8 Looking forward: What’s next for our data?

 

This chapter covers

  • The incredible potential for positive change related to our data that mostly benefits us
  • The possibility for data solutions to be very simple or quite profound, depending on our viewpoint
  • New business sectors, products, and services related to the new world of individualized control and monetization of data
  • The relationship and activities you will manage through a data intermediary (DI)
  • What is a data dividend, and how much money will you make from your data
  • What you can do with your data settings today to be ready for the new future data ecosystem

Agathism: The doctrine that, in the end, all things tend toward good. . . . An optimist would say that everything is for the best. An agathist, on the other hand, would say that what’s happening right now may be unfortunate or evil, but, ultimately, it will all end well.1 

—Anu Garg

8.1 Where do we go from here?

In the previous chapters we discussed what the world of data looks like, how we got to where we are, and what the world looks like today. Now it is time to discuss what lies ahead.

As with most changes in the world, data won’t change in a big bang. Not all factors will change in an instant. The world at large—laws, regulations, enforcement, business operations, attitudes, and compliance—will not change in the blink of an eye. All of the changes that I am about to describe will come in waves and will be enforced and reinforced over time.

8.1.1 National and state laws will lead and guide the changes

8.1.2 The new data ecosystem will create and realign flows of money

8.1.3 Innovation and change will create friction and opportunity

8.1.4 It may be hard to see, but change is well underway

8.2 A day in the life of your data... well, actually two days

8.2.1 Data you create each day will not change

8.2.2 All the data we create in our daily lives: An example

8.2.3 New data streams from our roads and cars

8.3 What’s different in 2025?

8.4 Data intermediaries (DIs)