MIT asked five judges or former winners of its Innovators Under 35 contest to highlight the promises of AI, biotech, computing, materials science and the fight against climate change to see where these could have the most potential change.
Here is what they had to say:
- Artificial intelligence and robots: Employing AI will help find new molecules, fold proteins and analyze massive amounts of medical data.
- Biotech: New ground will be broken via machine learning, gene therapy, gene analysis and CRISPR, a technology that can be used to edit genes.
- Computing: The area is reaching promising levels, and tech like 2D semiconductors and optical computing could become a reality.
- Materials science: Innovators see a possibility for familiar materials like glass, steel and electronics to have completely new properties. For example, the possibility of engineers directly manufacturing materials could have the potential to replace conventional materials, according to the report.
- Climate change: Clean energy technologies in electric power, transportation, industry and building sectors will drive climate change as those sectors use the most fossil fuels, according to the report.