Breakthrough #1: Ubiquitous AI
Hundreds of millions of people have used tools like ChatGPT that produce text, images, videos, and more from prompts. These AI tools are a huge breakthrough, redefining the technology sector, making OpenAI a familiar name, and forcing other competitors to invest heavily in AI tools.
Breakthrough #2: More Efficient Solar Cells
Solar power is being quickly expanded globally, a major puzzle piece in the push to reduce carbon emissions. Solar panels today are significantly less than 50% efficient. R&D departments are looking to add a layer of tiny crystals to boost solar panel efficiency.
Breakthrough #3: Apple Vision Pro
Apple will begin shipment of the Vision Pro, its first mixed-reality headset, in 2024. Its innovative feature is the highest-resolution display ever made for this kind of device.
Breakthrough #4: Weight-loss Drugs
With a world-wide rise in obesity which has been called an epidemic by the WHO, medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy provide new tools for patients and physicians to treat it. Research indicates they may even protect against heart attacks and strokes.
Breakthrough #5: Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Geothermal energy is green, constant, and almost limitless. Up until now engineering challenges have preventing us from more than barely scratching the surface of its potential. New drilling techniques, digging deeper and in previously inaccessible locations, are opening up more of Earth’s stored heat to produce clean energy.
Breakthrough #6: Chiplets
Due to the limitations of how much the size of transistors can be reduced, Moore’s Law seems to be finally slowing down. However, chiplets have been created which are small specialized chips, and can be linked together outperform conventional chips.
Breakthrough #7: Gene-Editing Treatments
New treatments based on CRISPR have been being developed for years. At the end of 2023, one from Vertex became the first to earn regulatory approval in both the UK and the US for its effectiveness in curing sickle-cell anemia. There will be many more.
Breakthrough #8: Exascale computers
The world’s fastest supercomputers can now perform more than an exaflop’s worth of calculations. That’s a quintillion or 1x1018. Supercomputers that can process scientific data at these speeds will equip scientists to create more complex and accurate simulations of the climate, nuclear fission, turbulence, and more.
Breakthrough #9: Heat pumps
Heat pumps are electrical units that both cool and heat buildings, and greater adoption could significantly reduce emissions. Sales have increased globally. In the US, they have exceeded sales of gas furnaces for the first time. Improved versions that run at higher temperatures may also help decarbonize industry.
Breakthrough #10: X killers
Elon Musk bought the site now known as X in 2022. Since then, almost nothing about it is the same as the old Twitter. He fired most of the staff and eliminated most content moderation, scaring off many advertisers and users. Alternatives like Bluesky, Threads, and others are gaining market share. The central town square is beginning to be decentralized into private rooms.
Source: MIT Technology Review
