Listing here is not a prediction that the technology will become widely adopted, only a recognition of significant potential to become widely adopted or highly useful if ongoing work continues, is successful, and the work is not overtaken by other technologies.
| Emerging technology | Status | Potential applications | Related articles |
|---|
| 6G cellular communications[15] [16] | Conceptual | Mobile phones |
| Artificial intelligence | Diffusion, commercialization |
| Artificial general intelligence | Hypothetical, experiments[17] [18] [19] | Creating intelligent devices and robots; AI can counsel (or even take charge) in scientific projects, government, army, corporate governance, film and books creation, inventions etc. | Progress in artificial intelligence, technological singularity, applications of artificial intelligence |
| Biometrics | Diffusion, commercialization | | |
| Blockchain | Diffusion, commercialization | Finance, Digital currency, Art, Universal basic income, Identity (social science) | Bitcoin, Ethereum |
| Carbon nanotube field-effect transistor | Research and development | Future miniaturization of transistors | |
| Cashierless store | Limited commercialization | | |
| Civic technology | Research and development, projects | Smart cities, more responsive government | Smart city, e-democracy, open data, intelligent environment |
| Digital scent technology | Diffusion | | Smell-O-Vision, iSmell |
| DNA digital data storage | Experiments | Mass data storage | |
| Electronic nose | Research, limited commercialization[20] [21] | Detecting spoiled food, chemical weapons, and cancer | |
| Emerging memory technologies(T-RAM, CBRAM, SONOS, RRAM, racetrack memory, NRAM, phase-change memory, FJG RAM, millipede memory, Skyrmion, programmable metallization cell, ferroelectric RAM, magnetoresistive RAM, nvSRAM) | In development | | |
| Emerging magnetic data storage technologies(SMR, HAMR, BPM, MAMR, TDMR, CPP/GMR, PMR, hard disk drive) | In development (HAMR, BPM); diffusion (SMR) | Greatly improved storage density compared to current HDDs, can be combined | |
| E-textiles | Research, diffusion[22] | Wearable technology | |
| Exascale computing | Projects | | |
| Exocortex | Diffusion of primitive amplifications; working prototypes of more; Hypothetical, experiments on more substantial amplification | | |
| Flexible electronics | Research, development, prototypes, limited commercialization (e.g. Samsung Galaxy Fold) | Flexible and/or foldable electronic devices, and flexible solar cells which are lightweight, can be rolled up for launch, and are easily deployable | Nokia Morph, Flexible organic light-emitting diode |
| Fourth-generation optical discs (3D optical data storage, Holographic data storage) | Research, prototyping[23] | Storing and archiving data previously erased for economic reasons | Blu-ray Disc, Optical storage |
| Hybrid forensics[24] | Research, commercialization | Digital forensics, electronic discovery, malware detection, IT compliance | |
| Li-Fi | Demos, requires standardization | | Laser communication in space |
| Machine vision | Research, prototyping, commercialization[25] | Biometrics, controlling processes (e.g., in driverless car, automated guided vehicle), detecting events (e.g., in visual surveillance), interaction (e.g., in human–computer interaction), robot vision | Computer vision, pattern recognition, digital image processing |
| Magnonics | Research | Data storage | |
| Memristor | Working prototype[26] [27] | Smaller, faster, more energy-efficient storage, analogue electronics, programmable logic, signal processing, neural networks, control systems, reconfigurable computing, brain–computer interfaces, RFID, and pattern recognition[28] | |
| Molecular electronics | Research and development | | |
| Multimodal contactless biometric face/iris systems | Deployed at various airports and federal security checkpoints[29] | Unimodal facial recognition scanners | |
| Nanoelectromechanical systems | Research and development | | |
| Nanoradio | Research and development, diffusion | | |
| Neuromorphic engineering | Research and development | | |
| Optical computing | Hypothetical, experiments; some components of integrated circuits have been developed[30] | Smaller, faster, lower power consuming computing | |
| Quantum computing | Experiments,[31] commercialization,[32] early diffusion | Much faster computing for some kinds of problems, chemical modeling, new materials with programmed properties, Hypothetical of high-temperature superconductivity and superfluidity | |
| Quantum cryptography | Commercialization[33] | Secure communications | |
| Quantum radar | Prototypes | | |
| Radio-frequency identification | Diffusion of high cost[34] [35] [36] | Smartstores – RFID-based self-checkout (keeping track of all incoming and outgoing products), food packaging, smart shelves, smart carts. See: potential uses | |
