How did all this “World Futures Day” business get its start? Learn about the work of Humanity+, the Millennium Project, Teach the Future, and more, all brought together on March 1. Learn how World Futures Day has evolved.
Nearly 400 local leaders, activists and civic-minded residents packed the room on March 1 to hear keynote speaker John Smart and local speakers John Werner and Gratzia Villarroel. They listened, asked questions, networked and considered. Read about World Futures Day 2024.
Judy Nagel, Upward Mobility Signals Team
Google has initiated a first-of-its-kind approach to powering its data centers –
geothermal energy! With the goal of accelerating a clean energy transition on a
planetary scale, Google has pioneered a horizontal drilling method. It uses new
techniques to harness the consistent heat from within the Earth’s crust and generate
electricity without burning fossil fuels or releasing carbon into the atmosphere. More on energy.
Jim Golembeski, Upward Mobility Signals Team
Historically, prison conditions in America are not a pretty picture. Wisconsin continues to spend an enormous amount of taxpayer dollars on a system that is inhumane and a vicious cycle for those caught up in it. The current situation at the Green Bay and Waupun prisons has been gaining a lot of media attention. So I ask, what is the single biggest reason that people are sentenced to prison in Wisconsin? Read more about our State Corrections System
Kent Paulsen, Director of the Dudley Birder Chorale
In fall 2024, the Dudley Birder Chorale of St. Norbert College will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, and,
like most 50-year-olds, we of the Chorale find ourselves in a collective mid-life crisis! We could clearly
see a possible future of “decline and collapse.” Our board officers enrolled in Envision’s strategic
foresight training to consider the future of our organization, and, in a wider context, the future of
performing arts among community groups. Two major insights emerged as we went through the
foresight process. Read about Who is our Customer here.
Nan Nelson, Envision Board Member and Economic Transformation Signals Team
In 2022, Thomas Frey was our keynote speaker at World Futures Day here in Green Bay. Today he is examining artificial intelligence (AI) trends to watch for in 2024. He warns that “With prudent planning, generative AI can drive positive workforce transformation. But neglecting to develop the human capital to extract AI’s full value risks misuse, distrust, and widening inequality.”
Concerning impact on the workplace, Frey says: “New positions like prompt engineers, AI trainers, model interpreters, and tool explainers are already rising in demand. Skilled communicators who can distill complex business needs into natural language instructions suited for AI will also see significant opportunities. Technical roles developing user interfaces that build confidence in AI systems will similarly grow.
“Education and policy will need to emphasize these emerging skills while strengthening timeless human abilities like relationship-building, empathy, and holistic thinking. Life-long learning to stay ahead of AI’s evolving capabilities will be crucial.
Organizations that view their employees as partners in navigating this AI transition rather than costs to eventually eliminate will likely gain an edge through knowledge retention and human-AI collaboration.
Read Frey’s full article about the eight trends, including commentary on election meddling, content creation, reshaping manufacturing and business workflows, and more.
COP, the United Nations’ annual global meeting on climate change, is being held in late November. Bill Gates says, “There are more reasons to be hopeful than many people realize—and it’s not just that renewable energy sources like wind and solar are getting cheaper. And it’s not just because many of the steps already taken to reduce carbon emissions are working: Carbon emissions from fossil fuels will probably peak in 2025. The main thing that makes me optimistic is all the innovation I’m seeing. Some people are skeptical when a technology person like me says innovation is the answer. And it’s true that new tools aren’t the only thing we need. But we won’t solve the climate problem without them.” Read more of what Bill Gates had to say on climate change.
Mark A. Konlock, Director of Horticulture, Green Bay Botanical Garden
Plants build community – we understand that. For 27 years, the Garden has connected people with
plants through educational and recreational experiences in an environment that engages, inspires, and
refreshes. But how can we plan for the Garden’s best possible future? The Garden’s leadership team has
been working with Envision Greater Green Bay to anticipate internal and external changes over the next
few decades and to craft a plausible future that successfully moves the organization forward. Read
about the Garden’s futuring experience.
Jim Golembeski, Upward Mobility Signals Team
Someone told me recently that the current state of generative AI today is comparable to what cell
phones were in 2008. Remember pulling up little antennas in days before unlimited texting? What will
AI be doing in 2033? We had better keep up with it, because generative AI accelerates what is known as
the “Digital Divide.” We are fortunate in Northeast Wisconsin to have a head start on this opportunity to
address the Digital Divide. Read more about AI in the workplace.
David Groteluschen, M.D., Medical Oncologist, guest author
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world we live in, including healthcare. It offers a wide possibility
of change – from patient wellness and provider access to medical diagnostics, clinical operations, and
optimization of disease treatment modalities. At Green Bay Oncology, we have started to incorporate AI
technologies into patient care, experiencing both enhanced provider efficiency and improved patient
treatment outcomes. Learn how AI is changing healthcare.