CBInsights-2021年值得关注的12大技术趋势（英文）-2021.3-58页_6mb

2021 Tech Trends to Watch Closely

Core Content

2021 is expected to be a pivotal year for technology, with several emerging trends reshaping industries and consumer behavior. These trends are influenced by the lasting impact of the pandemic, which accelerated digital transformation, and are also driven by new innovations in AI, quantum computing, and healthcare.

Main Trends and Key Points

1. Chief Prepper Officer: Resilience as a Corporate Function

• Core Content: Companies are increasingly focusing on resilience due to external disruptions like climate change, cyber threats, and pandemics.
• Key Points:
  • Resilience became a major corporate concern after the pandemic, with many businesses scrambling to adapt.
  • Companies are onshoring operations, building robust supply chains, and diversifying their geographic footprint.
  • AI and data analytics are being used to predict demand and improve operational efficiency.
  • Examples include Apple moving production to Vietnam and Foxconn investing in India to reduce reliance on China.
  • Startups like RELEX Solutions and project44 are gaining traction in supply chain resilience.

2. The Quantum Time Bomb

• Core Content: Quantum computing threatens current encryption standards, prompting a race to develop post-quantum cryptography.
• Key Points:
  • Quantum computers can break traditional encryption protocols like RSA, risking data security.
  • Companies like IBM and Microsoft are developing quantum-safe encryption techniques.
  • The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is expected to recommend post-quantum standards in 2021.
  • Startups like ISARA and PQShield are leading the charge in this space.
  • The timeline for encryption updates is uncertain, but the stakes are high for both businesses and governments.

3. Simulating Empathy: AI for Emotional Understanding

• Core Content: AI will be used to interpret and respond to human emotions, enhancing customer engagement and service.
• Key Points:
  • Emotion AI, or affective computing, is becoming a priority as businesses seek to connect with consumers on a deeper level.
  • Applications include advertising, customer service, and healthcare, where emotional data can improve outcomes.
  • Companies like Affectiva and Cogito are leading in this field.
  • Concerns include privacy, bias, and ethical use of emotional data.
  • IBM's CIMON is an example of emotion AI in space, offering mental health support to astronauts.

4. Trip Treatment: Psychedelic Medicines in the Mainstream

• Core Content: Psychedelic medicines are gaining traction as potential treatments for mental health and other conditions.
• Key Points:
  • Clinical trials for psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA are increasing, with the FDA granting breakthrough therapy status.
  • Tech is playing a key role in enabling remote access to psychedelic therapies.
  • Companies like ATAI Life Sciences and Mind Cure Health are developing digital therapeutics for this space.
  • Investors are showing strong interest, with VC funding increasing by 400% in 2020.
  • Challenges include regulatory hurdles and stigma, but big pharma is expected to enter the market.

5. The Rise of Exclusivity: Social Media's New Paradigm

• Core Content: Social media is evolving towards exclusive, invite-only communities.
• Key Points:
  • Exclusivity is seen as a key differentiator in social platforms, with apps like Clubhouse and The League gaining popularity.
  • These platforms emphasize privacy, quality of connections, and curated experiences.
  • Membership fees are rising to ensure exclusivity and privacy.
  • Challenges include moderating hate speech and maintaining a safe environment while preserving the sense of exclusivity.
  • Exclusive networks may become more expensive and selective as they grow.

6. Society-as-a-Service: Building Communities from Scratch

• Core Content: Tech entrepreneurs are moving beyond smart cities to create entirely new communities.
• Key Points:
  • Visionaries like Marc Lore aim to build cities with a blend of cultural vibrancy, innovation, and sustainability.
  • These communities are designed to be tech-driven and self-sufficient, incorporating advanced infrastructure and services.
  • Examples include Neom in Saudi Arabia, a $500B tech city.
  • The focus is on creating environments that reflect idealized urban and social models.

Conclusion

2021 will see a significant shift in how technology is integrated into business and society. From enhancing corporate resilience to securing data against quantum threats, simulating empathy in AI, and legitimizing psychedelic treatments, the year promises to be a turning point in the tech landscape. Meanwhile, social media is moving towards exclusivity and privacy, and new communities are being built from the ground up. These trends highlight a broader movement towards more personalized, secure, and adaptive technological solutions.