| Software-defined radio | Development, commercialization | Cognitive radio, Mesh networks, Software defined antenna | GNU Radio, List of software-defined radios, Universal Software Radio Peripheral |
| Solid-state transformer | Development, prototypes | | |
| Speech recognition | Research, development, commercialization | | |
| Spintronics | Working prototypes[37] | Data storage, computing devices | |
| Subvocal recognition | Research, development, commercialization | | |
| Thermal copper pillar bump | Working prototypes in discrete devices | Electric circuit cooling, micro-fluidic actuators, thermoelectric power generation | Ultra high definition holographic disc, Metal–insulator transition |
| Three-dimensional integrated circuit | Development, commercialization | Memory and data processing | |
| Twistronics | Development | | | |
| Emerging technology | Status | Potential applications | Related articles |
|---|
| Airborne wind turbine | Research[44] [45] [46] | Wind power generation at higher altitudes, increasing efficiency | KiteGen |
| Americium battery | Estimated working prototype in 5–10 years from 2019[47] | Energy storage | |
| Artificial photosynthesis | Research, experiments,[48] growing interest in a macroscience global project[49] | Photosynthesis-like energy and oxygen production from artificial structures | Sustainocene, Renewable energy, Nanotechnology |
| Concentrated solar power | Growing markets in California, Spain, Northern Africa[50] | Electricity generation | DESERTEC, BrightSource Energy, Solar Millennium |
| Double-layer capacitor | Diffusion, continued development[51] | Faster-charging, longer-lasting, more flexible, greener energy storage (e.g. for regenerative braking) | |
| Energy harvesting | Experiments | Constant energy source for mobile, wearable and ubiquitous devices | Humavox |
| Flywheel energy storage | Limited commercialization | Energy storage | |
| Fusion power | Research, experiments | Electricity and heat generation, fusion torch recycling with waste heat | ITER, NIF, Wendelstein 7-X, Magnetic confinement fusion, Dense plasma focus, Muon-catalyzed fusion |
| Generation IV nuclear reactor | Research, experiments | Electricity and heat generation, transmutation of nuclear waste stockpiles from traditional reactors | |
| Gravity battery | Small-scale examples | Energy storage | |
| Home fuel cell | Research, commercialization[52] [53] [54] | Off-the-grid, producing electricity in using an environmentally friendly fuel as a backup during long term power failures. | Autonomous building, Bloom Energy Server |
| Lithium–air battery | Research, experiments[55] | Laptops, mobile phones, long-range electric cars; storing energy for electric grid | |
| Lithium iron phosphate battery | Commercialization | Energy storage | |
| Lithium–sulfur battery | Research and development | Energy storage | |
| Magnesium battery | Early commercialization | Energy storage | |
| Molten salt reactor | Research, experiments | Electricity and heat generation | |
| Nanowire battery | Experiments, prototypes[56] [57] | Laptops, mobile phones, long-range electric cars; storing energy for electric grid | |
| Nantenna | Research[58] [59] [60] | Electricity generation | |
| Ocean thermal energy conversion | Prototype | Electricity generation | |
| Solid-state battery | Niche uses | Reliable, power-dense energy storage (particularly for electric cars and wearable technology) | |
| Smart grid | Research, diffusion[61] [62] [63] | Advanced grid power management | Smart meter, SuperSmart Grid |
| Space-based solar power | Early research | Electricity generation | |
| Thorium nuclear fuel cycle | Research started in the 1960s, still ongoing | Electricity and heat generation | |
| Vortex engine | | Power generation | |
| Wireless energy transfer | Prototypes, diffusion, short range consumer products[64] [65] | Wirelessly powered equipment: laptop, cell phones, electric cars, etc. | WiTricity, resonant inductive coupling |
| Zero-energy building | Expansion | Energy-efficient homes | Passive house | |
| Emerging technology | Status | Potential applications | Related articles |
|---|
| 4D printing | Research and development | | |
| Aerogel | Hypothetical, experiments, diffusion, early uses[66] | Improved thermal insulation (for pipelines, aerospace, etc.), as well as insulative "glass" if it can be made clear | |
| Amorphous metal | Experiments, use in amorphous metal transformers | Armor, implants | |
| Bioplastic | Limited commercialization (e.g. polylactic acid in 3D printing) | Disposable packaging and single-use items |
| Conductive polymers | Research, experiments, prototypes | Lighter and cheaper wires, antistatic materials, organic solar cells | Jacquard weaving |
| Cryogenic treatment | Research, experiments, prototypes | Significantly stronger metal components |
| Edible packaging | Diffusion | Biodegradable alternatives to plastic | |
