Regrets

Do I have a lot of regrets? Yes.

And they’re all stories that involve other people. Like, in hindsight I think: *facepalm* How did I think that was the right choice?!

For example:

Nearly 20 years ago, I rented a jack hammer to break up the concrete sidewalk right against one side of our house (not along a street, but between us and the neighbor.)

You should make jack hammer sounds here. Now make more. And yet more. For like an hour.

It was pretty flippin’ hot too, and eventually one of my neighbors— from across the street— diagonally across the street, someone who I knew by sight but hadn’t really talked to— a guy named Ron— appeared around my corner with a classic, red and white Igloo carry-cooler with a bunch of cold Budweiser in it.

I stopped long enough to exchange a few words.

But for some damn reason, I didn’t stop long. I didn’t dismiss his beer exactly (it isn’t a brand I’d choose)— but I didn’t drink one. I didn’t really even stop to talk. I certainly didn’t make him feel welcome. I said something like, “I need to finish this.”

And— no surprise— we never talked much— heck, I’m not sure we ever spoke after that.

He died years ago.

Just about every time I walk along the side of my house (there’s a paver-stone path there now) I regret not taking five. farking. minutes. to talk to a fellow human being, who went to the trouble to bring over cold beer on a hot day.

How did I think that was the right choice?!

ɕ

Python Trending (@pythontrending)

hindsight — Hindsight: Agent Memory That Learns는 '학습하는 에이전트 메모리'를 표방하는 프로젝트/연구입니다. 에이전트의 메모리 관리와 학습 기반 기억 개선을 다루는 기술적 시도임을 시사합니다.

https://x.com/pythontrending/status/2031690980424880167

#hindsight #agentmemory #research #ai

It's pretty wild that 'they' are gonna try and take away our computers before 'they' take away our guns. Did not see that coming. Probably should've, but didn't.

#hindsight #is #twentytwenty

"The road to the future can often be found in the missteps of the past!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

So, is there anything going on in the automotive industry right now?

What a wild industry!

Anyways, I spoke to this same event 14 years ago - and found an original interview. I pretty much nailed the predictions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB4nndpcOSg

Yet, there were many that were missed or a bit off.

Let's revisit! Here's a set of slides I used in my talk - looking back, looking at today, and looking forward.

The Politicization of the Drivetrain

Quite simply, electric vehicles became part of the culture wars.

The Linear March to Pure Electrification (BEV)

It was believed that one day, there would be ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles, and then there would be a world of all-EVs. It's not happening like that - hybrids are taking over as people simply weren't comfortable with full electric, for a variety of real (and not-so-real) reasons.

The Evolution of Autonomous Vehicles

Cars would drive themselves. Massive disruptive change! Didn't happen - it's hard to get to 99.9999% accuracy, which is pretty much what's required. I've got a Tesla with 'full self driving' - but am never really fully comfortable.

The Apple iCar Disruption

Everyone thought Apple was going to build a car, and it would be game-changing! It didn't happen.

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) Replacing Ownership

People weren't going to buy cars because we were all going to be using car-sharing services. Nope.

Millennials Will “Kill" Car Culture

Not only that, but younger people weren't going to buy cars - because they were never into 'car culture.' Another nope - they got married, had kids, got cars!

The "Peak Car" Hypothesis

All of this meant that we were going to hit the top limit of sales.

Small Car Dominance (Urbanization)

And the car was going to keep becoming smaller. Um, LOL?

Low Interest Rate / Easy Credit Environment

Cars would continue to be inexpensive! Credit would be easy!

Western Hegemony in Auto Manufacturing

Western car companies would own the planet. Sorry, not happening. China does.

The Death of the Dealership (Agency Model)

Car dealers would die because we will buy all of our cars online. Some of this happened, but the dealers fought back!

The Powertrain & Energy Miscalculations

Diesel, baby! Oops! Fraud, baby!

Lessons? Sometimes the road to the future is found my examining the missteps of the past!

----

Futurist Jim Carroll's view of the future of the auto industry? Globally, all China, and US car companies become small niche players.

**#Predictions** **#Automotive** **#Future** **#Lessons** **#Missteps** **#Learning** **#Change** **#EVs** **#Industry** **#Disruption** **#History** **#Hindsight** **#Innovation** **#Transformation** **#Trends** **#Leadership** **#Strategy** **#Adaptation** **#Assumptions** **#Reality**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/02/decoding-tomorrow-daily-inspiration-automotive-trends-the-road-to-the-future-can-often-be-found-in-the-missteps-of-the-past/

What was behind door #3

I just finished watching a three-part documentary about daytime talk-shows in the 1990s here in the U.S. (Sally Jessy Raphael, Maury Povich, Jerry Springer, etc.)

Based on what these programs showed us we were becoming, it should have been easy to realize that Donald Trump was an inevitability.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go read and be depressed.

#Hindsight
#Society
#EverythingAwful