Brief - The Hustle

MIT Tech Review’s latest futuristic mixtape: 10 breakthroughs of 2021

Written by Kolby Hatch | Mar 8, 2021 9:37:35 AM

The MIT Technology Review recently released the 20th edition of its “10 Breakthrough Technologies.” The year’s list features predictable cameos as well as a few unknown talents.

The predictable stuff included COVID-related tech (mRNA, remote tools, contact tracing) and the TikTok algorithm.

Here are the 6 others:

Obviously there’s no privacy in the future

  • Data trusts: Turns out, everyone is tired of being hacked. Data trusts are a legal entity that can collect and manage data on the behalf of people or groups.
  • Hyper-accurate positioning: China completed its work on BeiDou (Big Dipper), a global positioning constellation with a target accuracy of 1.5 to 2 meters. Tinfoil hat, anyone?

The AI hype-train rolls on

  • GPT-3: Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 — bet you didn’t know that’s what it stood for. OpenAI’s beloved natural language processor is poised for more tomfoolery.
  • Multiskilled AI: AI systems are getting more senses. Recent breakthroughs allowed AI systems to generate images from text, and increase reading comprehension with visual cues.

Climate change is not dead

  • Lithium-METAL batteries: Not “Ion.” Metal. It’s a big difference. QuantumScape is developing a unique lithium-metal battery whose early tests show an 80% boost in EV range and faster charging.
  • Green Hydrogen: Hydrogen is the top pick for a fossil fuel alternative, but most production comes from not-so-green natural gas. Green hydrogen produces hydrogen from water with the help of green solar and wind electricity.