What will Austin be like in 2040?

Source: Austin Biz Journal Published: Austin Biz Journal By Daniel Salazar

It's hard to recognize the Austin of a decade ago, let alone 20 years ago.

So it stands to reason a lot will change about the Texas capital between today and 20 years from now, when more than 3.6 million people are projected to live here.

The estimated Austin metro population by county through 2040, according to Texas Demographic Center data.

The rise of 5G, a diversifying regional economy, more socially conscious consumer behaviors and the potential decline of the fossil-fuel industry are some of the trends that businesses should mind when planning for the future, according to a panel at Austin Business Journal's Austin 2040: Our Business Future event.

The Jan. 31 breakfast event at the JW Marriott kicked off a year-long series of gatherings and special reports delving into what Central Texas will look like two decades from now.

More mind-bending technology to come

Panelists said Austin's growth will surely be influenced by the proliferation of 5G, the next generation of high-speed wireless service with more bandwidth, faster data transfer and better reliability. Some suggest it will usher in a fourth industrial revolution.

Chelsea Collier, founder of Digi.City, said 5G represents the next level of connecting devices to one another, making it a "business play" that is "going to enable the future."

But "Austin is woefully behind other cities in Texas," Collier said. "We have to make it easier between [the] public and private sector."

Having Austin city government and other public entities on board with 5G is paramount, tech advocates say, because city and county officials manage streetlights, curbs and other public property perfect for hosting an army of tiny transmitters in boxes that must be spread across the city.

5G is just one of the many technologies that make it difficult to accurately predict how our world will keep changing due to technological advances. Futurist Nancy Giordano, who delivered the keynote speech at the 2040 event, pointed out that society still hasn't seen the convergence of things such as drones, 5G, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, quantum computing, virtual realty and bioengineering.

"Can you predict what all the applications are? Can you predict how we'll work and live and play? I can't, and I spend a lot of time thinking about this," Giordano said.

Enlarge

Futurist Nancy Giordano speaking at the Austin 2040 event on Jan. 31.

Arnold Wells/Staff

Flashing footage from an old Steve Jobs interview, she drove home the point that regular people — such as those sitting in the ballroom or reading this article now — will be responsible for world-changing innovations in the future, so it's important for everyone to think audaciously, whether you're building office space or coming up with a new app.

Read more here.

Chelsea McCullough