Futurists

Futurists are researchers, writers, and practitioners who study possible futures and help individuals, organizations, and governments prepare for uncertainty. The field, also known as futures studies or strategic foresight, employs methods such as horizon scanning, scenario planning, trend analysis, Delphi forecasting, and modeling to explore how technology, economy, environment, demographics, and culture might evolve. Futurists work across academia, industry, government agencies, think tanks, and non-profit organizations, often focusing on long-term planning or policy development.

Historically, the term also refers to a distinct early 20th-century Italian art and literary movement called Futurism (Futurismo). Initiated by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti with the Futurist Manifesto of 1909, the movement embraced speed, technology, youth, and urban modernity, and celebrated the machine age while rejecting past traditions. It influenced painting, sculpture, architecture, poetry, and performance, with notable figures such as Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, and Luigi Russolo. The movement intersected with politics and nationalism in some circles, and its prominence waned after World War I, but its emphasis on modernity left a lasting imprint on design and urban theory.

Contemporary futurists focus on forecasting and policy guidance rather than artistic expression. They use structured foresight processes to identify weak signals of change, plausible disruption, and emerging opportunities. Common techniques include horizon scanning, the Delphi method, scenario planning, and quantitative forecasting, often complemented by data analytics and technology roadmapping. Common topics include artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate change, demographics, and economic transformation. They may work for think tanks, multinational corporations, government agencies, or research institutes.

Prominent modern figures associated with public-facing forecasts include Alvin Toffler, Ray Kurzweil, and Peter Schwartz, among others. Critics note that forecasts can be uncertain and biased, and emphasize the importance of scenario diversity and humility in predictions. Futurists aim to inform strategic decisions, resilience planning, and innovation, rather than to present a single inevitable future.