The Future Is Closer Than We Think

I made a statement recently that raised a few eyebrows: within ten years, my family will have a drone taxi landing in our front yard, ready to take us to our home in the North Georgia mountains. That may sound fanciful. But if you watch the latest video from EHANG (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBCq6JGKqUg), you will see that drone taxis are already operating between cities in China. This idea is not science fiction. This is the future—arriving faster than many expect.

As of 2026, only two major obstacles stand in the way of battery-powered drone taxis becoming a practical reality in the United States. The first is distance. Current battery technology limits how far these aircraft can fly. The second is regulatory. The FAA must establish clear flight paths, safety protocols, and air‑traffic integration. These are serious issues, but not insurmountable ones.

Equally transformative is the rapid advance of robotics. Elon Musk has gone so far as to hinge Tesla’s long‑term future on humanoid robots, even suggesting at the Davos Economic Forum that there may eventually be more robots than human beings. While that may sound extreme, personal experience makes the potential applications feel very credible. Having helped care for an elderly woman in her final years, I saw firsthand the staggering cost of 24/7 quality care—now exceeding $200,000 per year. Imagine the impact of robots capable of monitoring health, administering medication, assisting with mobility, delivering meals, and performing basic household chores. The social and economic implications are profound.

We often speak about the transformative power of artificial intelligence in abstract terms. But when AI is combined with physical mobility—drones that reach remote areas and robots that handle everyday tasks—the world begins to look fundamentally different. Accessibility, independence, and quality of life could all be dramatically improved within the next decade.

Advances in technology will reshape how we think about real estate in several ways. For example, some of the most valuable properties of the future may be in beautiful locations that are easily accessible by drone. Consider how properties within a couple of hours of major metro areas command significantly higher prices than those four or five hours away. Remove travel friction, add solar power and independent water systems, and suddenly many previously impractical locations become desirable—subject, of course, to planning permission.

Transportation is already changing before our eyes. Waymo’s robo‑taxis operate in multiple U.S. cities today, and many argue they are already safer than human drivers. I have witnessed how these vehicles navigate tight urban spaces with remarkable precision. Radar, unlike the human eye, does not get tired or distracted.

After 43 years living in this remarkable country, I remain full of optimism for the future. Innovation continues. Opportunities abound. As my favorite investor, Warren Buffett, often reminds us, the magic and entrepreneurial spirit of the United States remain very much alive—and the future, quite literally, is about to land in our backyard.

Nick Hoffman