For many of us, technology touches every aspect of our lives, from the hardware and software that power our work to the devices that entertain us and help us manage our homes. In many ways, it enhances our quality of living, whether by allowing us to work from home or to access online educational, business and government services with the click of a mouse.
The creative minds in various sectors aren’t done working on ways to help humanity through technology. Below, 18 members of Forbes Technology Council talk about some of the emerging technologies they believe could truly contribute to solving global challenges.
1. Smart Grids
Power is the limiting factor that is both holding back green technologies and increasing poverty. Smart grids enable the local production of energy—down to the household level—and the energy produced can be fed back into the grid upstream, which will be a game-changer. Smart grids, together with advanced batteries that can produce from 1 to 10 kilowatt-hours, will help us meet our energy targets with green solutions. – Alakananda Ray, PwC
2. Digital Twins
Laser scanning, photogrammetry and other technologies help create digital models (or twins) of the physical world. The carbon impact of buildings is related to both their construction—the embodied carbon from the building materials and the resources used to construct the building—and the operational carbon it takes to run the building. Both these factors can be reduced with a digital twin, reducing waste and increasing operational efficiency. – Amy Bunszel, autodesk.com
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3. Blockchain
By supporting improved supply chain management, financial inclusion and reduced corruption, blockchain could foster economic growth, reduce poverty and promote sustainability, making it an effective tool for positive change on a global scale. Its decentralized, transparent nature allows for secure transactions and the traceability of resources and empowers individuals in developing regions. – Miguel Llorca, Torrent Group
4. Precision Healthcare
Health is the basic foundation for all our endeavors, including tackling global challenges. Precision healthcare—getting people the right care for their unique needs—is now within reach at population scale. Quality data, targeted analysis and AI can enable providers to not only determine the state of someone’s health, but also to predict future states and plan the best treatment approach for each individual. – Oliver Harrison, Koa Health
5. Climate-Research Satellites
Satellites with advanced sensors can provide valuable data on Earth’s climate patterns, deforestation, agricultural productivity and more. This data can be used to inform decision making, improve resource management and monitor progress toward sustainability goals. Space technology enables a comprehensive and global understanding of these challenges and fosters targeted interventions. – Shelli Brunswick, Space Foundation
6. Renewable Energy Storage
While solar- and wind-generated energy have been in place for a while, their main drawback is storage. But now, as new, more efficient storage technologies emerge, we can have energy on overcast and windless days. Solving this problem will facilitate the adoption of renewable energies on a larger scale. – Nacho De Marco, BairesDev
7. AI-Powered Telemedicine
AI-powered telemedicine can address the global challenge of healthcare inequity, which is deeply intertwined with poverty. By making quality healthcare accessible to and affordable for people in underserved regions, we can improve overall health outcomes and break the cycle of poverty. It facilitates real-time diagnostics and reduces the need for expensive infrastructure. – Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media LLC
8. 3-D Printing
The evolution of 3-D printing technology will significantly impact sustainability in areas such as low-cost housing, healthcare and local manufacturing. This technology can potentially create more affordable, rapid and tailored solutions to real global problems. – Gergo Vari, Lensa, Inc.
9. Generative AI To Assess Mental Health
I believe generative AI could be a powerful tool in efforts to address global mental health issues. AI-enabled technologies can augment professional treatment by closely monitoring behavioral cues and mood patterns. They can also provide immediate support for individuals who have limited access to care and help organizations promote mental and emotional wellness in the workplace. – Merav Yuravlivker, Data Society
10. Cryptocurrency
I know the public likes to poke fun at people in wealthy nations who leverage cryptocurrency as an essentially speculative investment, but that’s not its only use. People who send remittances to other countries are using crypto to get the money into their family members’ hands more quickly and without extra fees. It speeds up an important process that people in a lot of countries rely on heavily. – Jordan Yallen, MetaTope
11. AI-Enabled Weed Management
I recently saw a system that combines AI and high-resolution cameras to eliminate weeds in crops with powerful lasers—without damaging the crops. It can function at any time of day and in any weather. It eliminates the need for herbicides while improving crop yields, reducing farming costs and supporting sustainable, organic farming practices. I think it could eliminate reliance on dangerous pesticides. – Marc Rutzen, HelloData.ai
12. AI-Boosted Cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence has tremendous potential to create stronger cybersecurity systems. That may not sound like a global challenge at first blush, but consider technology’s roles in healthcare, energy, finance, the food supply and other critical infrastructure. Keeping these sectors safe and capable of delivering products, services and cleaner energy requires keeping the technology they rely on secure. – Jim Taylor, RSA Security
13. Gene Editing
Gene editing can foster climate-resilient crops, enhancing food security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it could produce sustainable biofuels to decrease fossil fuel reliance. Moreover, it may combat poverty by creating nutritious crops that are suitable for growth in harsh environments. Used responsibly, gene editing could address many of the world’s pressing issues. – Amitkumar Shrivastava, Fujitsu
14. Biodegradable Polymers
Biodegradable polymers are advanced materials that have the potential to combat the issue of plastic pollution and environmental degradation. By developing biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics, we can reduce the accumulation of nondegradable waste in landfills, oceans and ecosystems. – Avani Desai, Schellman
15. Solar Desalination
Solar desalination has a major impact on poverty and climate change. It combines solar power and water desalination to provide clean, affordable drinking water to water-scarce regions. This technology addresses poverty by improving access to a basic necessity and reduces reliance on fossil-fuel-intensive desalination methods. – Jagadish Gokavarapu, Wissen Infotech
16. Fusion Reaction
At any given time, fusion reactors were 30 years in the future. But now, recent advances in AI have sped up the approach to fusion. A group of scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany, have improved the stellarator type by using advanced AI, including generative design and physics-informed neural networks, reducing particle loss by a factor of 100 in simulations. By 2035, they want to build the first commercial reactor. – Carsten Kraus, CK Holding GmbH | Casablanca.ai
17. Green Hydrogen Energy
Green hydrogen energy, produced from renewables, could be key in addressing climate change. It can power cars, heat homes and aid industries, all with zero emissions. Efficient and affordable production remains challenging, but advancements promise a sustainable hydrogen-powered future. – Andrew Blackman, EZ Cloud
18. AI-Enhanced Materials Discovery
The use of AI in materials discovery and digital chemistry can accelerate the discovery of new materials for more sustainable automation and transportation, as well as more eco-friendly and high-quality consumer goods packaging. Moreover, for battery technologies, it can optimize processes for sustainable energy production and storage and help predict battery performance and stamina. – AJ Abdallat, Beyond Limits
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