| Electric armour | Prototypes | Better protection for warships and armoured fighting vehicles from shaped charge weapons | |
| Fullerene | Experiments, diffusion | Programmable matter | |
| Graphene | Hypothetical, experiments, diffusion, early uses[67] [68] | Higher-specific strength structural components, higher-frequency transistors, lower-cost mobile displays, automotive hydrogen storage, biosensors,[69] more efficient batteries[70] | |
| Lab-on-a-chip | Limited commercialization | More efficient laboratory analysis | |
| High-temperature superconductivity | Cryogenic receiver front-end (CRFE) RF and microwave filter systems for mobile phone base stations; prototypes in dry ice; experiments for lower temperatures[71] | No-loss conductors, frictionless bearings, magnetic levitation, lossless high-capacity accumulators, electric cars, heat-free integrated circuits | |
| Magnetic nanoparticles | Development | Cancer treatment,[72] [73] wastewater treatment[74] | |
| Magnetorheological fluid | Research and development, limited magnetorheological damping applications | Seismic damping for earthquake resistance | Electrorheological fluid |
| Microfluidics | Research and development | | |
| High-temperature superfluidity | Superfluid gyroscopes exist but work at very low temperatures | High-precision measure of gravity, navigation and maneuver devices, possible devices to emit gravitomagnetic field, frictionless mechanical devices | |
| Metamaterials | Hypothetical, experiments, diffusion[75] | Microscopes, cameras, metamaterial cloaking, cloaking devices | |
| Metal foam | Research, limited commercialization | Space colonies, floating cities | |
| Multi-function structures[76] | Hypothetical, experiments, some prototypes, few commercial | Wide range of applications (e.g. self-health monitoring, self-healing materials) | |
| Nanomaterials carbon nanotubes
| Hypothetical, experiments, diffusion, early uses[77] [78] | Higher-specific strength structural components | Potential applications of carbon nanotubes, Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers |
| Quantum dot | Research, experiments, prototypes,[79] commercialization | Quantum dot lasers, quantum dot displays, faster data communication, laser scalpels | |
| Self-healing materials | Research, experiments | Infrastructure, robotics, biotech | |
| Silicene | Early research | Nanoscale electronics | |
| Superalloy | Research, diffusion | Significantly stronger metal components (particularly in aircraft jet engines) | |
| Synthetic diamond | Research, commercialization | Electronics | |
| Time crystal | Research experiments[80] | Quantum computers with stable qubits | |
| Translucent concrete | Commercialization | Construction of buildings and sculptures (e.g. Europe Gate) | | |
| Emerging technology | Status | Potential applications | Related articles |
|---|
| Artificial uterus | Research, experiments | Space travel, extracorporeal pregnancy, reprogenetics, same-sex procreation | |
| Body implant, prosthesis | Trials, from animal (e.g., brain implants) to human clinical (e.g., insulin pump implant), to commercial production (e.g. pacemaker, joint replacement, cochlear implant) | Brain implant, retinal implant | Prosthetics, prosthetics in fiction, cyborg |
| Cryonics | Hypothetical, research, commercialization (e.g. Alcor, Cryonics Institute) | Life extension | |
| De-extinction | Research, development, trials | Animal husbandry, pets, zoos | Revival of the woolly mammoth |
| Electronic medical records | Deployment | Replacing paper medical records | |
| Human DNA vaccination and mRNA vaccination | Implementation in 2021 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic | Disease vaccinations, cancer therapy | |
| Enzybiotics | Successful first trials | | |
| Genetic engineering of organisms and viruses | Research, development, commercialization[81] [82] | Creating and modifying species (mainly improving their physical and mental capabilities), bio-machines, eliminating genetic disorders (gene therapy), new materials production,[83] healthier and cheaper food, creating drugs and vaccines, research in natural sciences, bioremediation,[84] detecting arsenic,[85] CO2 reducing superplant,[86] | Biopunk, Genetically modified food, superhuman, human enhancement, transhumanism, gene doping, designer baby, genetic pollution |
| Hibernation or suspended animation | Research, development, animal trials[87] | Organ transplantation, space travel, prolonged surgery, emergency care | |
| Life extension, strategies for engineered negligible senescence | Research, experiments, animal testing[88] [89] | Increased life spans | Immortality, biological immortality |
| Nanomedicine | Research, experiments, limited use[90] [91] | | |
| Nanosensors | Research and development | | |
| Omni Processor | Research and development; some prototypes | | |
| Oncolytic virus | Human trials (Talimogene laherparepvec, reolysin, JX-594), commercialisation (H101) | Cancer therapy, imaging | Oncolytic virus |
