{"id":126873,"date":"2026-02-05T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/population-societe-modes-de-vie-1\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T16:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T14:03:17","slug":"population-societe-modes-de-vie-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/population-societe-modes-de-vie-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Population, Society, Lifestyles #1"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='post-container'>\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">This bimonthly newsletter offers concise forward-looking insights into topics we believe are important for the future. It includes information confirming trends (\u201cstrong signals\u201d), \u201cweak signals\u201d heralding possible changes, disruptive developments worth considering (\u201cWhat if\u2026\u201d), interesting debates about the future, and a selection of recent publications that we consider particularly insightful. This newsletter does not claim to be exhaustive. The topics covered may be explored in greater depth in other Futuribles publications.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"image-caption-component-legende\">Contributors to this newsletter: <\/span><br \/><span class=\"image-caption-component-legende\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/author-analyst\/bourse-francois\/\">Fran\u00e7ois Bourse<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/author-analyst\/desaunay-cecile\/\">C\u00e9cile D\u00e9saunay<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/publications\/?auteur=10649\">Quentin Bisalli<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wrapper-bloc-component\">\n  <div class=\"wrapper-bloc-component--content\">\n    <h2 class=\"t-post-4 u-margin-b-4\">CONTENT<\/h2>\n    <p><strong><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574024\">Strong signals (confirmation of trends)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574025\">Addictions among young people: the great shift in risks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574026\">From \u201calways connected\u201d to selective disconnection: young adults facing digital fatigue<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574027\">Weak signals<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574028\">One in eight Americans is on anti-obesity medication: what are the consequences?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574029\">Towards hyper-personalised consumption thanks to agent-based Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574030\">\u201cSitting is the new smoking\u201d what recent data reveals about our \u201csedentary lifestyle\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574031\">Robots here, workers elsewhere: toward a global market for remote physical labour (\u201ctelemigration\u201d)?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574032\">What if\u2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574033\">What if tomorrow\u2026 audiovisual cultural content were to become entirely human again?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574034\">What if, by 2035, fungi were killing more people each year than tuberculosis and malaria combined?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#post-126873-_Toc227574035\">Noteworthy sources\/bibliography<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574024\"><\/a>Strong Signals (Confirmation of Trends)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc853537209\"><\/a><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574025\"><\/a>Addictions among young people: the great shift in risks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Published in autumn 2025, the results of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espad.org\/espad-report-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">latest ESPAD survey<\/a> (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) show that substance use among young people in Europe is changing rapidly: a historic decline in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, and a shift towards products perceived as more modern (e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches etc.): 45% of European teenagers have tried e-cigarettes, compared with around 30% for conventional cigarettes. Nitrous oxide is a cause for concern: around 3% of teenagers have used it, sometimes as young as 13-15 years old, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senat.fr\/rap\/l24-359\/l24-3591.pdf\">healthcare professionals are reporting a rise in serious cases<\/a> (84 in 2020, 314 in 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"image-caption-component u-block  double-left-text\">\n  <div class=\"gs-container image-caption\">\n          <div class=\"wrapper\">\n        <p class=\"caption t-base\">\n          \n        <\/p>\n        <p class=\"caption-title t-weight-700\">\n          Proportion of French people aged 18-75 who have tried or used nitrous oxide in the past year, by age\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n        <div class=\"image-caption-component__img\">\n      \n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <div class=\"image-caption-component-legende\">\n    <p><em>Source: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.santepubliquefrance.fr\/les-actualites\/2023\/cbd-et-protoxyde-d-azote-quels-sont-les-niveaux-de-consommation-chez-les-adultes-en-france\">Sant\u00e9 publique France<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Behavioural addictions are also becoming \u201cmodernised\u201d (online gambling, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.santeaddictions.fr\/je-m-informe\/loot-boxes-quand-les-jeux-video-flirtent-avec-les-jeux-d-argent\">video games<\/a> with financial microtransactions etc.). These trends point to a range of low-profile addictions, less visible but increasingly shaping young people\u2019s daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Public responses are struggling to keep pace with these changes. Some European countries have introduced sales restrictions on new products (vapes, nitrous oxide, nicotine pouches). