Paving the path to the metaverse: Unprecedented interest in the emerging metaverse might cool if the tech industry can’t sustain momentum on innovation and public enthusiasm during the downturn.

Beyond just advertising, Alphabet’s tech touches nearly everything. This report looks at 23 of its most important business areas, examining their maturity, disruption of the market, leverage over partners, integration with other products, and five-year outlook.

AI startups target corporate fear: Mounting recession anxiety is infusing accounting AI startups with cash. Long-term investor interest in AI applications will remain diverse, but startups may have to pivot.

Despite the current decline in funding, AI startups are accelerating product development—and brands are taking notice. Successful startup engagement requires an integrated, strategic approach along with an understanding of the latest AI trends and essential players. So, who are the key players for 2022?

AI catches diabetes that would otherwise go undetected: Using a single retinal image from each eye, the tech can diagnose diabetes at far earlier stages than human doctors.

Not your grandfather’s engineering degree: Dartmouth dean Alexis Abramson says tech education needs to be more holistic to solve real human problems. And students are increasingly heeding the message.

‘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.

AVs have surveillance potential: Chinese officials’ recent restrictions on Teslas are just a fraction of more widespread concerns about vehicle digital privacy. Regulators and automakers should preemptively take action.

Storm clouds for Big Tech: Following record-high cloud spending, the top cloud providers saw declines in April. Economic upheaval means a rocky road ahead, but cloud demand will endure.

The slippery AI consciousness debate: More controversy in Google’s AI team exposes the foggy world of artificial sentience. Mounting concerns about AI warrants more Big Tech accountability and transparency.

Deepfake AI training blocked at Google: Some face-altering AI models are being refused but others can still run in Google’s Colaboratory, revealing a porous approach to AI self-regulation.

AI replaces metal detectors: Amid alarming rates of gun violence, Evolv Technology is deploying AI scanners to track guns in public places. But it has a lot of learning to do.

Rapidly shifting customer expectations, disruption from new entrants, and new risks and coverage needs threaten to turn the property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry on its head. But insurers that digitally transform can come out on top.

Spiking client demand for ESG-focused investment products will drive AUM growth over the next three years. Yet a lack of quality or public ESG data threatens investment managers’ ability to offer accurate products and might see them run afoul of rising ESG regulatory standards.

In the US, 56% of executives believe AI technology comes with either significant or somewhat significant potential risk. Another 19% view the risk as moderate, while 26% think the threat is minimal. No executive surveyed believes AI is entirely without risk.

Is AI becoming Big Brother? Human presence and emotional-state detection technologies are raising civil rights alarms bells. Although they could have merits for productivity, they’re also invasive and error-prone.

The push to rein in cloud spending sprees: Pressure to digitally transform has spurred out-of-control cloud spending. The near-term burden will likely fall on cloud customers to cut costs.

Close to half of US adults believe widespread use of driverless cars would be bad for society. Meanwhile, 26% think it’d be good for autonomous vehicles to rule the roads, and 29% aren’t sure.

Among executives worldwide, 72% believe the metaverse will have at least some positive impact on their organization. Some 13% expect this mixed-reality realm to redefine their industry, while 28% think it will enable new business practices and help them reach new customers. Another 28% anticipate the metaverse will have minimal or no positive effect on their company.

Increasing digitization among the 32 million US small businesses is changing the competitive landscape and forcing banks, acquirers, and fintechs to invest in next-generation features. These features range from payments and value-added services to outreach.