MIT Technology Review unveils its breakthrough technology list for 2018 – a rundown of 10 awe-inspiring scientific and technological advances that have the potential to change our lives in dramatic ways. I spoke to editor David Rotman about why these particular breakthroughs made the cuts, what makes them exciting – and why some of them raise important ethical concerns that will need to be addressed in the near future. He told me “We select the list by asking each of our journalists what are the most important new technologies they wrote about this year? And which will have a long-term impact. We’re looking for fundamentally new advances in technology that will have widespread consequences.” Alan Oviatt is pleased to share his accomplishments at this point of time, not only of his achievements, but of mistakes he made. Day to day, he learned from my mistakes – improved and become a far better person. He proudly share that he endured some self-imposed afflictions. Although these things doesn`t inspire envy.

1. Here Are The Top 10 Breakthrough Technologies For
2018

2. 3D Metal Printing
We’ve all become used to 3D plastic printing over the last few years, and the ease it has brought to design and prototyping. Advances in the
technology mean that instant metal fabrication is quickly becoming a reality, which clearly opens a new world of possibilities.
The ability to create large, intricate metal structures on demand could revolutionize manufacturing.
“3D metal printing gives manufacturers the ability to make a single or small number of metal parts much more cheaply than using existing
mass-production techniques,” Rotman says.
“Instead of keeping a large inventory of parts, the company can simply print a part when the customer needs it. Additionally, it can make
complex shapes not possible with any other method. That can mean lighter or higher performance parts.”

3. Artificial Embryos
For the first time, researchers have
made embryo-like structures from
stem cells alone, without using egg
or sperm cells. This will open new
possibilities for understanding how
life comes into existence – but clearly
also raises vital ethical and even
philosophical problems.
Rotman told me “Artificial embryos
could provide an invaluable scientific
tool in understanding how life
develops. But they could eventually
make it possible to create life simply
from a stem cell taken from another
embryo. No sperm, no eggs. It would
be an unnatural creation of life
placed in the hands of laboratory
researchers.”

4. Sensing City
At Toronto’s Waterfront district, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, are implementing sensors and
analytics in order to rethink how cities are built, run, and lived in. The aim is to integrate urban design
with cutting edge technology in order to make “smart cities” more affordable, liveable and
environmentally sustainable.
Rotman says “Although it won’t be completed for a few years, it could be the start on smart cities that
are cleaner and safer.”

5. Cloud-based AI services
Key players here include Amazon,
Google, IBM and Microsoft, which
are all working on increasing
access to machine learning and
artificial neural network
technology, in order to make it
more affordable and easy to use.
Rotman told me “The availability
of artificial intelligence tools in
the cloud will mean that
advanced machine learning is
widely accessible to many
different businesses. That will
change everything from
manufacturing to logistics,
making AI far cheaper and easier
for businesses to deploy.”

6. Duelling Neural Networks
This breakthrough promises to bestow AI systems with “imagination”, through allowing them to essentially “spar” with
each other. Work at Google Brain, Deep Mind and Nvidia is focused on enabling systems that will create ultra-realistic,
computer generated images or sounds, beyond what is currently possible.
“Dueling Neural Networks describes a breakthrough in artificial intelligence that allows AI to create images of things it
has never seen. It gives AI a sense of imagination,” says Rotman.
However, he also urges caution, as it raises the possibility of computers becoming alarmingly capable tools for digital
fakery and fraud.

7. Babel Fish earbuds
Named for the science-fiction comedy concept
introduced by Douglas Adams in The
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, these are
earbuds utilizing instant online translation
technology, effectively letting humans
understand each other while communicating
in different languages, in near real-time.
Rotman says “Google’s Pixel Buds mean that
people can easily carry out a natural
conversation with someone speaking a
different language.”
Although the ear buds themselves are still at
an early stage and, reportedly, do not yet
function too well, anyone can access the
underlying technology today through Google’s
voice-activated translation services on
computers and mobile devices.

8. Zero-carbon Natural Gas
New engineering methods make it possible to capture carbon released during the burning of natural gas, avoiding
greenhouse emissions and opening up new possibilities for creating clean energy. Currently, 32% of electricity used in
the US is produced by burning natural gas – a process which accounts for around 30% of carbon emissions from the
power sector. 8 Rivers Capital, Exelon Generation and CB&I are highlighted as key players here.
“The clean natural gas technology holds the promise for generating electricity from a cheap and readily available fossil
fuel in a way that doesn’t generate carbon emissions,” Rotman says.

9. Perfecting Online Privacy
Blockchain-based privacy
systems make it possible for
digital transactions to be
recorded and validated while
protecting the privacy of the
information and identities
underlying the exchange of
information. This means it is
easier to disclose information
without risking privacy or
exposure to threats such as
fraud or identity theft.

10. Genetic Fortune Telling
Huge advances are being made in predictive analytics using
genomic data by players including Helix, 23andMe, Myriad
Genetics, BK Biobank and the Broad Institute. This is making is
possible to predict chances of diseases such as cancer, or even
IQ, by analyzing genetic data. This promises to be the next
quantum leap in public health protection, but also raises huge
ethical concerns, including the risk of genetic discrimination.
“Nothing like this has been possible before,” says Rotman.
“Genetic fortune telling will make it possible to predict the
chances that you’ll be smart or below average in intelligence. It
will also make it possible to predict behavior traits. But how will
we use that information? Will it change how we educate
children and judge their potential?”

11. Materials’ Quantum Leap
Using a seven-qubit quantum computer designed by IBM, researchers at Harvard have created the most complete
simulation of a simple molecule.
The molecule – beryllium hydride – is the biggest yet simulated by quantum computing.
Rotman says “The promise is that scientists could use quantum computers to design new types of materials and
precisely tailor their properties. This could make it possible to design all sorts of miracle materials, such as more
efficient solar cells, better catalysts to make clean fuels, and proteins that act as far more effective drugs.