The Inevitable

Summary

From one of our leading technology thinkers and writers, a guide through the twelve technological imperatives that will shape the next thirty years and transform our lives

Much of what will happen in the next thirty years is inevitable, driven by technological trends that are already in motion. In this fascinating, provocative new book, Kevin Kelly provides an optimistic road map for the future, showing how the coming changes in our lives—from virtual reality in the home to an on-demand economy to artificial intelligence embedded in everything we manufacture—can be understood as the result of a few long-term, accelerating forces. Kelly both describes these deep trends—flowing, screening, accessing, sharing, filtering, remixing, tracking, and questioning—and demonstrates how they overlap and are codependent on one another. These larger forces will completely revolutionize the way we buy, work, learn, and communicate with each other. By understanding and embracing them, says Kelly, it will be easier for us to remain on top of the coming wave of changes and to arrange our day-to-day relationships with technology in ways that bring forth maximum benefits. Kelly’s bright, hopeful book will be indispensable to anyone who seeks guidance on where their business, industry, or life is heading—what to invent, where to work, in what to invest, how to better reach customers, and what to begin to put into place—as this new world emerges.

Advance Praise for The Inevitable

“Anyone can claim to be a prophet, a fortune teller, or a futurist, and plenty of people do. What makes Kevin Kelly different is that he’s right. In this book, you’re swept along by his clear prose and unassailable arguments until it finally hits you: The technological, cultural, and societal changes he’s foreseeing really are inevitable. It’s like having a crystal ball, only without the risk of shattering.” — David Pogue, Yahoo Tech

“This book offers profound insight into what happens (soon!) when intelligence flows as easily into objects as electricity.” — Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail

“How will the future be made? Kevin Kelly argues that the sequence of events ensuing from technical innovation has its own momentum … and that our best strategy is to understand and embrace it. Whether you find this prospect wonderful or terrifying, you will want to read this extremely thought-provoking book.” — Brian Eno, musician and composer

“Kevin Kelly has been predicting our technological future with uncanny prescience for years. Now he’s given us a glimpse of how the next three decades will unfold with The Inevitable, a book jam-packed with insight, ideas, and optimism.” — Ernest Cline, author of Ready Player One

“As exhilarating as the most outlandish science fiction novel, but based on very real trends. Kevin Kelly is the perfect tour guide for this life-changing future.” — Mark Frauenfelder, Boing Boing

“Creating a fictional future is easy; Kevin Kelly makes a habit of doing the difficult by showing us where we’re actually going. The Inevitable is an eye-opening roadmap for what lies ahead. Science fiction is on its way to becoming science fact.” — Hugh Howey, author of Wool

“Automatic must-read.” — Marc Andreessen, co-founder Andreessen Horowitz

For media queries, please contact:

Kristin Matzen
Senior Publicist, Viking and Penguin Books
212-366-2226, kmatzen@penguinrandomhouse.com

Excerpts

The Internet Is Still at the Beginning of Its Beginning
Huffington Post, June 6, 2016

Linkedin, June 4, 2016

Reviews

‘The Inevitable’ by Kevin Kelly [Saturday Morning Review]
ChurchMag, July 2, 2016

Deeper Reading: The Inevitable
Next: Economy, O’Reilly, June 2016

Kirkus Review, May 15, 2016

Interviews

Episode #83 – Kevin Kelly, The Inevitable
InnovaBuzz, July 27, 2017

The Inevitable Technologies that will Shape our Future with Kevin Kelly
Talk of Today with Sam Barton, July 13, 2017

469: Interview episode with Wired magazine co-founder Kevin Kelly
Positive Head podcast, July 13, 2017

Technology 30 Years in the Future- with Kevin Kelly
Un-Uninformed.com, July 10, 2017

Episode #161: Kevin Kelly on the Inevitable
Future Squared podcast, July 9, 2017

Kevin Kelly: The 12 inevitable technological forces shaping YOUR future
intrepid.MEDIA, July 6, 2017

Human Innovation, Artificial Intelligence, and the Uncertain Future of Cyber Warfare with WIRED’s Kevin Kelly
Science of Success, July 6, 2017

ML68: Kevin Kelly on The Nature of Technology, Building Learning Superpowers, and The Inevitable Forces Shaping The Future of Education
MetaLearn Podcast, July 5, 2017

Kevin Kelly — The Next 30 Years
Future Tech Podcast, July 4, 2017

TKC 465 Kevin Kelly
The Kindle Chronicles, June 30, 2017

PBTO56: The Inevitable – Technological Forces that will Shape Our Future with Kevin Kelly
Pushing Beyond the Obvious, June 29 2017

