The one big question about today’s groundbreaking emerging technologies

A German version of this article can be found here.

We are living in an extraordinary time, characterized by a continuous acceleration of (digital) progress. The emergence of various groundbreaking technological innovations overlaps. The time period within which their impact unfolds is shorter than ever in history.

The following trends are widely considered the most relevant and the closest to large-scale breakthrough:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality
• Autonomous vehicles
• Electric vehicles
• Automation & robots
• Drones (especially for shipping and logistics, but also in military context)
• Blockchain
• 3D print

This list is not complete, but it contains the areas which currently receive most public attention, which constantly produce news and which could quickly push economies and societies into a period of much more radical changes than what we have seen so far.

However, the big question is this: Which of these technologies are really ready for prime time? The laws of hypes ensure that no large expectations, prominent backers, public attention and successful pilots can guarantee that a new technology or innovative approach won’t turn out to be unfinished and in need of several more years or even decades of tinkering. Continue Reading