Self-driving cars, robots, and Mars: where will we be in 10 years?

In ten years, the world will be almost unrecognisable, according to data released today by local services site ServiceSeeking.com.au. Self-driving cars, robots, and space travel are just some of the areas that will look dramatically different in less than a decade, according to the study.

In the survey of over 3,300 respondents, 71 per cent expect to see self-driving cars in the next ten years. 1 in 3 expect a robot to be cleaning their house, and 9 per cent even think humans will live on Mars.

“The study into how the world will look in ten years' time has revealed some interesting insights,” says ServiceSeeking.com.au CEO Jeremy Levitt. “The majority of Australians think they won’t be going about everyday jobs in the same way in only ten years.”

The survey also reveals that over the past ten years, technology has changed all facets of our life – from how we share information to how we communicate with family and friends and how we watch TV.

However, technology has made us regress in certain areas, particularly parenting, with only 30 per cent believing technology has helped improve their parenting skills. Furthermore, 68 per cent believe technology has hurt our collective attention span.

78% said technology has changed how they watch TV – unsurprising considering the growing popularity of online viewing platforms like Stan and Netflix.

“Although Australians think they may be losing control of everyday jobs to robots, it’s not all doom and gloom – this is a great opportunity for the workplace to adapt and grow with technology,” says Mr Levitt.

Trades and Services are another key area of change – a trillion-dollar industry driven online with billions of dollars being won through websites like ServiceSeeking.com.au. It has never been easier to hire a cleaner, handyman or painter with the swipe of a finger. Local services platform ServiceSeeking.com.au has seen $3.2 billion worth of jobs posted on the site since 2007 – showing how technology can rapidly change an industry that has thrived off old-fashioned word of mouth and advertising through the Yellow Pages.

ServiceSeeking.com.au CEO Jeremy Levitt says, “Tradies have traditionally quoted in person – customers have always had to shop around and find the tradie to do their job. We’ve flipped that on its head – tradies are now getting leads delivered to their inbox and have increased the amount of work they win as a result,” said Mr Levitt.  

All data comes from a recent ServiceSeeking.com.au survey of over 3,300 respondents.