10 Future Predictions According to Dr. Michio Kaku
Dr. Michio Kaku is a theoretical scientist, popularizer of science, and a futurist. He works at the City College of New York and CUNY Graduate Center as a professor of theoretical physics. He is best-known for his work in the field of string theory and for writing books, including ‘Physics of the Impossible’, ‘Physics of the Future’, and ‘The future of the Mind’. He has also made his name through making predictions about the future based on his work and research. Here are ten of the predictions made by Dr. Michio Kaku.
The Most Immediate Threat to Humankind is Militarized Drone Systems
There is often talk amongst scientists and theorists about the things that pose a threat to humankind. According to Kaku, the biggest threat that humans face in the near future is the militarization of drone systems. He not only predicts that this will happen, he also believes it will have a significant impact on life as we know it.
Artificial Superintelligence Won’t Happen for Another Century
Often, people speculate about the use of robots and how they could potentially take over the planet. In Kaku’s opinion, this is not something that will happen in the near future. He explains that at this time, even the most basic functions of humans are more intelligent than any artificial intelligence at this time. However, he agrees that artificial intelligence will improve at a rapid rate but that it will be at least another century before we see robots walking around the streets.
Contact with Extra-terrestrial Life is Closer Than You Think
Whether or not there is life on another planet has been the subject of debate for decades. Kaku is sure that there is, so the debate for him is more about when we can make contact with them. He predicts that contact with extra-terrestrials is closer than we think. In fact, he believes that this will happen within the next century.
The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence is Potentially Dangerous
Kaku has previously acknowledged that artificial intelligence is an area of science that is making huge advances. Although it still has a long way to go before it becomes a threat, he believes that we will see big changes by the end of this century and that advancements in AI may pose a threat to humans as robots start taking over.
Bitcoin is Unstoppable but Not Productive
Kaku has made predictions about the use of virtual currency, such as Bitcoin. He believes that it is unstoppable and that it has only the value that people place on it in the sense that something is only worth what people are willing to pay. In his opinion, it is not a productive industry but he predicts that it the use of virtual currency will expand.
Living on Another Planet is a Real Possibility
Kaku has also predicted that living on another planet in the future is a real possibility. He used the extinction of the dinosaurs because they did not have a backup plan as an example of why humans need to research alternative environments in which they can live if Earth is no longer a possibility. Although he is not sure if this will be Mars, he thinks that this is the most likely scenario.
Driverless Cars Will Save Thousands of Lives
The development of driverless cars is something that is already underway and there are many that argue that they are not safe. However, Kaku disagrees with this as not only does he predict that we will see driverless cars on the highways, he also thinks they will stop traffic jams and reduce the number of collisions. For this reason, he predicts that they will save thousands of lives each year.
Climate Change is a Real Threat to Our Planet
Although some of Kaku’s theories are purely theoretical, there is one prediction he has made that is based entirely on scientific fact. That is that changes to the climate will have a significant impact on life on Earth. He says that everyone needs to take action now to prevent disastrous consequences.
There is the Possibility of Asteroids Hitting the Earth
Kaku has repeatedly predicted that there is the potential for asteroids to hit the earth. Scientists continue to track the paths of known asteroids as a way of predicting the likelihood of this happening.
We Might Define Reality Differently in the Future
Rather mystically, Kaku has hinted that our perception of reality may be different in the future. He has used his own physics observations and combined them with some of his theories to predict that the future holds a different reality.