vivekAt his presentation Thursday morning, academic, author, and entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa discussed his belief that very few companies currently on the Fortune 500 will still be listed in five to 10 years.

The title of Wadhwa’s keynote speech didn’t mince words. It was called “Convergence, Disruption, and Opportunity: How Existing Industries Will be Disrupted and New, Trillion-Dollar Industries Will Emerge.”

So, for those companies whose days are numbered—is there any way they can save themselves? Wadhwa said the key for these companies to continue to succeed is to accept the fact that technologies are advancing exponentially and converging in ways that allow them to solve problems differently.

“The good news here is that companies that can see the future can own it,” Wadhwa told Congress Today prior to his talk. “They can lead the disruption and be the disruptor—instead of the disrupted. Before a startup emerges that uses the newer technologies, they can capture the entire market with these. After all, they already know the space, have relationships with key customers and distribution mechanisms, and have the deep pockets."

Wadhwa hopes Congress attendees left the session with a better understanding of what can be possible in the future as technological advances take over every industry.

“I expect all of them were excited about the amazing possibilities,” Wadhwa said. “I also think business executives were terrified how their industries are about to become ‘toast’—unless they lead the disruptions.”

So, is any industry safe in the next two decades? Wadhwa said there is only one that he could think of during his studying.

“The only industry I’ve seen where I was at a loss to understand where the disruptions could come from was the cosmetics industry,” he said. “A group of L’Oréal executives challenged me on this. I had to concede that even the robots that take over human jobs will want to look and smell pretty.”

Attendees were impressed by Wadhwa’s presentation and wondered what the future would bring.

“It was awesome," said Lydia Ganac, CPP, Director of Payroll for Roth Staffing in Orange, California. "I learned we have to adapt or else. I don’t know what changes are going to happen in payroll, but I have to keep learning. I feel like I was listening to a TED speech.”

Deanne Mash, Payroll Coordinator with Progressive Insurance, left the session knowing exactly what she needs to brush up on.

“I think I need to learn more about artificial intelligence and what it means to my profession,” she said. “It’s more than I thought it was.”

April Wingo, CPP, an HRTS Analyst and Kerry Teague, CPP, Senior Tax and Compliance Analyst, both with Cox Enterpries, saw robotics changing the whole labor landscape and replacing employees.

“In data entry, we’re going to robotics now,” Wingo said.

Wadwha said depending on how technology is used, it can lead to either a “Mad Max,” or “Star Trek” future.

“I am worried to death about technology,” he said. “But I am an optimist and believe in a ‘Star Trek’ future.”

Additional reporting by Greg Mellen