PROFILES OF THE FUTURE: Five Technologies That Five Billion Will Use by 2050. New video from Reason TV:

Note this section:

Since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos unveiled plans for delivery drones a decade ago, progress has been slow.

Today, there are only a few thousand delivery robots currently operating in the U.S. But that’s about to change: In December, Prime Air successfully completed commercial deliveries in College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California.

On the other side of the world, Meituan and Alibaba have just started rolling out this service to customers.

In the U.S., delivery drones have been hindered by the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval process, and it’s the same regulatory story in China. But I predict that won’t be true much longer because of the overwhelming benefit this service brings in terms of convenience for customers and in reducing the traffic problems caused by delivery trucks clogging up our streets.

By 2050, I’m confident that the urban skyline will be buzzing with what will look like a swarm of carrier pigeons bearing books, spatulas, bottles of vinegar, or whatever else you might order on Amazon—not to mention, hearts and kidneys racing toward hospitals.

The guys at the “Birds Aren’t Real” parody* conspiracy theory Website are going to have a field day over that.

* Well, that’s what they want you to think…