The Obvious Things
The new year is here and I think it’s fair to say that we are all looking forward to a fresh start. I found it difficult to write last year due to the pandemic and the U.S. presidential election. While I do appreciate what the internet has done for the distribution of information, last year I found the noise to be particularly excessive and I opted to unplug from most of it. I leave 2020 with much to be grateful for and with a few concerns for the future.
The Less Obvious Things
It is the less obvious that is usually the most interesting and I am entering 2021 with some new thoughts and some lingering questions that I’ve laid out below. Time may be all that can satisfy my curiosities here. Regardless, they have my attention. Here they are: * How much has machine learning advanced and what can we do with it this year?
The State of AI in 2020
Best AI Papers of 2020
* Will all the lost jobs come back as they were before or are we looking at higher unemployment for the near to longer term?
source: tradingeconomics.com
* Are flex working arrangements here to stay?
Flexible Schedules – U.S. Department of Labor
* Has Oculus finally made it?
Oculus Quest
* How many courtside VR tickets can NBA franchises sell this year?
VR|NBA.com
* How many years away are we now from blockchain powered smart contracts?
Endnotes on 2020: Crypto and Beyond by Vitalik Buterin
* Whar are the next steps to funding and building the next great U.S. infrastructure?
2050 and the Future of Infrastructure
* Is technology advancement overly commercializing our society and culture?
Just a hunch.
* Why is it so complicated to pervasively test a population for viruses and diseases?
Former Rackspace CEO – Lab testing startup
* Who will acquire Shopify?
Bezos reportedly working on new e-commerce project
* Who will be the Coca-Cola of the cannabis beverage industry?
Cannabis Infused Beverages Discover Their Own Voice
Cheers and Happy New Year everyone!