DojoLIVE! – Featuring Kevin Kelly
DojoLIVE!, June 28, 2017

Kevin Kelly on the Future of Technology (Video)
Datamation.com, June 28, 2017

Kevin Kelly: ‘Don’t be afraid of AI’
Afternoons Jesse Mulligan Radio NZ, June 27, 2017

Secret Academy Episode – Kevin Kelly
Secret Academy, May 21, 2017

Make sure you stay a newbie until you die [Dutch]
nrc.nl, April 11, 2017

Q&A with Kevin Kelly: The Future of Technology
China Radio International, April 6, 2017

Virtual Reality: The Biggest Tech Disruption in the Next 5 Years | Kevin Kelly
Artificial Cognification: In the Future Everything Will Be Smart | Kevin Kelly
Big Think, February 2017

#267: The Technological Forces That Are Shaping Our World
The Art of Manliness, January 16, 2017

Kevin Kelly | Inevitable Future (Episode 559)
The Art of Charm Podcast, October 25, 2016

EP 120: Kevin Kelly, Senior Maverick At Wired, On 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future
Kickass News, October 17, 2016

The Inevitable
The Wright Show, October 17, 2016

Techonomics: The Future of Artificial Intelligence with Kevin Kelly
KGO Radio, October 15, 2016

The Inevitable Technology Forces Shaping Our Future
RedZone Podcast, September 6, 2016

人間の価値、答えより問いに　ＩＴが生む３０年後の未来 [Japanese]
Asahi, September 2, 2016

The Future (Probably) Isn’t as Scary as You Think
Freakonomics, August 31, 2016

Kevin Kelly: How Technology & Humans Evolve To Reach Their Full Potential
Unlock People’s Potential, August 28, 2016

Technology and Camp – Interview with Kevin Kelly
CampHacker, August 19, 2016

182: What Will the Future Look Like? AI, Self Driving Cars, & Robots with Kevin Kelly
The James Swanwick Show, August 17,2016

508 Future Trends and “the Inevitable” – Kevin Kelly
ReLaunch Show, August 15, 2016

Kevin Kelly – The Inevitable (book on the future)
Maximum Impact Podcast, August 11, 2016

Verdenskendt it-tænker: Kunstig intelligens og overvågning er uundgåeligt [Danish, Archived PDF]
Jyllands-Posten, August 10, 2016

In Dialogue // Kevin Kelly
Dialogue, August 9, 2016

SA 040: Kevin Kelly on Dealing With Change, and the Technological Forces that will Shape Our Future
The Sweet Adversity Podcast, August 9, 2016

The Inevitable Forces That Will Shape Our Future with Kevin Kelly Unmistakable Creative, August 8, 2016

The Inevitable Kevin Kelly [Podcast #118]
ChurchMag Podcast, August 7, 2016

SPOS #526 – Kevin Kelly On The Promise And Future Of Technology
Six Pixels of Separation, August 7, 2016

Kevin Kelly: The Sherpa of the Technium and Future Czar of Technology
Homebrewed Christianity, August 6, 2016

Ep 82-Kevin Kelly and The Inevitable
The Portfolio Composer, August 4, 2016

Our Inevitable Future: A Conversation With Kevin Kelly About VR, Digital Socialism, And His New Book
The Insurrection, August 1, 2016

Kevin Kelly And Technological Forces
Pensive Podcast, July 27, 2016

Kevin Kelly on The Inevitable: 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future
Singularity Weblog, July 25, 2016

How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes: Part One, Part Two
The Writer Files, July 25, 2016

118 Kevin Kelly, Preparing Us for the Inevitable Future of Robots, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality
Going Deep with Aaron Watson, July 25, 2016

CM 046: Kevin Kelly On How Tech Shapes Our Future
Curious Minds with Gayle Allen, July 25, 2016

#052 Rob Interviews Founder of Wired Magazine Kevin Kelly
The Disruptive Entrepreneur, July 25, 2016

Episode 6 / Embracing the Inevitable with Kevin Kelly & Stephan Ango
Well Made, July 22, 2016

Kevin Kelly Expects The Inevitable: “I’m not a Utopian…”
Narrative Species, July 21, 2016

Kevin Kelly – The Inevitable
London Real, July 19, 2016

Podcast: Kevin Kelly on The Inevitable
Accidental Creative, July 19, 2016

Wired’s Kevin Kelly: The Future of Tech
Commonwealth Club, July 19, 2016

Episode 287 — Inevitably!!
Robot Overlordz, July 19, 2016

Ep. 023 Kevin Kelly
Startup Geometry Podcast, July 15, 2016

Kevin Kelly: The Next 30 Digital Years
Long Now Seminar, July 14, 2016

Kevin Kelly on Technology Forces Shaping the Future
Kevin Kelly on the World’s Largest Copy Machine
Kevin Kelly on Privacy and Personalization
Kevin Kelly on Encryption
Mozilla, July 13, 2016

