A new page in the history of humanity opened yesterday, January 1, 2025. Children born from this date will belong to the Beta generationthe first to develop in a world dominated by artificial intelligence and destined to live until the 22nd century. I feel even older now: thanks, eh?
The era of artificial natives
The research company McCrindlefounded by a social scientist Marc McCrindle who also coined the term Generation Alpha, predicted that the beta generation It will represent 16% of the world’s population by 2035.
These children will be profoundly shaped by technology, following in the footsteps of Generation Alphawhose members have been nicknamed “the iPad kids” due to their close relationship with digital devices (I too have struggled to curb the phenomenon, with mixed results, being a parent of an Alpha generation myself ), now seven years old).
The main difference? Indeed, the Beta generation will be the first to grow up in a world where artificial intelligence and automation are already an integral part of society. And he will see good ones or bad ones. According to experts from McCrindleGeneration Beta will face historic challenges such as the climate crisis and major global demographic changes. Their lives, as mentioned, will be defined by coexistence with artificial intelligence and widespread automation.
The generational framework
To better understand the context, here is the ranking of the generations of the last 100 years:
- Beta generation: 2025-2039
- Generation Alpha: 2010-2024
- Generation Z: 1997-2009
- Millennials : 1981-1996
- Generation X (the mia): 1965-1980
- Baby-boomers : 1946-1964
- Silent Generation: 1928-1945
The president of Pew Research Center, Michael Dimockemphasized that it is best to view these generational categories as a lens through which to understand social change, rather than as labels that oversimplify differences between groups.
I think he’s right: Generation Beta itself represents much more than just a label: it is the symbol of a humanity facing an unprecedented transformation, where technology and longevity intertwine in previously unimaginable ways . .
Beta Generation, the future that awaits them
The prospect that many members of the Beta generation may live into the 22nd century is not only a statistical curiosity, but yet another indicator of the profound changes awaiting humanity.
Their longevity, combined with a natural integration with AI and automation, will likely make them very different from any previous generation, paving the way for fascinating and complex scenarios for the future of our species. If all goes well, I could become the uncle of a Gen Beta: if so, I’ll let you know.
