Davos

Davos Takes Guess at the Future

Driverless cars, catastrophic climates and more.

The 2013 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland—“a gathering a the world’s elite”— showcased some of the most exciting new research and trends worldwide this year, from climate change to technology. Taking a break from the interminable economic debate about government debt, participants offered jaw-dropping predictions for the world to come. Oxford University physicist Tim Palmer said that the Earth could warm by 6 degrees within a century, leading to “catastrophic consequences.” Sebastian Thrun, leader of Google's Self-Driving Car Project, said driverless cars will be on the road within five years. Paul Jacobs, the CEO of Qualcomm, said the famous “Moore’s Law” may lead to infinite computing power. Long story short: stay tuned, world.