Hola,
 

Welcome to 2020, a world of slaughterbots, quantum supremacy, and grinders.

Do those terms leave you scratching your head? 

Our 2020 Tech Trends report will define these terms (we also define them further down) and enlighten you with everything you need to know re: 14 major trends that will shape the year ahead in tech. 
 

These include: 

• AR/VR offices and their implications
• The accelerating commercialization of robotics and quantum computing
• The impact of tech on physical safety and security
• Livestreaming’s expansion into retail
• The emergence of centralized digital currencies

Read up here. 

A sound decision
 

This morning, Bose announced that it will close 100+ stores worldwide, citing the shift to online shopping. 

Not every retailer is able to adapt like this. Check out 80+ major retail bankruptcies in our report here. 

Take a chill pill
 

Tech gurus drew headlines last year for trying to “hack” their way into living longer, with one man reportedly going so far as to inject stem cells into every joint in his body.

But biohacking is expanding beyond Silicon Valley techies to become a more global, commercialized trend. Read more about it in our Tech Trends 2020 report.

Big data energy
 

Google wants to become the go-to vendor for healthcare IT services. But its moves into healthcare have also attracted a wave of criticism.

Say again?

Here's the explanation of the tech terms mentioned above. 

• Slaughterbots are micro-drones that have the power to carry out targeted assassinations. 
• Quantum supremacy refers to using quantum computers to quickly solve a problem that would take conventional computers an ungainly amount of time to tackle.
• Grinders are biohackers who implant microchips in their hands or elsewhere in their bodies to continuously track indicators like glucose levels.

Have a great rest of the week.

• $5.3B: Payments giant Visa announced its $5.3B acquisition of unicorn Plaid, a startup that provides infrastructure used by fintech platforms like Betterment and Venmo. Plaid was bought for about 2x its valuation given during its most recent funding round at the end of 2018. We dig deeper into this transaction in  our client-only brief.
   
• ~$200M: Apple has reportedly acquired AI company Xnor.ai for around $200M. The startup focuses on developing on-device AI, functionality that Apple may be planning to integrate into devices like the iPhone. Of the big US tech companies, Apple has been the most acquisitive of AI startups, using its purchases to help launch features like FaceID. Learn more about big tech's artificial intelligence moves in our interactive report on the race for AI.

• $600M: Telehealth startup InTouch Health was acquired by Teladoc Health for $600M. We discuss the startup’s “Dr Robot” device — which includes screens to help doctors interact with patients from afar — in our report on how robotics is changing medicine. Check it out here.
   

• 10 years: Automaker GM is rumored to be bringing back its Hummer brand — which was phased out around 10 years ago and is often associated with low fuel efficiency — for a new line of electric SUVs. The move reflects a broader trend towards electrification in the auto industry. Learn more about the shift in our in-depth report on the electric vehicle landscape. 
  

• 1 week: Researchers have developed a machine that can preserve human livers for up to a week outside of the body, according to a study published in Nature. Current approaches can only preserve livers for around a day. The researchers say that the new device could allow time for injured livers to regenerate themselves and boost the number of organs available for transplants.
   

• $225M: Califia Farms, a startup that makes plant-based dairy products, raised $225M. Interest in alternative dairy products is on the rise —  as clients can see using our news analysis tool — as complementary trends like plant-based meat become more mainstream. Learn more about alternative approaches to dairy and protein in our Meatless Future report.   

• 7B years: Scientists discovered minerals that formed between 5B-7B years ago, predating our solar system and making them the oldest known materials on Earth. The team extracted the “stardust” — particles flung out into space by dying stars — from a meteorite that fell in Australia around 50 years ago.    

A Bangkok university recently opened Asia's largest rooftop farm to tackle problems like food security, sustainable energy, urban heat-island effect, and more.

Located at Thammasat University, the 236,000-square-foot roof was designed to prevent the flood-prone city from sinking, and is able to hold up to 3M gallons of water in detention ponds. 

The farm will also be able to grow enough rice for 100,000+ meals to be served on campus in a year. Any leftovers will be composted to fertilize the next crop of rice.