Back in April and May, there was a lot of crystal ball gazing going on. Will COVID-19 change our world forever? This Post, among others I wrote in the early days of the pandemic, explored the various ways the world may change. In the post, I reflected on a key warning sign: most predictions of a post-crisis world have historically been wrong. I pointed to an Article authored by Rob Walker, where he stresses that thoughtful speculation about the future helps us cope with the present and identify potential challenges and opportunities. He adds however that history tells us that most predictions will be wrong. In looking back at predictions post 9/11 and the great recession, Mr. Walker provides supporting evidence for this statement.

We are now more than eight months into this global crisis. With the caveat above in mind, is a picture of a Post Pandemic world emerging? Bill Gates thinks so. In a recent Podcast, Mr. Gates is joined by Dr. Anthony Fauci and Rashida Jones, where they explore a big question that is top of mind for many people: what will the world look like after COVID-19? In the podcast, Mr. Gates talks about seven ways that the pandemic will Change the World:

• Remote meetings will be normalized
• Software will have improved dramatically.
• Companies may share an office on rotation.
• We will choose to live in different places
• You will socialize less at work and more in your community.
• Things will not go totally back to normal for a long time
• The next pandemic will not be nearly as bad

Explore the thinking behind each prediction via the article and podcast above. Also, revisit previous pandemic topics via the links below.

FEATURED: A Post Pandemic Society

• Covid-19 Leaves Its Mark on Real Estate
• The Pandemic Is Impacting Multiple Domains
• A Glimpse Into Your Views On Catalysts For Change
• The Future Of The Office And Changing Work For The Better
• Tectonic Shifts Expected As Digital Expands
• COVID-19 Is Not Slowing Artificial Intelligence Down
• What History Tells Us About Deglobalization
• The Augmented Age: An Accelerated Path
• The Personalized Health Ecosystem
• Aftershocks and Opportunities: Scenarios For A Post-Pandemic Future
• The Emergence Of New Commerce Centers And More
• Some Job Opportunities Likely To Expand
• The Far Reaching Implications Of A Shifting Work Dynamic
• Reflect, Reimagine, and Reset
• Human Behavior Determines The Path
• The Technologies And trends Accelerated By COVID-19
• Blasting Into A Contactless Future
• Digital Learning And Resilient Supply Chains
• Will Coronavirus Accelerate the Path To A Surveillance State?
• Does COVID-19 Accelerate The Loss of Jobs To Automation?
• Lack Of Comfort In Close Spaces
• A Post-Pandemic Virtual Roundtable
• Learning From Leaders Around The World
• A Digital Divide
• What Behavior Changes Will Stick?
• 30 Top Experts Describe The Things That Will Change Forever
• Global Economic Recovery
• Does COVID-19 Change Your View of Innovation?
• COVID-19 As An Accelerant
• COVID-19 Tuesday Morning News
• How Long Until The Economic New Normal?
• We Must Think Critically and Differently
• How Might The World Respond?
• Rehearsing Possible Post COVID-19 Futures
• Possible Futures Emerging Across Multiple Domains
• More Thought Leaders Weigh In On A Post Pandemic Future
• Mid-Pandemic Impact on Supply Chains
• Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Scenarios
• Is The Canary Dead?
• How Will The Corona Virus Impact Globalization?
• The Corona Virus Serves As A Catalyst For Change
• Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Scenarios
• COVID-19 Monday Morning News
• Anatomy Of An Outbreak
• Discussing A Post-Pandemic Society on Salem Radio Network
• The COVID-19 Economic Impact On China and a Glimpse Of The Future
• Assessing A Post Pandemic Future: A Video
• Coronavirus: Permanent Change? 34 Big Thinkers Explore the Possibilities
• Futurist Gerd Leonhard Looks Back From The Near Future