditions.
  43. Underwriting insurance based on real-time analytics. ... to enable more accurate risk assessment through continuous data streams (e.g., from IoT devices, telematics), leading to fairer premium pricing, personalized insurance products, and proactive risk mitigation advice.
  44. Implementing AI for strategic purposes like streamlining workflow or fraud detection. ... to automate repetitive tasks, improve decision-making accuracy, identify anomalies and suspicious activities more effectively, and free up human capital for more complex and creative endeavors.
  45. Adopting robotics in industry for efficiency, safety, and AI opportunities. ... to boost productivity through automation, protect human workers from hazardous or strenuous tasks, and create platforms for AI to further optimize and control industrial processes.
  46. Implementing Augmented Reality applications in jobs and careers. ... to provide workers with real-time information overlays, step-by-step visual guidance for complex tasks, and immersive training experiences, thereby improving efficiency, accuracy, and safety.
  47. Mapping the entire ocean floor with high-resolution technology. ... to vastly improve our understanding of marine geology, deep-sea ecosystems, potential resources, and geohazards, supporting sustainable ocean management and scientific discovery.
  48. Developing sustainable deep-sea mining practices with minimal environmental impact. ... to access critical minerals necessary for new technologies while ensuring the protection of fragile marine ecosystems and biodiversity through rigorous environmental safeguards and innovative extraction methods.
  49. Expanding ocean observation systems for better understanding of climate change impacts and marine ecosystems. ... to gather crucial data on ocean warming, acidification, sea-level rise, and marine biodiversity, enabling more accurate climate modeling and informed conservation efforts.
  50. Investing in advanced desalination and water purification technologies powered by renewable energy. ... to provide a sustainable and secure source of fresh water for arid regions and drought-stricken areas, reducing reliance on over-exploited freshwater resources.
  51. Scaling up production of sustainable and biodegradable plastics from renewable sources. ... to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based plastics, decrease plastic pollution in the environment, and create a more circular economy for materials.
  52. Developing smart materials that can sense, respond, and adapt to their environment. ... to create materials that can self-heal, change properties on demand, or provide real-time feedback, leading to more durable, efficient, and functional products and infrastructure.
  53. Mainstreaming the use of nanotechnology for creating materials with novel properties (e.g., super strength, self-repair). ... to enable the design and fabrication of materials with enhanced performance characteristics at the atomic and molecular level, revolutionizing industries from medicine to manufacturing.
  54. Building fully autonomous, "lights-out" smart factories driven by AI and robotics. ... to achieve unprecedented levels of manufacturing efficiency, precision, and flexibility, enabling 24/7 production with minimal human intervention and adaptive control.
  55. Accelerating research and deployment of viable fusion energy technologies. ... to unlock a potentially limitless, clean, and safe source of baseload power, dramatically reducing carbon emissions and transforming the global energy landscape.
  56. Developing and implementing large-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. ... to remove significant amounts of CO2 from industrial emissions and the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change and potentially creating valuable carbon-based products.
  57. Creating advanced geothermal energy systems for baseload power generation. ... to tap into the Earth's consistent subsurface heat for a reliable, renewable, and low-emission source of electricity and direct heating, available 24/7.
  58. Building smart grids that integrate diverse energy sources and enable dynamic energy management. ... to optimize the flow of electricity, accommodate intermittent renewables like solar and wind, reduce energy waste, improve grid reliability, and empower consumers with more choices.
  59. Investing in green hydrogen production and infrastructure as a clean energy carrier. ... to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry and transportation, provide long-duration energy storage, and create a versatile, zero-emission fuel.
  60. Developing atmospheric water generation technologies for arid regions. ... to extract fresh water directly from ambient air, providing a decentralized and climate-resilient water source for communities facing water scarcity.
  61. Advancing gene editing technologies (like CRISPR) for curing genetic diseases. ... to precisely correct the underlying genetic mutations responsible for inherited disorders, offering the potential for one-time cures and transforming the lives of patients.
  62. Developing personalized cancer vaccines based on individual tumor genomics. ... to stimulate a patient's own immune system to specifically target and destroy their unique cancer cells, offering a highly targeted and potentially more effective cancer treatment.
