Last month Apple announced it has created two coding courses aimed at helping Singaporeans learn basic app development skills. The tech giant is partnering with SkillsFuture Singapore and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to offer the courses. The two modules available are a five-day course on Swift App Development Fundamentals, and a three and a half-day Augmented Reality with ARKit course. The Pathlight School, Singapore’s first autism-focused school, is also launching a 144-hour app development course for selected students.  

Two key reasons why this is far more than just a feel-good news story:

Future proofed. Tech companies have quickly gone from offering us a brighter future to being the cause of our biggest problems. Large majorities in countries around the world now fear the impact of automation. Like all pain points, this creates huge opportunities for organizations that can help people navigate through this uncertainty. Apple aren’t the only ones active in this space. In Mexico, Conalep is offering its student drone piloting courses. In Brazil, 3M’s Innovation Challenge supports public school science teachers.

Inclusive by design. We wrote in our Future of Retail report that customers’ expectations have shifted: from brands creating ads showing diversity to creating products that are accessible to everyone. But don’t think this trend will only apply in retail! Every company can apply this trend if they think expansively about their customers’ needs. In Brazil, Ford turned their trunk mat into a portable wheelchair ramp. In China, Alibaba created a simplified phone screen overlay to help its blind users.

Which under-served audiences can you help thrive in the future? Can you find a way to do so that aligns with your organization’s long-term vision and values?