The Avatar-aissance… Instead of going online with a million different logins, you could be living inside the internet with an avatar that moves seamlessly from virtual hangouts to digital malls. Meta (fka: Facebook), Roblox, and Microsoft are racing to build the metaverse, a vision for an immersive internet. Think: avatar-filled VR games, concerts, and offices. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hopes the metaverse will reach 1B people by 2030. The market could hit $800B by 2024.
DNA-personalized healthcare… Imagine getting a customized health plan from your doc based on your genes. Think: which drugs are best suited to you, and how to prevent diseases you’re predisposed to. 70% of providers think genetic tests will improve clinical outcomes. DNA-testing company 23andMe is buying Lemonaid Health to help doctors tailor treatments to genetic data. Rivals like Color and Helix are positioning genetics as the future. Gene modification could also play a role in curbing diseases.
Clean energy rules… Countries must hit net-zero emissions by 2050 to prevent irreversible climate damage. Many government and corporate 2030 climate targets are coming up. Those could be reached through green innovations in nuclear reactors, batteries, solar grids, and geothermal energy (think: volcanoes). In the next few decades, renewables will likely be the fastest-growing energy source and could beat fossil fuels (gas, coal) on cost. By 2050, alternative energy could power up to 80% of the US, from 30% today.