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/RegData\/etudes\/BRIE\/2025\/769570\/EPRS_BRI(2025)769570_EN.pdf\">Regulation<\/a> also extends to digital environments: age verification systems, limits on random rewards and one-click purchases in games etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One blind spot worth noting in these publications: addiction to ultra-sugary and processed foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, beyond the general shift in risks, the gap is widening between, on the one hand, young people who are better protected and growing up in environments with low addiction potential, and, on the other, young people immersed in <a href=\"https:\/\/data.espad.org\/gambling-and-online-gambling\/\">ecosystems combining risky substances, games and interfaces<\/a>. In the coming years, one of the major challenges will be to reduce these social inequalities in exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574026\"><\/a>From \u201calways connected\u201d to selective disconnection: young adults facing digital fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc1277459841\"><\/a> Among 15-29-year-olds, recent data show a profound shift in social media usage. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/news\/item\/25-09-2024-teens--screens-and-mental-health\">Those aged 15-24 spend nearly 60% of their time on social media<\/a>, which remains at the heart of their media habits. The turning point is qualitative: a rise in digital fatigue and voluntary self-regulation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/fr\/news\/item\/25-09-2024-teens--screens-and-mental-health\">The World Health Organisation (WHO) Europe<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbsc.org\/new-who-hbsc-report-sheds-light-on-adolescent-digital-behaviours-across-europe-central-asia-and-canada\/\">HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children)<\/a> study show an increase in reports of voluntary breaks and usage restrictions, alongside screen time that remains high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Social interaction is shifting towards less visible spaces: private groups, messaging apps, gaming or chat servers, and niche communities. A growing proportion of 18-29-year-olds are adopting \u201clurking\u201d behaviours (consuming content without visible interaction), combined with setting accounts to private and drastically reducing the frequency of posts (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.econstor.eu\/bitstream\/10419\/308605\/1\/GLO-DP-1551.pdf\">source<\/a>). The youth is still overwhelmingly connected, but harder to observe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Public policy-makers (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/news\/en\/press-room\/20251120IPR31496\/children-should-be-at-least-16-to-access-social-media-say-meps\">the European Parliament<\/a>, France) are beginning to introduce structural frameworks for these digital environments, tailored to different age groups. These guidelines are in line with the conclusions of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealtheurope.org\/council-conclusions-on-youth-mental-health-in-the-digital-era-reaction\/\">the Council of the European Union on young people\u2019s mental health in the digital age<\/a>, which call for action on \u201cdigital determinants\u201d. For 18-29-year-olds, however, regulation remains indirect (data protection, advertising, content).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Young people with high educational attainment, a supportive family environment and good digital literacy are over-represented among those who implement <a href=\"https:\/\/www.econstor.eu\/bitstream\/10419\/308605\/1\/GLO-DP-1551.pdf\">structured control strategies<\/a>. Conversely, young people in precarious situations, who have dropped out of school or are economically dependent on certain services (platform work, content creation, streaming) remain exposed to the most intensive forms of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking ahead to 2035, the key issue is not that of a hypothetical \u201cexit\u201d from networks, but rather the distribution of skills and resources enabling users to genuinely adapt their usage patterns as they navigate life transitions. Selective disconnection could become either a lever for risk reduction or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/content\/dam\/oecd\/en\/publications\/reports\/2024\/11\/the-impact-of-digital-technologies-on-well-being_848e9736\/cb173652-en.pdf\">marker of inequality<\/a> among young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574027\"><\/a>Weak Signals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc1037446172\"><\/a><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc221037595\"><\/a><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574028\"><\/a>One in eight Americans is on anti-obesity medication: what are the consequences?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc731567049\"><\/a> In November 2025, in the United States, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/public-opinion\/poll-1-in-8-adults-say-they-are-currently-taking-a-glp-1-drug-for-weight-loss-diabetes-or-another-condition-even-as-half-say-the-drugs-are-difficult-to-afford\/\">one in eight adults reported taking a so-called \u201canti-obesity\u201d drug<\/a>, and one in five had already taken one. According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jec.senate.gov\/public\/vendor\/_accounts\/JEC-R\/jer-chapters\/2024JERChapter4.pdf\">United States (US) Congressional report<\/a>, within five years, up to 40% of adults could be taking one of these treatments. The uptake of these pills could be driven by a fall in their cost: without cover from private health insurance, they can cost up to $1,000 a month. Discussions are underway regarding potential coverage by Medicare or Medicaid, given the potential benefits for other healthcare expenditure (through a reduction in obesity- and diabetes-related comorbidities).