In the post-Covid era, emerging technologies have rapidly become major disrupters that have changed the way we live, work and play.
They have also redefined businesses, offering solutions for various complex challenges.
Generative artificial intelligence, for example, is currently disrupting industries across the board. A type of AI system that can generate text, images or other media, it uses neural networks to identify patterns and structures within existing data to generate new and original content.
Generative AI could add as much as $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy and will transform productivity across sectors with continued investment in the technology, a recent report by consultancy McKinsey found.
In a bid to help decision-makers prioritise emerging technologies in the coming months, the World Economic Forum has come up with a list of the top 10 emerging technologies of 2023.
The report, published by the WEF in collaboration with research services company Frontiers, compiles the perspectives of academics, industry leaders and futurists.
Sustainable aviation fuel
The use of sustainable aviation fuel based on green hydrogen and direct air capture is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95 per cent when compared with conventional jet fuel.
The size of the global SAF market will exceed $14 billion by 2032, according to Precedence Research.
However, SAF, considered by the aviation industry to be the most significant contributor to achieving net-zero goals, requires a major boost in production from the current minuscule levels.
Wearable plant sensors
Global food production will need to increase by 70 per cent by 2050 to feed a growing global population, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation reported.
Crop monitoring is a key part of achieving this goal. Micro-sized needle sensors embedded in individual plants could yield a “wealth of data to improve plant health and increase agricultural productivity”, the WEF report said.
Traditional soil testing and visual inspections of crops are expensive and time-consuming, industry experts said.
These devices monitor temperature, humidity, moisture and nutrient levels to help optimise crop yields, reduce water and fertiliser use and detect early signs of disease.
Sustainable computing
Growth in AI, cloud computing and other technologies requires larger and more powerful data centre capacity.
Data centres currently consume 1 per cent of total global electricity production, but this is expected to grow in the coming years.
However, several sustainable computing technologies are emerging that are aimed at making the goal of net-zero energy data centres a reality, the report said.
These include using water to dissipate heat, alongside technologies that repurpose excess heat to warm buildings, heat water or use in industrial processes.
“AI-enabled systems can analyse and optimise energy use in real time, maximising efficiency and performance – reducing energy consumption by as much as 40 per cent at Google’s data centres,” it added.
Generative AI
The recent introduction of generative AI-based language models, like ChatGPT, has already affected life at schools, universities and workplaces.
If used properly, such tools can enhance productivity and creative output, the report said.
However, the technology goes beyond producing written texts, images and sound, with applications including drug design for specific medical conditions, architecture and engineering.
For example, Nasa engineers are developing AI systems to create lightweight space instruments, reducing development time and improving performance.
AI in health care
AI tools can prepare the global healthcare sector to both anticipate and better prepare for future pandemics.
Such systems could help increase the efficiency of healthcare systems to tackle health crises and improve people's access to health care.
It could reduce waiting times by aligning treatment needs with available medical resources and increasing medical outreach, the report said.
It would also be beneficial particularly in developing countries, which often lack sufficient infrastructure and staff to provide widespread access to healthcare services.
Metaverse for mental health
Virtual environments open up new opportunities to provide mental health treatments, covering a range of telemedicine applications, including prevention, diagnostics, therapy, education and research, the report said.
Several gaming platforms have already been established to help people with conditions like depression and anxiety or to encourage mindfulness and meditation.
Designer phages
Phages are viruses that solely kill and selectively attack bacteria, according to the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
They are the most common biological entities in nature, and they have been shown to effectively fight and destroy multi-drug resistant bacteria, it added.
For example, when all antibiotics fail, phages still succeed in killing the bacteria and preventing infection.
Bioengineers can reprogramme a phage’s genetic information so it transmits genetic instructions to bacteria to change how they function, allowing for the treatment of various diseases.
Spatial omics
The human body is a collection of about 37.2 trillion cells.
To understand how microbiological processes work, scientists have developed a method called spatial omics, which combines advanced imaging techniques with sophisticated DNA-sequencing processes.
Using spatial omics, scientists can observe intricate details of cell architecture and biological processes that were previously unobservable, the report said.
Flexible batteries
Flexible batteries are made of lightweight materials that can be twisted, stretched, bent into different shapes and even coated on to carbon-based materials like carbon fibre or cloth.
These rechargeable, bendable batteries are being used in “roll-up computer screens, smart clothing and wearable electronics, including healthcare devices and biometric sensors”, the report said.
Flexible neural electronics
Brain-machine interfaces allow direct communication between the brain and external computers.
So far, the technology has been based on rigid electronics and limited by the mechanical mismatch with brain tissues.
But breakthroughs in flexible electronics and more biocompatible materials mean a less invasive experience for patients.
BMI-type technologies are already in use to treat patients with epilepsy as well as those with prosthetic limbs that use electrodes to connect with the nervous system.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
