Can Meta sustain its VR headset dominance? It has 90% market share, but its Horizon Worlds metaverse apps are only accessible in the US and Canada, leaving room for new entrants to compete.
Roaming robotic EV charging: A mobile bot is under development to provide a new way to charge EVs. It isn’t likely to replace standard charging stations but could expand charging access.
Microsoft’s proposed takeover of Activision Blizzard faces fresh scrutiny: UK’s antitrust regulator is examining whether the deal will stifle competition in the latest challenge to the $68.7 billion acquisition.
‘90 million attacks daily’: As the cybersecurity industry suffers from an onslaught of attacks and burnout, companies issue layoffs. The education sector could help build a higher-security future.
Tiny tech, big effect: A microlens can be a low-cost device to enhance solar’s efficiency. But commercialization might depend on testing that shows it will maintain solar’s low flammability status.
Repairability could be a key smartphone feature: Google and Apple now allow users to fix flagship phones. This is a huge advantage over competitors that focus on deals for new phones.
Merck seeks AI and ML health startups: 12 health tech incubees will participate in a 10-month sprint to develop new technologies and could buck the trend of startups failing to produce clinical outcomes.
Samsung leads in next-gen chip production: Production of Samsung’s 3-nanometer chip leaves rivals like TSMC and Intel scrambling. And chip innovation is quickly outpacing the speed of legislating subsidy bills.
A new Frontier for startups: A handful of startups just got funding to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Using carbon as a raw material could help them reach market viability.
Alphabet’s health dominion may come at a hefty legal cost: The tech giant dwarfs its Big Tech peers with health investments, but regulatory scrutiny may heat up in the post-Roe reality.
Retailers experiment with the role of the store: Gap, Jonathan Adler, and others are testing new retail concepts and tech to determine the best way to leverage their physical presences.
Brands are bullish on ecommerce: More than half of companies are ramping up investment for ecommerce initiatives, per a survey by Yottaa.
Energy independence undermined: A group is using propaganda to keep other countries dependent on rare-earth minerals from China. As more disinformation looms, social media companies could help stop it.
Urbanites in the digital dark: A Seattle couple’s Comcast saga illustrates how many city dwellers are still struggling to get connected. Treating the internet as a public utility could help.
Silicon Valley goes global: The Great Resignation and remote work have pushed tech companies to hire international software developers. It could significantly change Silicon Valley and emerging tech hubs worldwide.
A mighty cure for weakness: A wearable exomuscle device could help improve strength in those recovering from injuries or with other limitations. But only if it's easy to wear and affordable.
Big Tech post-Roe: As tech giants like Google respond to abortion rights loss, they face a quagmire of choices about strengthening digital privacy, censorship, and where to do business.
Walmart’s hybrid cloud: In building its hybrid cloud infrastructure, the retailer heads a movement to an era of cloud independence. It could also spark a new type of cloud business.
The more bots the better? Deploying more robots at Amazon warehouses could close the labor gap. Happier employees working alongside bots with the latest software could also help.
Gigafactories = ‘gigantic money furnaces’: Supply chain disruptions grind Tesla’s new factories to a near halt. Even when things come back online, the mineral shortage will still be a scourge.