WIRED’s Kevin Kelly Predicts The Future As He Reflects On The Past
The Surge, July 12, 2016

Kevin Kelly on Future Tech, Sharing Ideas, and The Inevitable
The Influencer Economy, July 12, 2016

072: Kevin Kelly on “The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future”
Review the Future, July 12, 2016

173 – Kevin Kelly: The One Skill Everyone Needs For The Future
The James Altucher Show, June 28, 2016

Ep. 22 – Kevin Kelly
RoboPsych, June 20, 2016

Kevin Kelly on the Inevitable
EconTalk, June 20, 2016

Talking With Kevin Kelly About the Future of Tech and Our Species Identity Crisis
New York Magazine, June 15, 2016

Unconventional Optimist
RealClear Radio Hour, June 15, 2016

Kevin Kelly, Author of “The Inevitable”, Founding Executive Editor of Wired Magazine – Interview
Flyover Labs, June 15, 2016

The Formula For The Next 10,000 Startups, Failing Forward, And Becoming A Teaching Organisation with Kevin Kelly
Innovation Ecosystem, June 14, 2016

Kevin Kelly on the inevitable rise of virtual reality and artificial intelligence
KUOW, Seattle, June 14, 2016

39: Kevin Kelly on The Inevitable, 60s Counterculture, and How to Read Better
On Books Podcast, June 13, 2016

Episode 132 Kevin Kelly: How To See The Future
The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk, June 12, 2014

The Inevitable
Work with Marty Nemko (KALW 91.7 FM), June 12, 2016

Constant surveillance is a good thing…wait, what?
NPR Marketplace, June 9, 2016

Not If, But How — When Technology is Inevitable
a16z Podcast, June 7, 2016

Now is the best time to get into tech
Yahoo! Finance, June 7, 2016

Episode 145: Kevin Kelly – This Is What Your Future Looks Like
Meaningful HQ, June 7, 2016

Kevin Kelly on Techno Literacy, Systems Thinking, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality
Pivot Podcast, June 7, 2016

Ep 17: Kevin Kelly and The Inevitable
The Christian Transhumanist Podcast, June 7, 2016

Episode #1182 Kevin Kelly: The Inevitable
33voices, June 7, 2016

#166 Kevin Kelly — AI, Virtual Reality and The Inevitable
The Tim Ferris Show, June 5, 2016

Kevin Kelly on Soft Singularity and Inevitable Tech Advances
Newsweek, June 2, 2016

Kevin Kelly Wants People to Embrace the Future’s Technological Promise
Observer, June 1, 2016

How to prepare for the inevitable
Spark with Nora Young, CBC Radio, May 29, 2016

30 Days of Genius with Chase Jarvis
CreativeLive, May 18, 2016

Ep. 46: Ask What Robots Can Do for You
Political Economy Podcast with Jim Pethokoukis, AEI, May 12, 2016

11: Kevin Kelly
Neohuman with Agah Bahari, May 8 2016

johnmac Radio Show, May 1, 2015

“Riding the Edge” Of Technological Change
The Young Turks, March 13, 2015

Presentations

How AI can bring on a second Industrial Revolution
TEDSummit, December 13, 2016

Kevin Kelly and Jerry Kaplan – A Future with Intelligent Machines
Creative Destruction Lab, November 9, 2016

Kevin Kelly | 12 Inevitable Tech Forces That Will Shape Our Future | SXSW Interactive 2016
SXSW, March 14, 2015

Mentions

Best business and leadership books of 2016
Amazon.com, 2016

The Best Books About Innovation of 2016
Smithsonian.com, December 7, 2016

What to Read in July/August
Discover Magazine, June 1, 2016

Who Controls the Internet
Harvard Business Review, June 2016

The Breathless Rhetoric (and Prosaic Economics) of Virtual Reality
The New Yorker, March 31, 2016

SXSW 2016: A look back at the highlights
USA Today, March 20, 2016

Translations

inevitable_china
Chinese (Simplified)
必然电子工业出版社
ISBN: 7121272393, 9787121272394

Inevitable Japanese
Japanese
〈インターネット〉の次に来るもの―未来を決める12の法則単行本
NHK, Japan
ISBN: 4140817046, 978-4140817049
Voted Third Best Business Book by Japanese Harvard Business Review readers