Predictions for 2023 | Future timeline

Read 422 predictions for 2023, a year that will see the world transform in big and small ways; this includes disruptions throughout our culture, technology, science, health and business sectors. It’s your future, discover what you’re in for.

Quantumrun Foresight prepared this list; A trend intelligence consulting firm that uses strategic foresight to help companies thrive from future trends in foresight. This is just one of many possible futures society may experience.

Fast forecasts for 2023

Global polysilicon capacities nearly double by end of this year to 536 GW compared to 295 GW in 2022 Likelihood: 70 percentlink
Countries agree on an international treaty mandating the largest companies, including big tech, to pay more corporate tax abroad and a smaller share in their home countries. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
65% of the global population will have its personal data protected by privacy regulations. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
Members of the United Nations-backed Race to Zero campaign is required to restrict the development, financing, and facilitation of new fossil fuel assets, including banning future coal projects. Likelihood: 55 percentlink
The European Union implements the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) for large public-interest companies with more than 500 employees. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
The European Space Agency launches the Hera Mission, a binary asteroid system designed to detect threatening asteroids weeks before they get near Earth. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The OSIRIS-REx mission, which launched in 2016 to visit the asteroid Bennu, returns a 2.1 ounce sample of the rocky body back to Earth. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The combined market for PCs and tablets declines 2.6 percent before returning to growth in 2024. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
NASA and Axiom Space launch the second private astronaut mission to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX rockets. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launches the world's first wooden satellite. Likelihood: 60 percentlink
The COVID-19 pandemic officially becomes endemic at moderate levels globally. China will continue to suffer more extreme effects to due a lack of population immunity. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
General Motors sells 20 all-electric car models, combining battery-electric and fuel-cell-electric vehicles. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
Global gas markets remain tight as Russian pipeline gas exports decrease, keeping energy prices high, in spite of gas demand falling in Europe due to aggressive energy-saving measures. Likelihood: 80 percentlink
Processor manufacturer Intel starts construction of two processor factories in Germany, costing about USD $17 billion and projected to deliver computer chips using the most advanced transistor technologies. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
The European Space Agency's SOLARIS program, designed to study the feasibility of building Space-Based Solar Power, is conducted. Likelihood: 70 percentlink
Swedish battery developer, Northvolt, completes the construction of Europe's largest lithium-ion battery factory in Skellefteå this year. Likelihood: 90 Percentlink
As of this year, Spain now has the highest area of certified organic vineyards, 160,000 hectares, a figure triple what the country had in 2013. Likelihood: 100 Percentlink
Europe's first "intelligent" city, Elysium City, opens in Spain this year. The sustainable project was built from scratch and is powered by solar energy, among other features. Likelihood: 90 Percentlink
The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) rolls out a $2,000 pesos bill this year. Likelihood: 60%link
Mexico stops importing gasoline by this year after improving its domestic capacity to refine crude oil. Likelihood: 90%link
Modifying genes to renew all body issues to youthful versions becomes possible link
10 percent of reading glasses will be connected to the internet. link
The value of the consumer peer-to-peer lending services reaches $100.4bn in value this year globally, a jump of 40 percent compared to 2017. Likelihood: 80%link
China finishes building a mega-laser (100-petawatt laser pulses) that is so powerful, it could tear space apart; that is, it could theoretically create matter out of energy. Likelihood: 70%link
Malaysia fully adopts the Advanced Passenger Screening System capable of screening foreign visitors before they land in the country by cross-checking their data with records from the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), and International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol). Likelihood: 75%link
Munich gets platform screen doors on its U-Bahn system. Likelihood: 75%link
India continues buying arms from Russia, complicating its defense relationship fostered with the US in 2018. Likelihood: 60%link
NATO's cyber command is now fully operational, working to deter computer hackers from across the EU. (Likelihood 90%)link
UN finally delivers climate plan to reduce emissions caused by global shipping industry. link
90 percent of the global population will have a supercomputer in their pocket. link
London's new "super sewer" will be finished. link
Australia and New Zealand complete the development of SBAS this year, which is a satellite technology that will pinpoint a location on Earth to within 10 centimeters, unlocking more than $7.5 billion in benefits for industries in both countries. Likelihood: 90%link
80 percent of people on earth will have a digital presence online. link
The first government to replace its census with big-data technologies. link
Acoustic earthquake shield developed to protect cities from earthquakes begin seeing initial use. link
Modifying genes to renew all body issues to youthful versions becomes possible. link
The first government to replace its census with big-data technologies link
10% of reading glasses will be connected to the internet. link
80% of people on earth will have a digital presence online. link
90% of the global population will have a supercomputer in their pocket. link
Acoustic earthquake shield developed to protect cities from earthquakes begin seeing initial use link

Countries agree on an international treaty mandating the largest companies, including big tech, to pay more corporate tax abroad and a smaller share in their home countries. link
65% of the global population will have its personal data protected by privacy regulations. link
Members of the United Nations-backed Race to Zero campaign is required to restrict the development, financing, and facilitation of new fossil fuel assets, including banning future coal projects. link
The European Union implements the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) for large public-interest companies with more than 500 employees. link
The European Space Agency launches the Hera Mission, a binary asteroid system designed to detect threatening asteroids weeks before they get near Earth. link
The OSIRIS-REx mission, which launched in 2016 to visit the asteroid Bennu, returns a 2.1 ounce sample of the rocky body back to Earth. link
The combined market for PCs and tablets declines 2.6 percent before returning to growth in 2024. link
NASA and Axiom Space launch the second private astronaut mission to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX rockets. link
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launches the world's first wooden satellite. link
The COVID-19 pandemic ends. link
General Motors sells 20 all-electric car models, combining battery-electric and fuel-cell-electric vehicles. link
Global gas markets remain tight as Russian pipeline gas exports decrease, keeping energy prices high, in spite of gas demand falling in Europe due to aggressive energy-saving measures. link
Global polysilicon capacities nearly double by end of this year to 536 GW compared to 295 GW in 2022. link
UN finally delivers climate plan to reduce emissions caused by global shipping industry. link
The first government to replace its census with big-data technologies link
10% of reading glasses will be connected to the internet. link
80% of people on earth will have a digital presence online. link
90% of the global population will have a supercomputer in their pocket. link
Acoustic earthquake shield developed to protect cities from earthquakes begin seeing initial use link
Modifying genes to renew all body issues to youthful versions becomes possible link
Cost of solar panels, per watt, equals 1 US dollars link
World population forecasted to reach 7,991,396,000 link
World sales of electric vehicles reaches 8,546,667 link
Predicted global mobile web traffic equals 66 exabytes link
Global Internet traffic grows to 302 exabytes link