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What will be the biggest stories of 2019? | Part One
- The driverless car revolution is expected to scale up in 2019, with robo-taxis available in US cities, Waymo expanding to new locations, and GM launching services, while Dubai aims for 25% of trips to be driverless by 2030 and the industry projects a value of $550bn by 2026 despite past safety setbacks.
- A surge in Leonardo da Vinci-related events is predicted for 2019, including blockbuster exhibitions and the commercial availability of a flying car featuring folding blades based on his "aerial screw" design, following the 500th anniversary of his death.
- Low-cost long-haul air travel is projected to take off in 2019, highlighted by the opening of Beijing's Daxing Airport and the potential for a London-to-Sydney flight to cost around $350, driven by state subsidies and competition between mega-hubs like Istanbul's 26-square-mile facility.
- Demographic shifts, including a global over-60 population expected to more than double by 2050 and a labor shortage in Japan due to an average worker age of 48, are anticipated to create demand for assistive exosuits retailing around the cost of a bespoke tailored suit, though high costs may delay widespread adoption.
- Modern gay rights are expected to go global in 2019, particularly following the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, with Kenya's High Court ruling in February viewed as a potential tipping point to decriminalize homosexuality and trigger a domino effect across Africa.
- While airfares are projected to be cheaper in 2019 due to subsidies and competition, these low fares may be short-lived as airlines plan to offset carbon emissions in a few years, a cost that could be passed to passengers.
- The advance of driverless technology could face regulatory hurdles following safety concerns, yet manufacturers remain confident that improving computer safety will shift public perception from fearing autonomous vehicles to avoiding human drivers.
- Consumers in 2019 are expected to benefit from economic pushes, such as Turkish fuel subsidies aimed at reviving tourism, while the opening of major Chinese infrastructure symbolizes a projected shift of the world's economic center eastward amidst a doubling of Chinese air passengers over the next 20 years.
- Repression and violence regarding sexual orientation persist globally, with campaigners hoping former British colonies will follow India's lead in decriminalizing homosexuality, though laws rooted in colonial principles or religious interpretations remain a barrier in many regions.
- Unlike Formula One technology trickling down to average cars, the dissemination of assistive and driverless technologies is not expected to happen quickly to the general public due to current prohibitive costs, although demand is strong.