We hear a lot about “disruptive technology,” but what does that really mean? It is one thing to put together a trend piece or identify the next big thing. Understanding it and planning for the disruption is another challenge altogether.

“Time feels like it is accelerating.”

In a December post in Rapport, Deb Westphal opted to skip making a New Year’s resolution, in favor of looking forward. As I step into the Toffler Associates CEO role this January, I am focused on the future of the firm and its unwavering commitment to be a catalyst for change and future value for our clients. 

Building off the momentum of our Disruption 2030 report where we explored the driving changes, shocks, and disruptive technology that will shape the future, and together with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology (DHS S&T) directorate, Toffler Associates convened public and private sector executives, thought leaders, and technology builders for off-the-record discussions focused on exploring the implications of this future where disruptive technology – more specifically artificial intelligence – is harnessed by us and our adversaries.

Do you get more reflective at year’s end?

Even though time is fundamentally the continual progress of existence, there is something about the end of the calendar year that inspires reflection. Every December brings a flood of publications documenting the year’s end. Reuters, New York Times, and CNN (to name a few) release special edition Year in Pictures, Who We Lost, and Major Events recaps to document the major milestones that affected people and shaped societies. Intentionally or unintentionally, we give mental space to tie up loose ends and consider the hopes, dreams, and failures of the past twelve months. There’s calm in reminiscing and fascination in remembering what we have forgotten in just a short period. As individuals, this process is part of how we translate our accomplishments, missed opportunities and regrets into a new or renewed commitment to “do better next year.”

On October 15-16, 2018 Toffler Associates hosted its 2018 Future Shock Forum^SM in the beautiful city of Chicago, where we convened an eclectic and energized group of leaders from business, public service, and academia to explore and debate the shocks we are facing and their implications for organizations. These Future Shocks™ disrupt, disorient, and shape the future of business and society. From bio-digital convergence and geopolitical powershifts to infrastructure adaptation and societal collisions, these shifts are creating immense uncertainty and opportunity for today’s leaders.

“What's the problem we're trying to solve?

What is the question that we're trying to answer?

The key is getting the question right.”

I recently had the opportunity to engage in a fascinating conversation with a fellow life-long learner and high-touch futurist. That discussion with Dr. Connie Reimers-Hild, founder of Wild Innovation and Interim Executive Director and Chief Futurist for the Rural Futures Institute (RFI) at the University of Nebraska, was recorded for the Rural Futures Podcast. On a weekly basis, this platform explores rural-urban divide, technology development, and the future of work.

The security and resilience of our critical infrastructure is a long-standing national and economic security matter. I recently spoke at an Electric Transmission Conference about grid resilience as a national security challenge. A common question arose - namely, how we can help Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) understand the national security imperative? Moreover, how can they grow more favorable to rate recovery for utility owners making security and resilience investments?

This week, we're introducing the first Toffler Associates video blog. Team members Masseh Tahiry and Caitlin Durkovich discuss future threats that will impact cybersecurity. They discuss the rapid evolution of tech, the changing character of warfare, and increased tension at almost every strata of society – from the multinational, regional, and national levels to the local (including those on the seams, like criminal syndicates and insurgent groups) - and yet, none of these threats compare to the threat of humans. Watch the video to see why humans are the most pressing threat, and how we should approach cybersecurity with a human-centric focus.

I am so energized and full of hope! I’ve just returned from the beautiful city of Chicago where we hosted the 2018 Future Shock Forum. Everyone who joined us shared incredible connections, questions, and perspectives. To be sure, the event exceeded our expectations.

This event is part of the Toffler Associates legacy. For many years, our co-founders Alvin and Heidi Toffler would host intimate gatherings of curious, accomplished friends and colleagues. They would gather around the kitchen table of their California home to explore ideas and look at the future. Throughout the evening, everyone openly and respectfully challenged each other’s ideas and views on economic and societal patterns, and the alternate futures they prophesied.

During the past few years, investors, business executives, and the public have become enamored by innovative technologies and processes that alter the ways goods are manufactured and distributed. Additive manufacturing and 3D printing allow companies to perform rapid prototyping and build to spec. Sensors and IoT-enabled devices gather data, relay it to the cloud, and provide analytics that create efficiencies and secure machines and people in the manufacturing processes. Distributed production networks decentralize the manufacturing process to a network of geographically dispersed manufacturing facilities connected via a shared IT network, enabling a company to control shipping, customize production for regions, or source materials from a variety of locations.