Artificial intelligence is destined to become increasingly unpredictable and, in some cases, inexplicable and incomprehensible to the general public and experts alike. It will also have an impact on the yachting industry. The situation requires careful consideration
by Francesco Michienzi
In his predictions about the future, the writer P.W. Singer says something very simple. He says that in the future we will have to focus less on the fear of a robot “uprising” and worry more about the start of a peaceful and profitable revolution. Singer explained that we are entering an industrial revolution similar to the rise of the steam engine and the factory, describing how a wave of automation and artificial intelligence is affecting every sector of society and being applied everywhere from agriculture to the home to the battlefield. There will be incredible improvements in efficiency. Progress will be made that humans could never have achieved on their own.
Singer also said that people have already forgotten the trauma caused by the previous industrial revolution, but we are already witnessing disruptions in jobs and roles, changes in electoral politics, the emergence of new legal and ethical issues, and new politics and ideologies. In his view, the last industrial revolution has shaken up everything from our concept of modern capitalism to socialist, communist and fascist ideologies. It is clear that predictions about the future in the coming years are unlikely to take account of subtle but profound changes in the emotional and social fabric of the world.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? THE CHALLENGES AHEAD ARE COMPLEX, AND WE RUN THE RISK OF NOT KNOWING HOW TO TACKLE THEM.
THE PRESENT HAS BEEN COMPLICATED BY SITUATIONS FOR WHICH
WE HAVE DONE THE BEST WE COULD, BUT FOR WHICH
WE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UNPREPARED.
But what will the future of the yachting industry look like in the medium and long term? Are we going to see a change in the habits of the yachting community as we know it today? Or will the changes be so gradual as to be imperceptible? What significant things have happened in the boating world in recent years?
There may be many more questions, but let’s limit ourselves to these. I imagine that the yachting industry will be divided into two parts. One will be increasingly driven by financial logic, interested in developing companies to a size large enough to serve a global, diverse market with very different needs. In this case, the speed of response to changing scenarios, changing tastes and the very evolution of the habits of old and new yacht owners will be important. The second part will look at the constant emergence of new shipyards that enter the market with only a vague idea of what this business is about, believing that it is enough to have a boat design that is perhaps different from anything else on the market in order to hope for success. Relatively large industrial structures with a small number of employees, numerous subcontractors, a complex supply chain and a minimal commercial structure. This is a rather crude comparison, made deliberately to outline certain parameters. We have to recognise that a boatyard of a certain size also has some advantages in terms of product customisation and craftsmanship, but excellent workmanship is not always rewarded financially. In terms of boat design, we have seen little evolution in naval hull architecture, which has been essentially the same for over fifty years.
«EACH LINK IN THE ITALIAN YACHTING INDUSTRY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART
OF THE CHAIN, EACH ONE ADDS VALUE TO OUR SECTOR. WE ARE WORKING HARD
ON ALL FRONTS, SUPPORTING ALL SEGMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY,
LARGE AND SMALL COMPANIES ALIKE».
SAVERIO CECCHI, CHAIRMAN OF CONFINDUSTRIA NAUTICA
The real innovation is the emergence of catamarans, which are more stable and more efficient even with lower propulsion power. The other new element is the now indispensable use of the gyro stabiliser, which can be compared to power steering in a car. Who would buy a car today without it? No one, I imagine. And also the traction propeller drive, which has made sailing easier, more comfortable and more fuel efficient. Other important innovations have come from the development of electronic devices. With regard to hybrid systems, which have undoubtedly been a novelty in recent years, I reserve the right to go into more detail in the near future. Personally, I think they are part of a transition to something yet to be invented. A lot of work has been done on foils in sailing, but this is in the area of sporting competition and will have little impact on pleasure boats. We do not know how much artificial intelligence will help us along the way. For the time being, we can only counteract the natural ignorance that also manifests itself with a certain energy in sailing.
(Artificial intelligence – Barchemagazine.com – September 2023)
