Introduction A message from the Co-Chairs of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies report steering committee. Mariette DiChristina Dean and Professor of Bernard Meyerson the Practice in Journalism, Chief Innovation Of昀椀cer Boston University College Emeritus, IBM of Communication In the introduction of his 2016 book, The Fourth In this report, you’ll learn about how spatial omics Industrial Revolution, Klaus Schwab advised that is creating a new generation of molecular-level “cell humanity should “take dramatic technological atlases” to help unlock life’s mysteries. In a new change as an invitation to re昀氀ect about who we are approach to treatment, researchers are engineering and how we see the world”. The Top 10 Emerging viruses, called phages, to augment human, animal Technologies of 2023 report is an ongoing response and plant health. to that invitation to improve the state of the world and the humans inhabiting it. The driving forces Beyond the understanding and treatment of disease, behind the innovations featured in this special report the rapid public emergence of arti昀椀cial intelligence (AI) are the acceleration of global connectivity, the rise shows a potential to vastly enhance access to and of AI, along with the convergence of the physical, implementation of human knowledge. Generative AI, digital and biological worlds. embodied in ChatGPT and Bard, has demonstrated the creation of original social and technical content in Consistent with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, seconds. Those abilities developed from models trained several of the technologies cited use data and on vast information content ingested from the web. computing to enhance public health. The list It is, however, important to be cognizant of the societal explores how AI is enabling improvements in issues created by these “super-human” capabilities. healthcare delivery, especially to those who live in less well-resourced areas; how 昀氀exible batteries Human well-being also ultimately requires a healthy are powering wearable technologies and bendable planet. Addressing this need, the “top 10” includes displays that enable wearable medical devices and wearable plant sensors, which enable increased food biomedical sensors; and next-generation neural production by improving plant health. With the impact electronics that can interact with millions of cells at of climate change ever-more dire, two cited innovations once more safely. With mental health issues more offer progress: sustainable aviation fuel, made from pressing in the post-pandemic world, virtual shared biological or non-biological sources, and sustainable spaces in the metaverse are facilitating global computing, which is paving the way towards net-zero outreach to serve those in need. carbon data centres. However, far more innovation is required to mitigate this existential threat to humanity. Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2023 4