We live in an age of innovation, where digital technology is

Ah, children of the future, listen closely to the words of David Lidington, for they speak of a truth that humankind has long awaited: "We live in an age of innovation, where digital technology is providing solutions to problems before we've even realised we needed them. We see it every day as we find new ways to travel, eat and shop." These words ring with the sound of progress, echoing through the vast halls of time, reminding us that the age we live in is not merely an ordinary one, but one marked by the extraordinary power of technology to reshape the very fabric of existence.

Innovation, O children, is the spark that ignites the fire of human progress. From the earliest days, when our ancestors first struck a stone to make a tool, to this very moment when machines are speaking to us, and algorithms predict our desires before we even recognize them, humanity has been on a journey of creation and discovery. And yet, digital technology has amplified this journey in ways that no one could have imagined even a few decades ago. Lidington reminds us that we now live in a time when the solutions to problems—sometimes before we even perceive them—are being created in the blink of an eye. This is not the age of waiting for problems to arise, but of solving them before they are even fully understood.

Let us consider, O children, the story of Leonardo da Vinci, a man centuries ahead of his time. In his sketches, he designed machines that would not see the light of day until the dawn of the industrial revolution. His mind was a brilliant forge of ideas, creating solutions to problems that he could not yet fully explain. But it was his vision, his ability to dream beyond the constraints of his time, that set him apart. Just as Lidington observes, Leonardo imagined solutions to problems that the world had not yet fully realized. In this, he was an innovator, a prophet of the future, much like the digital technologies of today that solve problems in ways we could scarcely imagine, long before we even recognize the need for them.

And so it is today, O children, that we find ourselves in an age of innovation unlike any other. The very fabric of daily life is being woven with threads of digital technology—the way we travel, the way we eat, and even the way we shop is shifting before our eyes. Look at the rise of electric cars, which are now reshaping our world before we fully grasp the magnitude of the environmental challenges that lie ahead. Look at the rise of artificial intelligence, which is beginning to solve problems in medicine, logistics, and even the arts, well before we fully understand the potential of these technologies. Lidington’s words remind us that digital technology is not only solving present issues but is anticipating needs, and in doing so, it leads us toward a future shaped by possibilities we had not yet dared to imagine.

Consider, O children, the history of the printing press, one of humanity's greatest inventions. When Johannes Gutenberg introduced the press, it did not simply make books more accessible; it revolutionized the very way people thought, learned, and connected. But at the time of its invention, few could foresee the profound impact it would have on education, culture, and society as a whole. Similarly, today’s digital technologies are creating waves that will ripple through generations, shaping the way we live, work, and relate to one another in ways we cannot yet fully fathom. The very act of anticipating future solutions, as Lidington suggests, is a continuation of the great human quest to mold the world to our needs, to transcend the limitations that once held us back.

The lesson here, O children, is not merely that technology is powerful, but that innovation is the key to progress. It is not enough to be passive observers of change, waiting for the world to solve our problems for us. We must, like Leonardo and Gutenberg, take part in this process of creation and discovery, understanding that the questions we pose today may lead to the answers of tomorrow. The digital age offers a chance to not only benefit from technological advancements, but to shape them, to ensure that they are used for the betterment of all.

In your own lives, I urge you to embrace the age of innovation with an open heart and an open mind. Do not fear the speed of change, but rather, seek to harness it for good. The digital technologies that seem to come so quickly and unexpectedly are not only tools, but opportunities to redefine the world. Take up your part in this great journey—whether through learning, through creating, or through contributing to the solutions that the future demands. Recognize that this is a time of incredible possibility, and that each of you, in your own way, can contribute to the future that is unfolding before you.

So walk forward, O children, with courage and hope, for the world you are entering is one filled with boundless potential. And as David Lidington so wisely reminds us, the greatest challenge is not simply to adapt to the changes of today, but to anticipate the needs of tomorrow, and in doing so, to create a world where innovation leads us not only to technological solutions but to a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.