An Unscientific Analysis of Jokes about the Future
What 500 BlueSky posts can (or can't) tell us about how people think about the future.
4 min read
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The "canary in the coalmine" is a well-worn trope, but do you know about "canary resuscitators"? Exploring the tiny canary spaceships of yesteryear...
4 min read
Systems Thinking: Seeing the Bigger Picture
In today's interconnected world, the most pressing challenges we face rarely have simple, linear solutions. Climate change, economic inequality, healthcare access—these complex issues result from webs of relationships and feedback loops that traditional approaches often fail to address effectively.
19 min read
The Futures Are a Meme
On how absurdist and preposterous futures scenarios help us think about tomorrow.
3 min read
Futures Wheels: Exploring Implications of Emerging Futures
Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to attend all of those “meetings that should have been an email,” and just send an AI assistant instead? Let's use the Futures Wheel, a classic futures studies technique, to test out the claim.
6 min read
Why Foresight? An Introduction
At Canary, foresight is at the center of everything we produce. And our mission is to help teams approach their futures with confidence. Let's introduce why.
1 min read
Sentinel Foresight Database
Deploying Post-Hype AI
The artificial intelligence (AI) sector currently operates in a dynamic equilibrium, balancing soaring expectations against growing skepticism. While unprecedented investment
Building an Ethics of AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, becoming deeply embedded in numerous sectors and aspects of daily life. This integration necessitates
Agentic Twins
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) brings forth the concept of autonomous personal digital duplicates—AI systems designed to
Death Match: Human Craftsmanship vs Generative AI
The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) into various creative domains marks a significant shift in how art, design, and
AI-Accelerated Software Development
Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, is rapidly reshaping the landscape of software development. Tools infused with AI are gaining
AI-Fueled Energy Demand
The rapid proliferation and increasing sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI) are creating an unprecedented surge in demand for electrical power,
Agentic Parasocial Media
Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are evolving rapidly, developing sophisticated interaction capabilities that intersect with the psychological phenomenon of parasocial interaction
Applying AI for Planetary Wellbeing
Artificial intelligence (AI) stands as a transformative force, reshaping industries and potentially humanity's relationship with the planet. Its
Agentic-Friendly Infrastructure
Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in the form of autonomous agents, is rapidly transitioning from theoretical exploration to practical deployment, fundamentally
Bypassing Search with AI
As we navigate deeper into 2025, a fundamental transformation is reshaping how information is discovered, delivered, and consumed. Traditional search
AI in the Operating System
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into computing platforms is undergoing a significant transformation. Discovery capabilities are shifting from discrete
World Models & Spatial AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is undergoing a profound shift, moving beyond language and 2D image processing towards understanding and interacting with
Licensing Content for AI
The burgeoning relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) developers and content creators/rights holders is fundamentally altering the digital media ecosystem.
Web Scraping Explosion
The increasing sophistication of AI-powered web scraping presents a significant challenge for publishers, demanding equally advanced protective measures to safeguard
Transforming Materials
Advanced materials and manufacturing technologies are revolutionizing our physical world through developments in nanotechnology, biomaterials, programmable matter, and sustainable manufacturing.
Optimizing Cities
Urban environments are evolving through smart technologies, sustainable design, and innovative governance models to maximize efficiency and livability amid rapid urbanization.
Migrating Populations
Global migration patterns are changing societies, driven by demographic shifts, economic opportunity disparities, climate displacement, and remote work technologies. These movements are restructuring communities, identities, and livelihoods.
Redefining Communities
People worldwide are restructuring their sense of belonging and community identity beyond traditional geographic bounds. Digital connections and values-based affiliations are creating new community forms, while urbanization, migration, and polarization challenge traditional social bonds.
Digitizing Worlds
People are merging the physical and virtual worlds through digital twins, lifelogging, IRL streaming, and immersive virtual environments. As these technologies converge, they transform industries, societies, and daily life, creating new opportunities alongside complex ethical challenges.
Escalating Threats
Global power competition is escalating across conventional military, asymmetric, information, and economic domains. Advanced technology, economic coercion, and information manipulation are redefining warfare, forcing nations to adapt strategies amid blurred lines between peace and conflict.
Powering Development
The transition to electrification is reshaping the 21st century, driven by climate goals and resilience efforts. Shifting sectors like transport, industry, and residential to sustainable electricity offers environmental, economic, and social benefits despite infrastructure and policy challenges.
Seeking Purpose
Purpose seeking is the drive to find meaning, fulfillment, and positive impact in life, work, and society in a changing world. It influences well-being, organizational strategies, and consumer behavior.
Emerging Ecologies
Climates are changing globally at an accelerated rate--with profound consequences for societies. Continued temperature rises and more frequent extreme weather events are expected, and the scientific consensus confirms the need for urgent mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Shifting Power Balances
The global power order is shifting from unipolar dominance to a more fragmented, multipolar world. Economic rise, technological competition, regional hegemons, and corporate influence are reshaping geopolitics, with uncertain implications for global stability through 2050.
Extending Healthspans
The future of global health is accelerating as societies pursue better health outcomes driven by AI, gene editing, RNA therapies, and regenerative medicine. As discovery timelines shrink and personalized treatments expand, medical breakthroughs are poised to redefine healthcare globally by 2050.
Negotiating Inequality
The negotiation of the terms of economic inequality—between the Global North and South, urban and rural, developed and developing. These struggles over wealth, power, and opportunity are shaping economies, politics, and social movements, making inequality a key driver of global change.
Accelerating Intelligence
The race to build AI is reshaping economies, industries, and societies worldwide, driving automation, innovation, and unprecedented efficiency. As AI advances, it presents both opportunities for societal transformation, as well as challenges for ethics, workforce disruption, and governance.
Planetization
Globalization has fostered unprecedented interconnectedness, but it has also exposed the finite limits of our planet. "Planetization" represents a paradigm shift—moving from a world focused on global connections to a heightened awareness of Earth's biophysical boundaries and shared vulnerabilities.
Aging Societies
Global aging is reshaping economies and societies worldwide, with the number of individuals over 65 set to double by 2050. While this demographic shift presents challenges such as workforce shortages and healthcare demands, it also unlocks vast opportunities in the emerging "silver economy."