Can Artificial Intelligence Predict Our Future?

By Corina-Denisa Adam

Data-Based Predictions: What Can AI Do?

Artificial intelligence works through machine learning. If it is given enough information about a person’s past behavior (or that of large groups of people), AI can build predictive models. These are used, for example, to:

• anticipate whether a person will continue their studies;

• assess the risk of school dropout;

• estimate the evolution of health (based on lifestyle);

• suggest possible career directions;

• calculate the likelihood of someone divorcing or changing jobs.

A concrete example is the Life2vec model, which was trained on real data from Danish registers — that is, medical, educational, family, financial data, etc. As a result, it managed to make surprisingly accurate predictions about individual life paths.

AI Models That “Guess” the Future of Science

In research, AI has been used to “predict” scientific discoveries — in other words, to guess which theories, substances, or combinations of elements will become important in the future. How does it work?

A model can analyze millions of scientific papers published in recent decades and learn how knowledge evolves over time: what themes repeat, what theories lead to discoveries, how ideas connect. Then, it can make predictions about what will be published or studied in the coming years.

These models not only accelerate the scientific process, but can even suggest research directions before humans think of them.

The Limits and Traps of AI Predictions

No matter how advanced it is, AI has fundamental limitations:

1. It cannot understand human intention – AI analyzes data, not emotions or deep motivations.

2. Unexpected events cannot be predicted – accidents, trauma, personal revelations, or environmental changes (wars, pandemics, etc.) are impossible to fully anticipate.

3. Data bias – if training data is incomplete or biased (e.g., more data on men than women), predictions will reflect this inequality.

4. Self-fulfilling prophecies – if an algorithm says you have low chances of success in a field, you might feel discouraged and not try at all, even though you could have succeeded.

Moreover, there is a risk that these models could be used inappropriately: in hiring, access to loans, or even in the justice system. In such cases, a statistical prediction can become an unfair judgment.

What Do Experts Think About the Future of AI?

Researchers working in AI are aware of the power of this technology. A global survey in 2024 showed that many experts believe AI will surpass human abilities in most fields by 2047. This means that:

• AI could become better than humans at writing, speaking, calculating, medical diagnosis, and maybe even creativity.

• Many decisions will be delegated to algorithms – in business, medicine, education, and other fields.

Futurists like Ray Kurzweil speak of the singularity – a theoretical point in the future when AI will become so advanced that it will begin to improve itself, without human intervention. This could mark the beginning of a new stage in human evolution.

Conclusion: AI Doesn’t Tell You What You Will Be. But It Tells You What You Could Become.

Artificial intelligence is a tool, not an oracle. It has no emotions, intuitions, or consciousness, but it can quickly analyze enormous amounts of data and identify invisible patterns. In other words:

• AI can guide you, but it cannot decide for you.

• It can inform you, but it cannot define you.

• It can show you risks and opportunities, but the choices are yours.

The future is not something fixed — it is a constantly evolving construction. AI can show you the map, but you are the one who decides which road to take.

References

1. Grace, K., Salvatier, J., Dafoe, A., Zhang, B., & Evans, O. (2024). When Will AI Exceed Human Performance? Evidence from AI Experts. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.02843

2. Tetlock, P. E., Mellers, B. A. (2025). Wisdom of the Silicon Crowd: Combining AI and Human Forecasting. Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/can-ai-predict-the-future

3. Evans, J. A., & Sourati, J. (2021). Measuring and Forecasting Progress in Science Using AI. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.05188

4. Wired. (2023). Algorithmic Prophecies Are Undermining Our Free Will. https://www.wired.com/story/algorithmic-prophecies-undermine-free-will

5. The Sun. (2024). AI bot can predict your DEATH, whether you'll have kids or be rich – but its creators have a warning for the public. https://www.thesun.ie/tech/12608296/ai-bot-life2vec-warning-scam-websites

6. Pew Research Center. (2023). The Best and Worst Changes in Digital Life by 2035. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/06/21/as-ai-spreads-experts-predict-the-best-and-worst-changes-in-digital-life-by-2035

7. Imagining the Digital Future. (2025). Being Human in 2035 – Elon University Report. https://imaginingthedigitalfuture.org/reports-and-publications/being-human-in-2035

8. Popular Mechanics. (2024). Ray Kurzweil Predicts the Singularity by 2045. https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a65253231/2045-singularity-ray-kurzweil-prediction

9. Economic Times India. (2024). AI Takeover Predictions: Surviving Careers by 2045. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/will-the-ai-takeover-spare-politicians-expert-predicts-3-unexpected-careers-that-could-survive-by-2045