Introduction to the APL Photonics editorial series on the future of photonics

This editorial serves as an introduction to a forthcoming series of editorials by the editors of APL Photonics on the future of the broad field of photonics. The Editor-in-Chief lays out some of the recent progresses, major trends, and perspectives on the future for the broader field as he sees them and briefly introduces the topics of the first several upcoming editorials by the associate editors. These editorials aim to promote multidisciplinary conversation to push the field forward.