Top Tech Trends to Watch in 2018 from Alibaba Scientists Alizila.com

From artificial intelligence to blockchain, 11 leading scientists from Alibaba Group and its affiliate research labs, including researchers with the Alibaba DAMO Academy--the Chinese tech giant's first major research program focused on developing next-generation technologies--look at which trends will make the biggest impact in the coming year. Alibaba is helping Shanghai Metro to improve the experience of subway commuters via AI technology, such as voice-recognition ticketing machines. "Multiple [research] teams will announce that they've achieved "quantum supremacy," the engineering of a quantum processor that cannot be simulated by classical computers. Much work is to be done, however, to reach the next milestone of solving a practically meaningful problem that can't be solved classically." "In 2018, the spotlight will be on blockchain technology… Applications of blockchain will leapfrog from proofs of concepts (PoC) to real-world implementations, especially in the areas of financial services and supply chain management. More and more traditional industries will start embracing the technology and re-engineer their business models. A.I. Labs and Taiwan-based chipmaker MediaTek revealed at CES that they have designed bluetooth chips that will allow connected home devices to automatically pair with Tmall Genie. "[The A.I. chips market] is an increasingly heated battleground.