At SU, our Faculty continually discover great content that prompts stimulating discussions and learnings among ourselves and with those of you who attend our programs. Here’s a look at what we found fascinating this month.
Writing for Singularity Hub, Marc Prosser brings us a sweeping view of how the world’s most famous gene-editing technology, CRISPR, is being harnessed to change the future of China—and the world. While China grabbed headlines last fall with “CRISPR babies,” there’s much, much more innovation going on with the (relatively) precise and permanent editing of DNA code. As Prosser points out, Chinese scientists are rapidly experimenting in systems from plants to mammals to human-animal hybrids, and are even going back to the drawing board to mine other gene-editing technologies from living things. So while you should expect dialogue and controversy to continue swirling around the ethics and regulation of CRISPR in humans, widen your gaze: the future of life is poised to become very different from the past.
By now, you are surely convinced that the data explosion is revolutionizing … well, just about everything … and that this revolution is only going to pick up speed as the Internet of Things comes online. Scary? Sure. But also a tantalizing promise of how data will drive a future of abundant human health—and sooner than you might think. In this article in Forbes, my SU colleague Dr. José Morey shares his insights into how AI, wearables, and new types of medical data will empower patients and healthcare workers with unprecedented, real-time, and personalized insights into health and disease. Note that all of this potential makes it crucial to continue laying the foundations for ethical and empowering uses of personal health data.
It’s that time of year again! MIT Tech Review has rounded up its cohort of young innovators and changemakers from around the globe. From pioneers to visionaries to humanitarians to inventors to entrepreneurs, these men and women are putting the pedal to the metal, inventing game-changing technologies and tackling problems that span the global grand challenges. This line from the editors’ note resonated strongly with me: “We hope these stories give you a sense that even in our hard, cynical world, there are lots of smart people still willing to dedicate their lives to the idea that technology can be a good thing, and can create a world that’s safer, fairer and more generous.” Now that’s a vision I can get behind.
As I’ve discussed here previously (and in this podcast), science fiction is a crucial—and fun—tool for envisioning the future. Check out this graphic novel from my SU colleague, Jody Medich, about the power of fiction plus a designer mindset. This original work brings to life one possible Future of the Home, and models how you and your business can sharpen your vision to become a futuremaker.