I think the next big scientific or engineering advancement is already coalescing and will soon have far-reaching effects on society: the merging of artificial intelligence with physical systems, creating intelligent machines that can perceive, decide and benefit humans in many ways including safety, efficiency and productivity, and improved health and comfort. AI is getting a lot of research and development dollars as the race is on to discover how it can be utilized and monetized. In just a few years it has gone from ChatGPT, a tool that provides human-like responses to queries, to being able to design new chemical formulas and predict protein folding. If we extrapolate this trend further, the possibilities of AI are tremendous: essentially, the ability to do whatever the human brain can conceive but faster, more accurately and more efficiently, and even be able to learn from the experience faster than humans could and come up with better methods on their own. Then, engineers will devise ways to interface this next generation artificial intelligence with machines and devices which will open up a new era in human civilization where much of the day-to-day routines in cities, states, and countries are carried out mostly by artificial intelligence machines. This will result in profound changes to society, and life as we know it. For simplicity, I’ll refer to AI machines as “intelligent machines/ devices.” One example already in use is self-driving cars like Tesla and Waymo, which use a combination of sensors and traffic pattern recognition data interfaced with the mechanical systems to control the car. In fact, I rode in a Waymo self-driving car last year and it performed spectacularly. Secondly, the DaVinci robotic surgical assistant which adds precision to surgeries by controlling the instruments and imaging the internal body structures and recognizing things that the surgeon might miss. Lastly, wearable med tech devices that monitor various biometrics and warn of potential health issues before they manifest. Intelligent machines that are currently in development include those that involve interfacing the brain directly to computers that control robotic limbs. This could be life-changing technology for paraplegic or stroke victims, or, in the case of intelligent eye prosthetics, legally blind individuals. In disaster response, intelligent robots could enter collapsed buildings or hazardous environments where humans cannot safely go and make split-second, life-saving decisions based on their machine learning. In education, adaptive systems could respond to each student’s needs in real time, making learning more personal and effective. Intelligent teacher robots will play a larger role in education, where they can give one-on-one attention to children who have learning disabilities. Looking further out, intelligent machines will comprise entire systems that humans depend on, such as in industry, energy, agriculture, transportation and social services. These intelligent components will communicate with one another, compile and analyze data through sensors thus growing more intelligent by the day, and modify actions in real time based on the data. This will increase efficiency and productivity perhaps more than ten-fold. I can imagine farmers being able to produce more food using less water, city traffic flowing smoothly throughout the day, manufacturing plants producing more widgets for less, and elderly parents living independently longer. I believe that in the near future, machines will not just be tools anymore: they’ll be collaborators with us humans, constantly learning, adjusting, and helping us do more with less strain, less waste, less uncertainty, and more safety. In short, the merging of AI and machines will be most powerful and impactful in the everyday systems that service human needs and keep the world running smoothly.