At the first event of the Russia National Centre, discussions will focus on the future scenarios envisioned by Russians
In the next 10-15 years, technological advancements are likely to drastically alter our lives, impacting everything from healthcare and education to daily routines and work. Valery Fyodorov, Director General of VCIOM, who will take part in the International Symposium “Inventing the Future,” spoke about how innovations are transforming society and how Russians envision their future.
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, Russians are increasingly concerned about the future and the role of new technologies. While some predict radical improvements, others fear job losses and changes to their way of life. Nevertheless, despite these concerns, the integration of AI is progressing gradually and largely unnoticed by most people.
“As for what is happening not just in the media, but in reality, artificial intelligence is already being implemented quite swiftly in various areas of life, but for the most part, this happens unnoticed by the general public. Not by engineers or businesspeople, but by consumers, buyers, and viewers. So we are experiencing a rather smooth transition, and for now, we can say that people are adapting to it,” said Valery Fyodorov.
Previously, many Russians viewed the future as a source of uncertainty, but now, people are starting to discuss what they want their lives to look like in the long term. This has given rise to a variety of opinions and scenarios, Fyodorov noted.
“We have identified five future scenarios that Russians aspire to. For the older generation, it’s ‘USSR 2.0’ with strong social protection, while for the younger generation, it's a comfortable Russia with quality roads and amenities. This generation has higher demands for comfort. But there are also other visions of the future. The main thing is that people have become more open to discussions and exploring diverse points of view,” said Valery Fyodorov.
It should be noted that as part of the first event of the Russia National Centre - the International Symposium “Inventing the Future” - an expert roundtable titled “Studying the Future” will take place, co-organized by VCIOM. Valery Fyodorov, VCIOM’s General Director, will act as moderator.
The roundtable will feature international speakers, including Younes Bennane, President of the Casablanca Institute for Social and Media Research in Morocco, who will discuss current and future trends among youth. Chilean journalist and futurist Johann Wegmann Peña will share his insights on how technology will reshape society.
On July 1, 2024, President Vladimir Putin signed an order establishing the Russia National Centre to preserve the legacy of the Exhibition and to showcase the country’s achievements on a permanent basis.
The
International Symposium “Inventing the Future” will be held on November 4-6 at
the Russia National Centre. The event will bring together distinguished
scientists and researchers, futurists and forecasters, fiction authors, as well
as government representatives.