Industries: Black Swan

Mar
4

Five Foreseeable Future Risks

The future may be unknowable. This does not, however, imply it can’t be prepared for. Below are just five future risks I have—and will—address in various keynote presentations to the insurance industry in the coming months. 1. Economic instability: Foxconn, the large Chinese electronic manufacturer, recently announced a hiring freeze. Eventually, this “freeze” will turn [...]

Mar
24

The Black (Swan) Cloud

Earlier this week, I suggested the term “cloud computing” will fade away in time and simply come to be referred to as “computing.” I still believe this to be true but, as a business forecaster, one must always beware of how the future may turn in some unexpected directions. One threat to the future of [...]

Oct
5

Unlearning Lesson #6: Study at an Anti-Library

Lesson #6: Study at an Anti-Library  ”There is a huge difference between what people actually know and how much they think they know.” – Nassim Taleb Question #6: Which of these animals is more likely to kill you: A shark or a deer? The right answer is the deer. In fact, the contest isn’t even [...]

Aug
24

A Nickel for Your Thoughts on Nanotechnology

As someone who has written two books on the topic of nanotechnology, including The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business, I’m well aware of the field’s immense potential. As a professional futurist, however, I am always cautioning my clients to be aware of “black swans”–or large [...]