Once again, Tencent Research Institute has consulted with an independent panel of leading scientists, engineers, academics and other experts to compile our annual list of top tech trends. The verdict: AI in its various forms will be the driving force for breakthrough innovations, from smart energy grids and flying cars to 3D communications and robot assistants. Read on…

10. Smart energy grids turn EVs and homes into power plants

There’s a change taking place in how energy is being created and used. Households, once consumers of power, are increasingly starting to generate and store it too. Smart energy grids can regulate the charging of EVs, for example, to off-peak periods, and feed excess solar electricity back into the network during peak times, enabling more sustainable energy use across society.  

9. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles leave rush-hour traffic in the dust

Flying cars were once the domain of sci-fi movies. No longer. Prototypes can now take off and land vertically, without the need for a runway. These electric-powered VTOLs will transform the way we commute and travel. Not only will they help ease congestion, but they’ll also take us to more places quickly as battery life improves. 

8. Affordable satellite phones keep you connected in the Peruvian Andes or on Mount Kinabalu

The singular frustration of “no service” on our mobile phones will soon be a thing of the past. As the cost of launching satellites falls and the capabilities of smartphones advance, more people will be able to stay connected through powerful satellite communication networks with ease, whether in the middle of the Pacific Ocean or on one of the world’s highest peaks.

7. Multimedia tech makes virtual meetings feel IRL

Video calls have become the norm, but many of us still enjoy meeting in person. State of the art immersive communications software can bridge the gap. AR, VR, MR and innovations such as naked-eye 3D can re-create us in such incredible detail that virtual calls and meetings will feel like the conference room down the hall.

6. Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) let you shop or do banking with your mind

The exploration of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) has mostly been driven by the medical field. By sending electronic signals, BCI can help people who are paralyzed to walk again. And the technology has the potential for wider practical applications. Simply by thinking of an action or using eye movements, we will be able to do daily tasks such as shopping or banking. 

5. Game engine tech launches you into outer space or on a trek with a T-Rex

Cutting-edge game technology has many real-world uses, from flight simulator training to reinforcement learning used to train AI. Next, immersive game engine and digital twin tech will become part of the classroom of the future, where interactive, life-like scenarios can be re-created. From walking with dinosaurs to exploring the surface of Mars, education is about to become a lot more fun.

4. AI meets gene editing to efficiently grow crops and better feed the world

It’s estimated that by 2050, food production would need to increase by 60 percent, compared with 2018, to feed our planet’s growing population. But agriculture is a major user of precious water and energy resources. Carefully regulated and supervised gene editing can help, by improving the nutritional benefits and yield of crops while making them more resilient to drought and disease. 

3. Intelligent, agile robots lend a helping hand at home, work, or a care facility

Robots are getting smarter and more dexterous, allowing them to do a wider range of tasks in a variety of settings. Significant advances in the development of limbs now allow robots to perform delicate, precise movements. Think playing the guitar and cooking dinner to cleaning bathrooms and even helping with surgery.

2. Personal AI assistants knock out complex tasks and free up your time

Sometimes, it can seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day. There are emails to send, finances to sort out, groceries to order online. Thankfully, your personal AI assistant is just around the corner. As artificial general intelligence (AGI) capabilities improve, it can help you get mundane to complex tasks done, leaving you more time to do the things you enjoy.

1. Sustainable high-performance computing accelerates innovation in science, medicine, and finance

High-performance computing (HPC) can already process information at mind-boggling speeds. But the convergence of cloud, quantum and chip capabilities along with greater energy efficiency heralds a new generation of sustainable high-performance computing. These supercomputers are much faster than you can imagine, leading to quicker breakthroughs in fields such as science, medicine, and finance.