Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 504,284 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,327 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 94,050 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,327 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 94,050 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,255 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Dashboard
Track your market, topics and categories. Plus, collect favorite articles, build custom lists and filter down to your next opportunity!
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 504,284 cutting edge ideas.
FuturistU > Tactics > Future of Tech > Module 3 / 4

Phase 2 of Futurism: The Emergence

Instructor: Sean Watson
Digital Engagement
Download the Digital Engagement Trend Report
This module dives into the second phase of Futurism, the Emergence, in which Sean looks at the connection between personalization and technology. How is personal data being used to provide a better quality brand experience? How is it keeping people healthier? Looking at examples from industries such as tourism and healthcare, Sean explores how personal information can be used to improve one's quality of life.

He introduces different ways technology can seem and feel more human, taking on roles in caretaking and service-providing, which ultimately call for a more personal touch.
Related Trend Report: Digital Engagement
Workshop Questions:
1. How can you use technology to enhance personalization opportunities?
2. How can you use personalization to further categorize and archetype your consumer?
Get the 2024 Trend Report FREE

Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Mini Shaver
Beard trimmers are being transformed into compact devices for easy carrying
Trend - Grooming tools are being adapted for on the go use, which has resulted in the devices taking a smaller form-factor. Smaller than traditional shavers, these devices can be battery-operated, USB-rechargeable, or even manual, making them perfect for consumers who require a quick refresh during the day.
Workshop Question - How can your brand adapt its product to fit varying consumer lifestyles?
7.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Automated Podcast
AI tools that generate podcasts out of predetermined data sets are adaptable
Trend - AI companies are creating podcast-generating tools that interpret provided data and offer it in audio podcast form. This is used to make written news more digestible, to better convey one's personal thoughts, and more. These tools are designed to be quick and convenient for novice AI users.
Workshop Question - How could your brand make its products or services more accessible to consumers with busy lifestyles and minimal free time?
7.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Controlled Impulse
Budgeting and savings apps are used by Millennials to prevent impulse purchases
Trend - While personal finance management apps have existed for over a decade, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) and data collection algorithms have made recent apps far more effective than before. These modern budgeting apps are used to prevent unnecessary spending while saving toward goals.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage AI and data collection to help its customers make more informed purchasing decisions?
4.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI Diagnostic
Artificial intelligence tools are used as a starting point for medical care
Trend - Physical AI-powered tools, in conjunction with cameras and advanced AI models, are being used as a starting point for disease diagnoses. While these tools cannot legally diagnose someone of a condition, they can be used to more quickly point doctors in the correct direction, increasing efficiency.
Workshop Question - How could your business leverage third-party artificial intelligence tools to increase its overall efficiency?
6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Visual Aid
Brands are designing packaging to be accessible for consumers with visual impairments
Trend - Brands are creating packaging designs with smart solutions for consumers with visual impairments. These solutions include scannable codes or symbols that interact with smart applications to provide either easier-to-read or audio-based information, more effectively supporting shoppers.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage technological solutions to make our products more accessible for a wider range of consumers?
7.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Consumable Packaging
Food and beverage packaging materials are revamped for waste-free consumption
Trend - Brands are demonstrating an attentiveness to plastic waste by creating edible food and beverage packaging as a sustainable alternative. These packaging options have a number of advantages, including lowering food waste, breaking the cycle of waste, and offering nutritional advantages.
Workshop Question - How can your brand transform a significant source of waste into a circular product?
7.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Virtual Scent
Scent-releasing devices are used in virtual reality applications for immersion
Trend - New products are being developed that monitor virtual reality environments and release scents accordingly. These devices store scents via fluid or wax pads, and can custom-mix sources to produce more scent varieties. This is designed to enhance immersion in entertainment or for scent therapy.
Workshop Question - How could your brand utilize scent-based technology with its products or services?
6.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Mobile AI
Retailers are using AI to add unique features to their mobile retail apps
Trend - Retailers are launching mobile apps with AI-powered features designed to replace their existing apps. These apps offer recommendations, conversational support, image search, and features unique to certain retailers. These brands aim to improve customer retention while reducing ordering friction.
Workshop Question - How could your brand improve its customer satisfaction rates through AI features?
6.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI Sorting
Waste sorting is made easier through the integration of artificial intelligence
Trend - Artificial intelligence technologies are now used to enhance and automate waste sorting and management. These systems leverage sensors, cameras, and machine learning algorithms to automate the identification and separation of various waste materials, such as recyclables and non-recyclables.
Workshop Question - How can your brand use AI to improve its sustainability practices?
5.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI Hobbyist
For tech enthusiasts, generative AI has become a tool to enhance hobbies
Trend - Chatgpt and similar models are being adapted into everyday life--and even hobbies and recreation are fair game. Tech enthusiasts are particularly likely to use generative AI for personal enjoyment, which can be seen through products like AI-equipped bikes, chess sets and travel assistants.
Workshop Question - How might your brand leverage generative AI to enhance customer journeys or product experience?
6.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends