It’s hard to predict exactly what the future will look like, but one thing we all know is that America is going to go through some serious tech changes. Most of these changes will make life easier, but for some people, they might make life more difficult. If you haven’t thought about it yet, here are 20 things that could be completely gone by 2035.
Gas-Powered Cars
At this point, it’s no secret that gas-powered cars are on their way out. Many states, including California and New York, are already planning to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in favor of electric alternatives. Meanwhile, automakers like Ford and General Motors have set ambitious goals to transition away from gasoline engines.
Grocery Shopping
One thing for certain is that walking into a grocery store in 2035 could feel more like stepping into a futuristic warehouse. With self-checkout lanes already replacing cashiers, it’s only a matter of time before automation takes over completely.
Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, which allows customers to grab items and leave without waiting in line, is already being tested in select stores.
Paper Money
Right now, fewer people are carrying cash, and by 2035, it may disappear completely. Many businesses are already refusing to accept paper money, and digital transactions are taking over. The U.S. government is even considering launching a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to replace physical dollars.
Fast Food Restaurants
A quick stop at a fast-food restaurant might look a lot different in the future. Chains like McDonald’s and Taco Bell are already experimenting with AI-powered drive-thrus, automated kitchens, and self-order kiosks.
With labor costs rising and technology improving, it won’t be long before human employees become rare in the fast-food industry.
Homeownership
For decades, owning a home has been a key part of the American dream, but that dream is getting harder to achieve. Skyrocketing home prices, rising mortgage rates, and a limited supply of affordable housing are making homeownership increasingly out of reach. Meanwhile, more investors and corporations are buying up residential properties, driving prices even higher.
Gas Stations
Did you know that filling up at the pump could become a rare experience in the not-so-distant future? As electric vehicles become the norm, gas stations may start disappearing from major cities. Some stations could be replaced by EV charging hubs, while others might shut down entirely due to lower demand.
Office Jobs
The idea of commuting to an office every day might feel old-fashioned by 2035. Remote work has already taken off, and many companies are downsizing their physical office spaces in favor of virtual collaboration. With AI handling more administrative tasks, fewer human workers may be needed for traditional desk jobs.
Cable Television
It comes as no surprise that flipping through cable channels might be a thing of the past within the next decade. More people are cutting the cord in favor of streaming services, and traditional cable providers are struggling to keep up.
By 2035, it’s likely that major networks will have fully transitioned to digital platforms, making cable boxes and channel surfing obsolete.
U.S. Mail Delivery
You might be glad to hear that checking the mailbox for letters and bills will become a rare habit in the future. With email, online payments, and digital banking becoming the norm, the demand for traditional mail is rapidly declining. The U.S. Postal Service has already cut back on services, and by 2035, daily mail delivery might not exist.
Physical Shopping Malls
As you can imagine, walking through a packed shopping mall might be a thing of the past by 2035. With online shopping growing year after year, brick-and-mortar retail stores are struggling to survive.
Many major retailers have already shifted their focus to e-commerce, and those that remain are downsizing their physical locations.
Landline Phones
Even in this day and age, picking up a landline phone to make a call feels outdated, and by 2035, it might be completely unnecessary. Many households have ditched their traditional phone lines in favor of mobile devices and internet-based calling.
Public Libraries
When you look to the future, borrowing a book from the library could look completely different. With digital reading on the rise, many libraries are already focusing more on e-books, audiobooks, and online resources.
Physical books might not disappear entirely, but traditional library spaces could transform into tech hubs, study areas, and community centers rather than shelves filled with books.
Supermarkets
If you hate grocery shopping, then you’ll be pleased to know that walking through massive supermarkets with endless aisles of products may not be the norm by 2035. As online grocery shopping continues to expand, traditional grocery stores could shrink or even disappear in some areas.
Personal Privacy
Unfortunately, keeping personal information private could be far more difficult by 2035. With the rise of smart devices, biometric security, and AI-driven data collection, companies and governments will likely have access to more personal data than ever before.
On top of this, social media platforms and tech companies may continue expanding their ability to monitor online activity.
School Classrooms
Online learning has already gained traction, and by 2035, virtual and AI-assisted education could be the norm. Schools might rely more on personalized digital instruction, with students learning at their own pace through AI-generated lessons. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) could replace physical classrooms in some areas, making learning more interactive but less personal.
Firearms Regulations
Gun ownership in America could look very different by 2035, depending on legislative and technological changes. Smart gun technology, which requires biometric verification to fire a weapon, could become more widespread or even required by law. Meanwhile, 3D-printed firearms and DIY gun modifications could lead to stricter regulations and enforcement.
Road Trips
It’s weird to think that driving across the country on a long road trip could become a very different experience by 2035. As self-driving cars and electric vehicles take over, traditional road trips with gas stations, motels, and roadside diners might not be the same.
Prescription Medications
In the future, getting a prescription filled at a pharmacy may not work the same way. With AI-driven drug development, personalized medicine, and advancements in genetic treatments, many traditional medications could be replaced by custom-tailored therapies. By 2035, picking up a bottle of pills at the drugstore could feel outdated.
News and Journalism
You can probably picture that reading the morning paper or watching the evening news might feel completely different in the future. AI-generated news articles, deepfake videos, and personalized news feeds could replace traditional journalism. Instead of relying on major networks, people might get their news through social media algorithms and virtual reality experiences.
College Degrees
In the past, earning a college degree has long been considered essential for career success, but that may change by 2035. The rising cost of higher education, combined with the growth of online learning and job-specific training programs, could make traditional four-year degrees less relevant.
This article may include content generated by AI and has been reviewed and edited by our editorial team for accuracy and clarity.