- Rich Karlgaard, Publisher, Forbes Magazine
- Bruce Upbin, Managing Editor, also of Forbes.
The panel this year consisted of:
- Bill Gurley, General Partner, Benchmark
- Steve Jurvetson, Partner, DFJ
- Jenny Lee, Managing Partner, GGV Capital
- Rebecca Lynn, Co-founder & General Partner, Canvas Venture Fund
- Shervin Pishevar, Managing Director, Sherpa Ventures
The panel was mostly in sync with the live audience voting on the trends. The largest point of disagreement was the premise that these events would be dominants within the next 5 years.
Trend #1 Rise of the Designer – this was a 51% Yes/49% No vote from the audience mostly due to the definition of the word Designer. Several panelists limited the scope to coding and technology design, but several others thought the visual interface/UI/and artistic aspects held a significant role.
Trend #2 Rise of the Digital State and Embassies - this was a 46% Yes/54% No . The premise is that Digital sovereignty will be as as important as physical ones. Countries will protect citizen’s digital identities and assets, and international laws and governments will respect bits as much as atoms and individuals.
Trend #3 Rise of the Health Activated Individual – This was a 61% Yes / 39% No audience vote. The premise is like a credit score, all aspects of an individual’s health condition will be known and monitored from the genetic level and then will be able to be standardized for service and treatment.
Trend #4 The Empire Strikes Back – Vote 35% Yes / 65% No. This trend is that the bureaucratic process takes control and everyone loses, as they make regulations and controls based on their lack of technical knowledge and then overtake & suppress innovation.
Trend #5 New Killer Application of Gene Splicing - this vote was 68% Yes / 32% No. Under the tag line of “you don’t die” the technology will give rise to a new $10B market cap sector leveraging gene sequencing for biotech cures.
Trend #6 Data is the New Oil – this audience vote was the most one sided with the count of 82% Yes/18% No. The premise is the collection and pooling of data of any kind and in any form can be converted to help monetize and accelerate sales and processes, and the owners of the data are the new leaders.
Trend #7 Household Robots - the vote was 33% Yes / 67% No - The multiple repetitive tasks around the household and yard will be replaced with single and multi-task robots to improve people’s lives. While they are not the iconic Jetson’s Rosie the Robot, the end result will be the same quality of service.
Trend #8 Kicking the Mobile Addiction moving to an untethered future - The vote was 52% Y/ 48%N. The premise here was the shift from devices for interaction, and a move to voice and other touchless controls as well as moving to entirely towards a wireless connected environment.
Trend #9 True Human-Level A.I. Mimics the Brain- the vote was 43% Yes / 57% No. The premise is AI and Neural networks are becoming so sophisticated that AI will be able to think and react with real cognitive responses for many functions that are part of the everyday life and work.
Trend #10 The Maker Revolution: 3D printing will become mainstream starting with toys - the vote was 34% Yes / 66% No. The premise was that within 5 Year 10% of all toys and collectibles would be made and designed at home with 3D printers, so everyone can have their own version of a product ending the mass retail sales model and licensing issues.
