What is going to the way forward for the world seem like? All the pieces on the earth evolves. Due to this fact, IEEE additionally should evolve, not solely to outlive however to thrive.
How will individuals construct communities and interact with each other and with IEEE sooner or later? How will information be acquired? How will content material be curated, shared, and accessed? What points will affect the event of technical requirements? How ought to IEEE be organized to be most impactful?
Whereas nobody has a crystal ball, predictions might be made primarily based on proof and traits. To start out the dialog round these questions, I appointed the 2022 IEEE Advert Hoc Committee on IEEE in 2050. The committee chaired by IEEE Fellow Roger Fujii, is designed to examine situations looking to the 12 months 2050 and past to realize a worldwide perspective of what the world might seem like and what potential futures may imply for IEEE.
The committee explored believable situations throughout IEEE’s vary of pursuits and scanned for drivers of change inside present and rising know-how fields. It additionally analyzed the function IEEE ought to take primarily based on the recognized potential futures and mentioned subsequent steps in IEEE’s main areas of focus, together with conferences, training, publications, requirements, membership, sustainability, and governance.
For instance, think about that in 2050, your “cognitive digital twin” is consistently browsing the massive volumes of analysis papers and knowledge saved throughout open entry repositories to search out data immediately related to your pursuits. It would additionally use its imaginative and inventive logic to recommend new ideas and options for you. This platform might be pushed by synthetic intelligence, augmented actuality, and digital actuality developed to assist make you extra productive and inventive in your profession. What’s IEEE’s function on this new atmosphere?
Molding the IEEE of the long run
As a worldwide group, a substantial problem of IEEE is that it helps a broad neighborhood. This additionally presents an ideal alternative to be taught and pilot numerous fashions, providers, merchandise, and options to fulfill the various set of members’ wants predicted for 2050 and past.
The know-how era of 2050 will possible be excited by fixing mission-based points equivalent to local weather change, common entry to well being care, sustainable meals sources, and ubiquitous power era and transmission. Thus, IEEE’s mission—to advance know-how for humanity—will nonetheless be related sooner or later. Nonetheless, the way in which IEEE achieves its mission should and can change.
The long run is multinodular and digital. IEEE will profit from its standing and fame as a trusted, impartial supplier of content material and knowledge. As a information supplier, IEEE has a chance to curate and ship data to help its constituents and the general public in understanding the advantages and dangers related to a number of know-how areas. Most significantly, IEEE can assist with the deep integration of synthetic intelligence and digital actuality into all kinds of on a regular basis purposes.
Adapting to an atmosphere of fixed chaos and alter is important shifting ahead. The ebb and movement of geopolitical tensions are prone to proceed to extend—which can influence international organizations like ours. IEEE should grow to be exceedingly nimble to handle fast adjustments in applied sciences and interdisciplinary wants, and entice a broader viewers. IEEE may even have to quickly reply to chose strategic adjustments and allocate funding for brand spanking new approaches. IEEE’s governance construction will must be streamlined to fulfill the wants of many future situations that may require the group to empower native entities to make choices inside their space.
Belief in IEEE should stay excessive if the group is to keep up relevance and stay a reputable supply of data sooner or later. Now’s the time for the group to be considerate and daring, and take dangers. IEEE can’t be afraid to interrupt silos. Some actions will must be terminated to create space for brand spanking new ones. Merchandise and initiatives ought to be evaluated repeatedly, and choices have to be made on a steady foundation.
Sound scary? Compounded by international warming, uneven demographic progress, and geopolitical challenges, the long run possible is extra unsure than we notice. However usually a disaster might be reworked into alternative if we actually face the sudden and grow to be ready for no matter lies forward. Adhering to IEEE’s core ideas—belief, progress and nurturing, international neighborhood constructing, partnership, service to humanity, and integrity in motion—will serve the group properly into the long run.
I sincerely thank Roger Fujii and the advert hoc committee members for his or her efforts. Their work will help IEEE in devising long-term methods to organize for the long run, to adapt, and to transform uncertainty into alternative.
As I’ve shared, in an ever-changing and unsure world, IEEE—your skilled dwelling—is all the time right here for you, our members, in addition to for humanity, and for our shared future. In spite of everything, serving our members properly is our raison d’être.
By addressing the challenges and alternatives that lie forward of us, IEEE can stay a vibrant group with relevance each now and properly into 2050. If IEEE stays true to its central values—fostering technological innovation and excellence for the good thing about humanity—I’m sure that the group’s future might be very brilliant certainly.
It has been my honor and privilege to work with and for you this 12 months as IEEE president and CEO.
—Okay.J. RAY LIU
IEEE president and CEO
Please share your ideas with me at president@ieee.org.
This text seems within the December 2022 print situation as “Trying to 2050 and Past.”