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"image-caption-component u-block  double-left-text\">\n  <div class=\"gs-container image-caption\">\n          <div class=\"wrapper\">\n        <p class=\"caption t-base\">\n          \n        <\/p>\n        <p class=\"caption-title t-weight-700\">\n          Projected adult (20+) obesity rates in the United States\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n        <div class=\"image-caption-component__img\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"708\" height=\"494\" src=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-2.png\" class=\"u-img\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-2.png 708w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-2-300x209.png 300w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-2-320x223.png 320w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-2-200x140.png 200w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-2-540x377.png 540w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-2-700x488.png 700w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-2-650x454.png 650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 708px) 100vw, 708px\" \/>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <div class=\"image-caption-component-legende\">\n    <p><em>Source: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jec.senate.gov\/public\/vendor\/_accounts\/JEC-R\/jer-chapters\/2024JERChapter4.pdf\"><em>Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several studies highlight the <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/00222437251412834\">impact of these treatments on the behaviour<\/a> of the patients concerned: more or less sustained <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12303005\/?\">weight loss<\/a>, a reduction in food expenditure and purchases of high-calorie foods, in favour of fresh and less processed products (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12303005\/?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lefigaro.fr\/conso\/face-a-l-essor-des-traitements-anti-obesite-aux-etats-unis-les-restaurants-reduisent-leurs-portions-20251229\">Restaurants are already beginning to reduce their portion sizes<\/a> or even to adapt their menus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The popularity of these drugs could grow further, as other uses are now being considered: reducing cardiovascular risks, treating certain addictions (alcohol, nicotine, opioids etc.). The use of these drugs nevertheless raises many questions: to what extent could they actually lead to a lasting reduction in obesity, associated risks and healthcare costs? Could some patients take them on a long-term basis, and if so, what would be the impact on their health? Conversely, what are the risks if treatment is stopped and appetite returns\u2014given that<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/content\/392\/bmj-2025-085304\"> weight gain upon stopping treatment<\/a> is much faster than with dieting? If the costs of these drugs remain high, what is the risk of a surge in counterfeits?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc221037596\"><\/a><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574029\"><\/a>Towards hyper-personalised consumption thanks to agent-based Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the United States, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/business.adobe.com\/blog\/the-explosive-rise-of-generative-ai-referral-traffic?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">survey conducted by Adobe<\/a>, nearly 40% of artificial intelligence users say they already use it for their online shopping. In France, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adyen.com\/fr_FR\/presse-et-medias\/adyen-index-2025\">a third of Internet users are also said to use AI for their purchases<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"image-caption-component u-block  double-left-text\">\n  <div class=\"gs-container image-caption\">\n          <div class=\"wrapper\">\n        <p class=\"caption t-base\">\n          \n        <\/p>\n        <p class=\"caption-title t-weight-700\">\n          Use of AI for online shopping\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n        <div class=\"image-caption-component__img\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"709\" height=\"670\" src=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3.jpeg\" class=\"u-img\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3.jpeg 709w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3-300x283.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3-320x302.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3-200x189.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3-540x510.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3-700x661.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3-635x600.jpeg 635w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/word-image-126873-3-593x560.jpeg 593w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px\" \/>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <div class=\"image-caption-component-legende\">\n    <p><em>Source:<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/business.adobe.com\/blog\/the-explosive-rise-of-generative-ai-referral-traffic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adobe<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AI is now being used to personalise the shopping journey: finding products that meet specific needs but also receiving offers and comparing them. ChatGPT, for example, suggests product selections in response to a prompt, and if instant payment is available, the user can even purchase the product directly within the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the future, every Internet user could have access to a personalised catalogue of products and services directly via their personal AI. Some purchases could even be fully automated (reordering of everyday items) or partially automated (express authorisation to purchase following a request).