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 percent1
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 percent1
65% of the global population will have its personal data protected by privacy regulations. Likelihood: 80 percent1
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 percent1
The European Union implements the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) for large public-interest companies with more than 500 employees. Likelihood: 70 percent1
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 percent1
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 percent1
The combined market for PCs and tablets declines 2.6 percent before returning to growth in 2024. Likelihood: 80 percent1
NASA and Axiom Space launch the second private astronaut mission to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX rockets. Likelihood: 80 percent1
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launches the world's first wooden satellite. Likelihood: 60 percent1
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 percent1
General Motors sells 20 all-electric car models, combining battery-electric and fuel-cell-electric vehicles. Likelihood: 70 percent1
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 percent1
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 percent1
The European Space Agency's SOLARIS program, designed to study the feasibility of building Space-Based Solar Power, is conducted. Likelihood: 70 percent1
Swedish battery developer, Northvolt, completes the construction of Europe's largest lithium-ion battery factory in Skellefteå this year. Likelihood: 90 Percent1
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 Percent1
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 Percent1
The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) rolls out a $2,000 pesos bill this year. Likelihood: 60%1
Mexico stops importing gasoline by this year after improving its domestic capacity to refine crude oil. Likelihood: 90%1
Modifying genes to renew all body issues to youthful versions becomes possible 1
10 percent of reading glasses will be connected to the internet. 1
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%1
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%1
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%1
Munich gets platform screen doors on its U-Bahn system. Likelihood: 75%1
India continues buying arms from Russia, complicating its defense relationship fostered with the US in 2018. Likelihood: 60%1
NATO's cyber command is now fully operational, working to deter computer hackers from across the EU. (Likelihood 90%)1
UN finally delivers climate plan to reduce emissions caused by global shipping industry. 1
90 percent of the global population will have a supercomputer in their pocket. 1
London's new "super sewer" will be finished. 1
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%1
80 percent of people on earth will have a digital presence online. 1
The first government to replace its census with big-data technologies. 1
Acoustic earthquake shield developed to protect cities from earthquakes begin seeing initial use. 1
Modifying genes to renew all body issues to youthful versions becomes possible. 1
The first government to replace its census with big-data technologies 1
10% of reading glasses will be connected to the internet. 1
80% of people on earth will have a digital presence online. 1
90% of the global population will have a supercomputer in their pocket. 1
Acoustic earthquake shield developed to protect cities from earthquakes begin seeing initial use 1

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. 1
65% of the global population will have its personal data protected by privacy regulations. 1
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. 1
The European Union implements the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs) for large public-interest companies with more than 500 employees. 1
The European Space Agency launches the Hera Mission, a binary asteroid system designed to detect threatening asteroids weeks before they get near Earth. 1
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. 1
The combined market for PCs and tablets declines 2.6 percent before returning to growth in 2024. 1
NASA and Axiom Space launch the second private astronaut mission to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX rockets. 1
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launches the world's first wooden satellite. 1
The COVID-19 pandemic ends. 1
General Motors sells 20 all-electric car models, combining battery-electric and fuel-cell-electric vehicles. 1
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. 1
Global polysilicon capacities nearly double by end of this year to 536 GW compared to 295 GW in 2022. 1
UN finally delivers climate plan to reduce emissions caused by global shipping industry. 1
The first government to replace its census with big-data technologies 1
10% of reading glasses will be connected to the internet. 1
80% of people on earth will have a digital presence online. 1
90% of the global population will have a supercomputer in their pocket. 1
Acoustic earthquake shield developed to protect cities from earthquakes begin seeing initial use 1
Modifying genes to renew all body issues to youthful versions becomes possible 1
Cost of solar panels, per watt, equals 1 US dollars 1
World population forecasted to reach 7,991,396,000 1
World sales of electric vehicles reaches 8,546,667 1
Predicted global mobile web traffic equals 66 exabytes 1
Global Internet traffic grows to 302 exabytes 1