| Personalized medicine, full genome sequencing | Research, experiments[92] | Personalized medical procedures, genome sequencing during drug trials | Personal genomics |
| Phage therapy | First trial uses | | |
| Plantibody | Clinical trials | | |
| Regenerative medicine | Some laboratory trials[93] | Life extension | |
| Robotic surgery | Research, diffusion[94] [95] [96] | | |
| Senolytic | Under investigation | | |
| Stem cell treatments | Research, experiments, phase I human trial spinal cord injury treatment (GERON), cultured cornea transplants[97] [98] | Treatment for a wide range of diseases and injuries | Stem cell, stem cell treatments |
| Synthetic biology, synthetic genomics | Research, development, first synthetic bacteria created May 2010[99] [100] | Infinitely scalable production processes based on programmable species of bacteria and other life forms | BioBrick, iGEM, synthetic genomics |
| Tissue engineering | Research, diffusion[101] [102] [103] [104] | Organ printing, tooth regeneration | |
| Tricorder | Research and development | Diagnosing medical conditions | Medical tricorder |
| Virotherapy | Research, human trials | Gene therapy, cancer therapy | Virotherapy, Oncolytic Virus |
| Vitrification or cryoprotectant | Research, some experiments[105] | Organ transplantation, cryonics | | |
| Emerging technology | Status | Potential applications | Related articles |
|---|
| Caseless ammunition | Field tests and limited commercialization | Lighter and cheaper ammunition; the lack of a case may also simplify the design of firearms | Lightweight Small Arms Technologies |
| Cloaking device | Successful experiments cloaking small objects under some conditions[111] | Stealth | Metamaterial cloaking |
| Directed-energy weapon | Research, development, some prototypes[112] | | Laser Weapon System, Iron Beam |
| Electrolaser | Research and development | | |
| Electrothermal-chemical technology | Research and development | Tank, artillery, and close-in weapon systems | |
| Force field | Hypothetical, experiments[113] | Military and law enforcement, space travel | Plasma window |
| Green bullet | Development | Environment-friendly ammunition | |
| Hypersonic cruise missile | Development | | Avangard, Kinzhal, Zircon, BrahMos-II, Prompt Global Strike, DARPA Falcon Project, DF-ZF, Boeing X-51 Waverider |
| Laser weapon | Research and development, trials | Tracking and destruction of rockets, bombs, drones etc.[114] | Advanced Tactical Laser, High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System |
| MAHEM | Research and development | A formed penetrator using molten metal in place of self-forging explosives | Explosively pumped flux compression generator |
| Research and development | Increased accuracy by marksmen | EXACTO, Smart bullet, TrackingPoint |
| Railgun | Research and development[115] [116] | Cheaper and safer ammunition | Coilgun |
| Stealth technology | Research and development | Electronic countermeasures | Plasma stealth, Stealth aircraft, Radar-absorbent material |
| Telescoped ammunition | Research and development | More compact cartridges | |
| Lightweight Small Arms Technologies | Research and development | | | |
| Emerging technology | Status | Potential applications | Related articles |
|---|
| Android, gynoid | Research, development, prototypes, diffusion, commercializing[120] | Disabled, infant and older people care, housekeeping, sex-worker, flight-attendant, model, hostess, waiter, security guard | Tesla bot |
| Gastrobot | Prototypes | Robots fuelled by digesting organic matter | |
| Molecular nanotechnology, nanorobotics | Hypothetical, experiments[121] | Machines that can make anything given the materials, cheap planetary terraforming | Rotimatic |
| Powered exoskeleton | Research, development, prototypes, diffusion, commercializing[122] | Heavy lifting, paralysis, muscle-related diseases, warfare, construction, firefighting, care for the elderly and disabled | LOPES (exoskeleton), ReWalk, Human Universal Load Carrier, fictional armor Iron Man's armor, Future Force Warrior |
| Self-reconfiguring modular robot | Hypothetical, experiments, early prototypes | As a universal physical machine, SRCMR may change the way many physical structures and machines are made | Robot, swarm robotics, autonomous research robot |
| Swarm robotics | Hypothetical, experiments[123] | Autonomous construction, space construction | Swarm intelligence, autonomous robotics, nanorobotics, particle swarm optimization, multi-agent systems, behavior-based robotics |