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, this new way of accessing consumer goods could, if left unregulated, lead to incentives for overconsumption and a narrowing of choice to certain offers pushed by algorithms\u2026 The logic behind the ranking of products and services could also reduce the visibility of certain companies and advertisements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Agent-based AI would allow for the complete centralisation of purchases, thereby bypassing search engines and platforms. Google has, in fact, just launched the UCP (Universal Commerce Protocol<em>) <\/em>to standardise AI-driven purchasing. Disputes could arise from customers claiming that their agent purchased a product on their behalf, or that it misunderstood their request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>To find out more, read <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/vers-une-consommation-ultrapersonnalisee-grace-a-lia\/\"><strong>C\u00e9cile D\u00e9saunay\u2019s monitoring note on the subject<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574030\"><\/a>\u201cSitting is the new smoking\u201d what recent data reveals about our \u201csedentary lifestyle\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sedentary lifestyle is becoming increasingly entrenched in our lifestyle in France: three in ten adults report spending more than seven hours a day sitting down, a proportion that reaches very high levels among 18-29-year-olds, and more than 80% of adults spend at least three hours a day in front of a recreational screen. Some of these findings <a href=\"https:\/\/www.santepubliquefrance.fr\/determinants-de-sante\/nutrition-et-activite-physique\/articles\/activite-physique-sedentarite-et-alimentation-resultats-des-barometres-de-sante-publique-france\">from Sant\u00e9 publique France surveys<\/a> are now well known and have already prompted responses: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.anses.fr\/fr\/content\/manque-dactivite-physique-et-exces-de-sedentarite-une-priorite-de-sante-publique\">the rise of \u201csport-health\u201d policies<\/a>, adapted physical activity programmes, and awareness campaigns on the importance of daily physical activity. The slogan \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6187798\/\">Sitting is the new smoking<\/a>\u201d, popularised in Anglo-Saxon campaigns, is part of this trend, but it is worth noting that campaigns in France remain very tentative on this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jean-jaures.org\/publication\/inegalites-sociales-depenses-publiques-effondrement-ecologique-les-ravages-de-la-condition-sedentaire\/\">Paul Klotz\u2019s paper<\/a> (Jean Jaur\u00e8s Foundation, July 2025) presents a sedentary lifestyle as a social pathology and a matter of social justice. The author highlights key structural factors: the proportion of physically active people increases with income level, adults with low levels of education and those under 45 are the most affected by insufficient physical activity, and women appear to be particularly at risk (70% of women in France fall below the activity threshold deemed necessary for good health, compared with 42% of men, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.anses.fr\/fr\/content\/manque-dactivite-physique-et-exces-de-sedentarite-une-priorite-de-sante-publique\">according to ANSES<\/a>, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health &amp; Safety).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2022, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.strategie-plan.gouv.fr\/en\/publications\/socio-economic-evaluation-health-effects-public-investment-projects\">France Strat\u00e9gie<\/a> cited research estimating the social cost of physical inactivity at around \u20ac140 billion per year, an economic and budgetary dimension that remains largely overlooked in public debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taken together, these findings place the \u201csedentary lifestyle\u201d at the intersection of three sets of issues: health and budgetary (the future burden of chronic diseases and associated expenditure); social and regional (gradients in income, educational attainment and gender, as well as regional and urban\/rural disparities); organisational (the combined effects of remote working, the shift towards the service sector, and infrastructure).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc1590702833\"><\/a><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574031\"><\/a>Robots here, workers elsewhere: toward a global market for remote physical labour (\u201ctelemigration\u201d)?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remote work no longer concerns only office tasks: an increasing proportion of physical labour can now be carried out thousands of kilometres away <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shadecoder.com\/de\/topics\/teleoperation-a-comprehensive-guide-for-2025\">via tele-operated robots<\/a>. The robot and the infrastructure are located where the client or asset is (shop, factory, care home), whilst the operator is based in a remote labour hub (the Philippines, China, India, East Africa etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A prime example is that of <a href=\"https:\/\/eu.36kr.com\/en\/p\/3524739767131008\">Japanese convenience stores<\/a> (<em>konbini<\/em>): from Manila, Filipino operators use virtual reality headsets and joysticks to supervise stock-filling robots, stepping in when the AI makes a mistake\u2014which happens about 4% of the time. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.journaldugeek.com\/2025\/10\/24\/entre-innovation-et-precarite-letonnante-transformation-robotique-des-konbini-japonais\/\">A Japanese company<\/a> (Telexistence) supplies the robots and handles contracts with the <em>konbini<\/em> chains, whilst a Philippine company (Astro Robotics) employs around 60 young operators, each of whom monitors up to 50 robots, for a monthly salary of approximately $250 to $315.