  63. Creating brain-computer interfaces for medical rehabilitation and augmenting human capabilities. ... to restore lost sensory or motor functions for individuals with paralysis or neurological disorders, and explore pathways for enhancing cognitive or physical abilities.
  64. Engineering synthetic organs and tissues for transplantation. ... to address the critical shortage of donor organs, create patient-specific tissues that reduce rejection risk, and provide new solutions for organ failure and tissue damage.
  65. Utilizing AI for rapid discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals. ... to accelerate the identification of potential drug candidates, predict their efficacy and safety, and streamline clinical trial processes, bringing life-saving medicines to patients faster.
  66. Expanding research into the microbiome and its impact on health and disease. ... to understand how the trillions of microbes in and on our bodies influence our physiology, immunity, and susceptibility to various conditions, leading to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
  67. Implementing personalized nutrition plans based on genetic and biomarker data. ... to optimize dietary recommendations according to an individual's unique biological makeup and health status, improving overall well-being and preventing diet-related diseases.
  68. Developing explainable AI (XAI) to ensure transparency and trust in AI decision-making. ... to make the reasoning behind AI outputs understandable to humans, which is crucial for critical applications in healthcare, finance, and autonomous systems, fostering adoption and accountability.
  69. Investing in the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with robust safety protocols. ... to pursue AI systems with human-like cognitive abilities that could solve complex global challenges, while ensuring their development is aligned with human values and safety.
  70. Building practical and scalable quantum computers for solving complex problems. ... to tackle computations currently intractable for even the most powerful classical computers, revolutionizing fields like drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, and cryptography.
  71. Creating neuromorphic computing architectures inspired by the human brain for efficiency. ... to develop ultra-low-power and highly efficient processors for AI and machine learning tasks by mimicking the brain's structure and processing capabilities.
  72. Implementing AI-driven predictive models for pandemic prevention and response. ... to identify potential pandemic threats earlier, forecast disease spread more accurately, optimize resource allocation, and accelerate the development of countermeasures like vaccines and treatments.
  73. Developing advanced cybersecurity measures to protect against AI-driven threats. ... to defend critical infrastructure, data, and digital systems from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks that leverage artificial intelligence for enhanced capabilities and evasion.
  74. Establishing global frameworks for the ethical development and deployment of AI and other advanced technologies. ... to ensure that these powerful technologies are used responsibly, equitably, and in ways that benefit humanity while mitigating potential risks and societal disruptions.
  75. Transitioning towards a circular economy model that minimizes waste and maximizes resource reuse. ... to reduce environmental degradation, conserve natural resources, decrease pollution, and create new economic opportunities by keeping materials in use for as long as possible.
  76. Developing fully autonomous public transportation systems in smart cities. ... to improve traffic flow, reduce accidents, enhance accessibility for all residents, lower emissions, and optimize the efficiency of urban mobility networks.
  77. Creating personalized and adaptive learning platforms powered by AI for lifelong education. ... to tailor educational content and pace to individual student needs, enhance engagement, improve learning outcomes, and provide accessible opportunities for continuous skill development.
  78. Implementing digital identity systems that are secure, private, and user-controlled. ... to provide individuals with a safe and verifiable way to manage their identities online and offline, enabling access to services while protecting personal data and privacy.
  79. Fostering the development of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) for new forms of governance and collaboration. ... to explore transparent, community-driven, and blockchain-based models for decision-making, resource allocation, and collective action in various domains.
  80. Building resilient and adaptive infrastructure to withstand climate change impacts. ... to protect communities and economies from the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and other climate-related hazards.
  81. Using AI and big data to optimize urban planning and resource management in cities. ... to create more sustainable, livable, and efficient urban environments by improving transportation systems, energy distribution, waste management, and public services based on data-driven insights.
  82. Promoting digital literacy and critical thinking skills to navigate an increasingly complex information environment. ... to empower individuals to effectively use digital tools, critically evaluate online information, identify misinformation, and participate safely and responsibly in the digital world.
  83. Investing in mental health support systems leveraging technology for accessibility and personalization. ... to increase access to mental healthcare services through digital platforms, offer tailored interventions, reduce stigma, and provide continuous support for individuals' well-being.
  84. Developing precision fermentation techniques for producing proteins and other food ingredients. ... to create sustainable and customizable alternatives to animal-derived or conventionally produced food components, using microorganisms to efficiently produce specific molecules.
