Disclaimer: The artworks presented here are speculative visualisations generated using AI. They are based on current insights and expert forecasts, but they represent imagined possibilities rather than definitive predictions of the future. The stories, artworks, and locations mentioned in them should be understood as creative interpretations rather than factual representations of real-world scenarios.
Farming drones (2024) by Ayaz BasraiWisdom & Culture lab, University of Waterloo
The future signals transformations—nations shifting alliances, technology revolutionizing farming, and resources becoming the currency of power. How will these shifts reshape human welfare and our ability to build a more equitable and sustainable world?
A future zero carbon enclave (2024) by Ayaz BasraiWisdom & Culture lab, University of Waterloo
Futurescape, a research project, explored such shifts and the future of human welfare. Through a forecasting tournament, we gathered insights from experts and everyday people on Climate, Economy, Peace/War, and Public Health.
In an interview, forecaster Peter Stamp shared the following insights about the future of agriculture:
"In agriculture, the number of units has shrunk. There are a few huge farms instead of countless small ones. The tractors, which were once small, are now huge to work on larger fields with more specialization… the tractor will drive itself, equipped with AI and drones to get the most out of the ground."
We invited artist Ayaz Basrai to bring these ideas to life through his artwork. In his vision, he imagined a future where Russia, leveraging its favourable geolocation, emerged as the next major agricultural industrial powerhouse.
Drawing parallels with history— such as Bayer's shift from wartime activities to pharmaceuticals and agribusiness— Ayaz envisioned a similar transformation in the agricultural sector.
"My scenario suggests a similar reallocation of Russian wartime infrastructure to power the generation of agri-drones, sentries, and tractors—arguably a better humanitarian benefit."
As climate change reshaped the world, Russia emerged as a leader in food production. Once barren lands now flourish with crops like soybeans and wheat. While others struggle with drought, Russia capitalized on warming temperatures.
Robotic plants began supplying AI server farms with real-time data, enhancing predictive power with old climatic data. This combination created a highly profitable, self-sustaining farming ecosystem, fueling the growing Russian state.
Many wartime technology companies transitioned to new roles within the agricultural sector. Laser-guided missile systems were now repurposed to precision plant seed packets.
Drone manufacturers assembled surveillance drones to guard against pestilence and warn against potential ingress of invasive species. Wartime robot manufacturers retrofitted their robots to become sentries, the highest-tech deployment of robotic scarecrows on the planet.
Fleets of AI-operated tractors and agro-vehicles became commonplace on massive farms, emerging as an effective and profitable way to patrol and grow food for the world population at scale and economy.
Are there any contemporary trends or historical patterns that you think could become catalysts for major shifts in the future? Visit the Futurescape website to challenge your understanding of past trends for societal change with our interactive game and explore forecasted scenarios about technology.
This exhibit is part of Futurescape, a project from the Wisdom and Culture Lab at the University of Waterloo, in collaboration with scholars from the Forecasting Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Through a longitudinal forecasting tournament, researchers explored possible visions for human welfare and societal change, drawing on the insights of experts, superforecasters, and everyday people across four key domains: Climate, Economy, Peace/ War, and Public Health.
This project has inspired an innovative digital exhibition, Visions of the Future, which brings together the fields of forecasting, art, and technology.
Exhibit Curation: Project FUEL and Igor Grossmann
Artist: Ayaz Basrai
