Most people associate predicting the future with superheroes, but there are people in the tech industry who have the ability to predict trends and emerging technology way in advance of what consumers will see on the market.
Futurist and founder of the Future Today Institute, Amy Webb researches emerging technologies at the fringes and tracks them as they move towards the mainstream. She is focused on what technological changes are ahead, what impact they’ll have on business and society, and helps teach people on how to forecast the future.
“I’m a futurist,” said Webb in an interview with Tech.Co. “My job is to use qualitative and quantitative data to model out the future of emerging technology and how it intersects with business and government and everyday life. We advise Fortune 500 companies, Global 1000 companies, we advised the last administration’s White House and state department and governments elsewhere in the world.”
It’s hard not to be intrigued by the methods by which this kind of information is acquired. Fortunately, Webb outlines their tactics and tools in her latest book The Signals Are Talking.
Tech.Co’s own Tishin Donkersley caught up with Amy at SXSW to talk with her about her new book, her futurist ways, and when it’s okay to stop learning.
Austin has a city motto of “Keep Austin Weird.” In that spirit, we asked Amy about how she keeps it weird and authentic and in doing so stays true to herself.
Read more about trends in business here at Tech.Co and purchase Amy’s new book here on Amazon.
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