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Experiments and scenarios involving \u201ccross-border remote labour automation\u201d describe factories where robots in the US or Europe are operated by operators based in China, India or Vietnam, at significantly lower labour costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This \u201crobot on site, human elsewhere\u201d model is also being considered for elderly care. Ultimately, this opens up the possibility that some of the work involved in monitoring and supporting dependent individuals could be carried out from offshore hubs, via robots. The human presence alongside elderly people or clients would be partially outsourced, blurring the boundaries between presence\/absence, assistance\/care (examples in Japan).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key issue here is the emergence of a remote physical labour market that allows for the relocation of part of production whilst offshoring the work, thereby circumventing migration and visa requirements. The balance of power is no longer between local workers and robots, but between local workers and remote operators, both mediated by machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574032\"><\/a>What If\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc221037600\"><\/a><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574033\"><\/a>What if tomorrow\u2026 audiovisual cultural content were to become entirely human again?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question would have seemed incongruous just a few years ago\u2026 Yet today, AI-generated content is turning the world upside down, even competing with human-created content. It is estimated that around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.francebleu.fr\/infos\/culture-loisirs\/la-musique-generee-par-intelligence-artificielle-devient-presque-impossible-a-deceler-selon-une-etude-2693279\">a third of new music tracks uploaded to streaming platforms are now entirely generated by AI<\/a>\u2014and when its influence is obvious, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courrierinternational.com\/article\/musique-aux-pays-bas-des-chansons-racistes-creees-par-ia-en-tete-du-classement-spotify_238113\">it doesn\u2019t seem to bother the masses<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is a return to the past even possible? Several disparate signs certainly point in that direction. The contrast between the success of Intermarch\u00e9 and Apple\u2019s \u201chandmade\u201d Christmas adverts and the backlash faced by Coca-Cola and McDonald\u2019s for their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latribune.fr\/article\/tech\/1062076083086514\/avec-sa-pub-sans-ia-intermarche-fait-le-buzz-mcdo-contraint-de-retirer-son-spot-100-ia\">AI-generated adverts<\/a> speaks volumes; an advert identified as AI-generated generates <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nim.org\/en\/publications\/detail\/transparency-without-trust\">less public engagement<\/a>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courrierinternational.com\/article\/reseaux-sociaux-au-royaume-uni-reddit-detrone-tiktok_238932\">recent resurgence of interest in the social media platform Reddit<\/a> can be partly explained by a search for authenticity and human interaction. In turn, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcgamer.com\/hardware\/inundated-with-slop-tiktok-tests-feature-that-will-let-users-request-to-see-less-ai-generated-content-in-their-feeds\/\">TikTok has recently tested a setting to reduce the visibility of AI-generated content<\/a>. A few radical initiatives, such as Slop Evader or The Great Meme Reset, even offer a return to the Internet of 2022. Etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What would a culture without AI look like? Certainly, something close to what we knew up until 2023. But is that realistic? Whilst the various phenomena mentioned above do not necessarily herald a reversal of the trend, they are nonetheless a sign of a form of saturation. And perhaps the advent of a hybrid world, or rather of separate cultural worlds. Faced with reactions of rejection towards certain AI-generated content, platforms and producers might be tempted to highlight human-generated content and clearly distinguish it from AI content, via a certification system or, failing that, strict content regulation, or even a separation between AI and human content. Finally, the saturation of content whose origin is difficult to discern could prompt some consumers to prioritise human contact: the performing arts, the \u201ceventisation\u201d of all art forms. In this scenario, the presence of artists within their communities could become essential, at the risk of being suspected of being AI avatars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574034\"><\/a>What if, by 2035, fungi were killing more people each year than tuberculosis and malaria combined?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Severe fungal infections now account for around<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/38224705\/\"> 7% of global deaths<\/a>, a figure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.manchester.ac.uk\/about\/news\/global-deaths-from-fungal-disease-have-doubled-in-a-decade--new-study\/\">comparable to that of tuberculosis or malaria<\/a>. This \u201cslow pandemic\u201d is largely under-diagnosed. It highlights <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scirp.org\/pdf\/pp2024154_22501479.pdf\">structural weaknesses in healthcare systems<\/a>: the vulnerability of the elderly and immunocompromised, and the inadequacy of specific pathogen surveillance systems. In a scenario combining an ageing population and antifungal resistance, this death toll could rise to over five million annually by 2035-2040.