Esplorare i futuri socio-tecnici del lavoro

Abstract

Work is becoming increasingly independent of space and time, influenced by digitalization and emerging technologies, and requires new skills and adaptive mindsets. The 25th Futures Conference (Turku, 10-12 June 2025) on futures of technologies and socio-technical transformation brought together over 330 participants to explore the interactions between socio-technical dynamics and the futures of work, with a focus on ethics, artificial intelligence, and governance. The special session of the Millennium Project, “The Radical and the Resilient,” employed narrative foresight and the Futures Clinique methodology to explore socio-technical work scenarios in 2035 through four actor-oriented radical narratives. Participants analyzed tensions between freedom and control, individual and collective needs, and the promises and risks of technology, identifying actionable pathways toward desirable and sustainable futures. The experience highlights the central role of self-actualization, personal values, and community resilience, and shows that collective intelligence is an essential resource for understanding the complexity of work futures and for developing responsible strategies. The workshop confirms that social and human foresight is a collective co-creation practice, necessary for shaping resilient, ethical, and human-centered futures.