| Uncrewed vehicle | Research and development, diffusion, commercial | Transport of goods, surveillance, oceanography, wildfire mapping, pipeline security, home security, anti-piracy, border control, pursuing criminals, oil, gas and mineral exploration and production, geophysical and geomagnetic surveys, exploration of hazardous areas, firefighting,[124] military and peacekeeping operations, search and rescue, bomb disposal, police raids | Unmanned aerial vehicle, AeroVironment, AeroVironment Global Observer, AeroVironment Nano Hummingbird, Unmanned combat air vehicle, Unmanned ground vehicle, Unmanned space vehicle, Unmanned surface vehicle, Unmanned underwater vehicle, Autonomous underwater vehicle | |
| Emerging technology | Status | Potential applications | Related articles |
|---|
| Airless tire | Research, development, early prototypes[125] [126] | Safer tires | Tweel |
| Atmospheric satellite | Experimentation | More widespread communications | |
| Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit | Commercialization, diffusion | Reducing air pollution, decreasing oil consumption | Electric vehicle |
| Flexible wings (X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing, Adaptive Compliant Wing), fluidic flight controls | Experiments, prototypes[127] [128] [129] [130] | Controlling aircraft, ships | Aircraft flight control system, BAE Systems Demon, fluidics |
| Distributed propulsion | Prototypes | More efficient air travel | |
| Electric vehicles | Commercialization | Less pollution and sustainable vehicles | Electric car, Electric bike, Electric plane, Electric boat, Electric bus, Electric truck |
| eVTOL | Research, Development | Low emission and low noise air travel, air taxis | |
| Flying car | Early commercialization, prototypes[131] [132] | More effective transportation | Terrafugia Transition, Moller M400 Skycar, Urban Aeronautics X-Hawk, AeroMobil |
| Fusion rocket | Research, development[133] | Fast interplanetary travel, with limited interstellar travel applications | |
| Ground-level power supply | Standardization, commercialization | Reduction of required battery size and weight for battery electric vehicles by charging while driving | |
| Hoverbike | Working prototypes, early commercialization | Package delivery, search and rescue | |
| Hovertrain, Ground effect train, Ground effect vehicle | Research, development[134] [135] | Faster trains | Aérotrain, Duke Hospital PRT, Hovercraft |
| Hybrid airship | Prototypes | Air travel with low fuel consumption | Airlander 10 |
| Ion-propelled aircraft | Research, development, prototypes[136] [137] | Better flying transportation, efficient propulsion in air | Electrohydrodynamics |
| Jet pack or backpack helicopter | Early commercialization, prototypes[138] | More effective individual transportation |
| Maglev train | Research, early commercialization, diffusion[139] [140] | Faster trains | Transrapid, Shanghai Maglev Train, Linimo |
| Magnetic levitation | Research, development, Commercialization (Maglev Train) | High temperature superconductivity, cryogenics, low temperature refrigerators, superconducting magnet design and construction, fiber reinforced plastics for vehicles and structural concretes, communication and high power solid-state controls, vehicle design (aerodynamics and noise mitigation), precision manufacturing, construction and fabrication of concrete structures,[141] maglev car, maglev based spacecraft launch | Vactrain, Levicar |
| Magnetohydrodynamic drive | Research, development, prototypes[142] | Marine Propulsion, Aircraft Propulsion, Spacecraft Propulsion | Yamato 1 |
| Mass driver | Prototypes | | |
| Orbital propellant depot | Research, development | Deep-space missions with larger payloads, satellite life extension, lowering cost per kg launched to space | |
| Personal rapid transit | Early commercialization, diffusion[143] [144] | More effective transportation | Morgantown PRT, ULTra |
| Physical Internet | Research[145] | | |
| Scooter-sharing system | Commercialization | Increased density[146] | Bird (company) |
| Vactrain | Research, development[147] | Faster way to get somewhere | ET3 Global Alliance, Hyperloop |
| Plasma propulsion | Research and development | Spacecraft propulsion | |
| Pulse detonation engine | Research and development; one prototype flown in 2008[148] | Higher-efficiency propulsion | |
| Quiet Supersonic Technology | Prototype | Supersonic air travel over land | |
| Self-driving car | Research, development, early commercialization | Computer-driven vehicles,more effective transportation. | Reducing concerns of tiredness while driving and also looking outside in the car. Helpful in countries where employment of personal drivers is expensive. | Waymo, Tesla FSD |
| Space elevator | Research[149] | Non-rocket spacelaunch | Orbital ring, Sky hook, Space fountain |
| Spaceplane | Research, development[150] [151] [152] | Hypersonic transport | A2, Skylon |
| Vehicular communication systems | Research and development, some diffusion | Traffic management, automatic accommodation of emergency vehicles, driver assistance systems, automated highways | Artificial Passenger, Dedicated short-range communications, Intelligent transportation system | |