  85. Expanding regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health and sequester carbon. ... to enhance the ecological health of farmland, increase its resilience to climate change, reduce the need for synthetic inputs, and contribute to carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere.
  86. Creating AI-powered systems for global food supply chain optimization and waste reduction. ... to improve forecasting, logistics, and inventory management from farm to consumer, minimizing spoilage and losses, and ensuring more efficient distribution of food resources.
  87. Researching and developing technologies for direct air capture of carbon dioxide. ... to remove legacy CO2 directly from the atmosphere, providing a tool to address climate change by actively reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.
  88. Exploring the potential of synthetic biology for environmental remediation (e.g., cleaning up pollution). ... to engineer microorganisms or biological systems to detect, degrade, or remove pollutants from soil, water, and air, offering novel solutions for environmental cleanup.
  89. Creating global seed banks with comprehensive genetic diversity for all plant species. ... to safeguard global crop diversity and wild plant relatives against climate change, disease, and habitat loss, ensuring future food security and preserving biodiversity for research and restoration.
  90. Developing advanced weather modification technologies for drought mitigation and rainfall enhancement, with careful environmental consideration. ... to explore safe and effective methods for influencing local weather patterns, potentially alleviating water scarcity in drought-prone regions, always prioritizing ecological impact assessment.
  91. Investing in citizen science platforms to democratize research and accelerate discovery. ... to engage the public in scientific data collection and analysis, expanding research capacity, fostering scientific literacy, and enabling large-scale studies that would otherwise be impossible.
  92. Creating immersive, shared virtual environments (the Metaverse) for work, education, and social interaction with robust ethical guidelines. ... to enable new forms of collaboration, learning, and social connection in persistent digital spaces, while proactively addressing challenges related to privacy, safety, and accessibility.
  93. Developing global early warning systems for natural disasters, powered by AI and comprehensive sensor networks. ... to provide more accurate and timely alerts for events like earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and wildfires, allowing for better preparedness, evacuation, and response to save lives and reduce damage.
  94. Fostering artistic and creative expression using AI as a collaborative tool. ... to empower artists and creators with new tools for generating novel forms of art, music, and literature, exploring new aesthetic possibilities and augmenting human creativity.
  95. Implementing advanced urban sensor networks for real-time environmental monitoring (air, water, noise, biodiversity). ... to provide city planners and citizens with detailed, up-to-the-minute data on environmental quality, enabling better pollution control, public health interventions, and urban biodiversity management.
  96. Scaling up advanced wastewater treatment and recycling systems for industrial and municipal water reuse.... to conserve precious freshwater resources by treating wastewater to a high quality suitable for non-potable or even potable reuse, creating a circular water economy.
  97. Developing and deploying blockchain or distributed ledger technology for transparent and ethical global supply chains. ... to enhance traceability of goods, verify product authenticity and provenance, improve accountability for labor practices and environmental standards, and reduce fraud.
  98. Creating integrated smart home and assistive technology ecosystems to enhance independent living for aging populations and individuals with disabilities. ... to provide automated assistance, remote health monitoring, safety alerts, and user-friendly interfaces that support autonomy, well-being, and quality of life.
  99. Piloting and constructing underground logistics and delivery systems in dense urban centers. ... to reduce surface traffic congestion and pollution, improve the speed and efficiency of goods movement, and free up valuable urban space currently used by delivery vehicles.
  100. Developing and utilizing mycelium-based materials for sustainable packaging, construction, and textiles. ... to leverage the natural growth of fungal networks to create biodegradable, renewable, and versatile alternatives to plastics, foams, and other conventional materials.
  101. Investing in technologies for efficient recycling and sustainable domestic sourcing of critical minerals and rare earth elements. ... to reduce reliance on volatile global supply chains, minimize the environmental impact of mining virgin materials, and create a secure domestic supply of inputs essential for green technologies and electronics.

Never dare tell me we are short of opportunity today. Do tell me if you see more science, technology or other opportunities that are not on the list!

Futurist Jim Carroll has covered hundreds of trends through thousands of keynotes. He also considers the fact that many of these ideas are not being pursued aggressively to be one of the greatest failures of our time.

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