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"image-caption-component u-block  double-left-text\">\n  <div class=\"gs-container image-caption\">\n          <div class=\"wrapper\">\n        <p class=\"caption t-base\">\n          \n        <\/p>\n        <p class=\"caption-title t-weight-700\">\n          <em>Candida, Candida albicans, Candida auris fungi<\/em> and other human pathogenic yeasts\n        <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n        <div class=\"image-caption-component__img\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"522\" height=\"293\" src=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/une-image-contenant-champignon-moisissure-le-con-1.jpeg\" class=\"u-img\" alt=\"Une image contenant champignon, moisissure.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/une-image-contenant-champignon-moisissure-le-con-1.jpeg 522w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/une-image-contenant-champignon-moisissure-le-con-1-300x168.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/une-image-contenant-champignon-moisissure-le-con-1-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/une-image-contenant-champignon-moisissure-le-con-1-200x112.jpeg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px\" \/>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <div class=\"image-caption-component-legende\">\n    <p>\u00a9 Kateryna Kon\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2022, the WHO classified<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9789240060241\"> 19 fungal pathogens as priorities<\/a>, four of which were classified as critical priorities with case fatality rates of up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/01-04-2025-who-issues-its-first-ever-reports-on-tests-and-treatments-for-fungal-infections\">to 50% to 80% in frail patients<\/a>. In low- and middle-income countries, <a href=\"https:\/\/gaffi.org\/a-global-wake-up-call-latest-fungal-research-reveals-double-the-death-toll\/\">fungal mortality has almost doubled in a decade<\/a> and overlaps with more visible infectious disease crises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11815821\/\">Climate change<\/a> and agriculture are accelerating this risk. The widespread use of azole fungicides is selecting for resistant strains in the environment, compromising key molecules in human medicine. Global warming could expand the climatic zones favourable to certain mycotoxin-producing fungi in Europe and temperate regions by 10% to 20%, potentially exposing millions of people to respiratory and food-related risks. The interplay between intensive agriculture, climate and human health demonstrates how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monde-diplomatique.fr\/2025\/06\/MAINARDI\/68481\">countries in the Global South are already facing a combination of these vulnerabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The WHO highlights a severe shortage of rapid diagnostic tests, a limited range of treatments restricted to a few often-toxic drug classes, and a very narrow pipeline of antifungal innovations. Fungi are considered a \u201cweak link\u201d in global health: they feature little in pandemic preparedness plans and hold little appeal for industry, yet by 2035 they could become one of the leading causes of infectious mortality if no strategy is put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-126873-_Toc227574035\"><\/a>Noteworthy Sources\/Bibliography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 <span class=\"small-caps\">Hoibian <\/span>Sandra <em>et al.<\/em>, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.credoc.fr\/publications\/des-clivages-societaux-qui-sapaisent-plus-vite-une-plus-grande-mediatisation-de-la-colere\">Des clivages soci\u00e9taux qui s\u2019apaisent plus vite, une plus grande m\u00e9diatisation de la col\u00e8re<\/a>\u201d, <em>Consommation &amp; modes de vie,<\/em> no.\u00a0CMV352, December 2025, CR\u00c9DOC. <br \/>Convergences and divergences of opinion in France on major societal issues, as revealed by opinion polls. A reality less conflict-ridden than the expressions of anger reported by the media would suggest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 At the end of 2025, the <em>Cour des comptes<\/em> published a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccomptes.fr\/fr\/publications\/demographie-et-finances-publiques\">report on demography and public finances<\/a> to analyse the impacts of demographic changes on public accounts in France. The institution notes that demographic challenges are not sufficiently considered in current budgetary planning and calls for the systematic anticipation and integration of demographic data into budgetary decisions and structural reforms. It also calls for a rethink of working life between the ages of 60 and 70 to alleviate future financial pressures.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This bimonthly newsletter offers concise forward-looking insights into topics we believe are important for the future. It includes information confirming trends (\u201cstrong signals\u201d), \u201cweak signals\u201d heralding possible changes, disruptive developments worth considering (\u201cWhat if\u2026\u201d), interesting debates about the future, and a selection of recent publications that we consider particularly insightful. This newsletter does not claim &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/population-societe-modes-de-vie-1\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":126891,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[198],"tags":[210,212],"keyword":[988,1239,878,971,913,1278,1237,1257,880],"class_list":["post-126873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-partner-paper","tag-science-et-technique-en","tag-societe-en","keyword-intelligence-artificielle-en","keyword-automatisation-en","keyword-consommation-en","keyword-maladies-en","keyword-sante-en","keyword-technologie-de-l-information-en","keyword-robots-en","keyword-reseaux_sociaux-en","keyword-jeunesse-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126873"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126936,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126873\/revisions\/126936"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126873"},{"taxonomy":"keyword","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword?post=126873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}