16 predictions from Microsoft Research for 2016

MUMBAI, INDIA: Founded in 1991, Microsoft’s Research, which completes 25 years next year, has released 16 predictions.

Most of the predictions revolve around Quantum computing, Quantum computers, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, data centers, cloud, IoT and security.

These include:
New Silicon  architecture and more powerful computers: According to Chris Bishop, Managing Director, Microsoft Research in Cambridge, UK, said that the year 2016 will see the emergence of new silicon architectures in computers, offering a major performance boost over GPUs.

The year 2016 will be the year that would see new applications of depth camera technology on mobile phones.

Reconfigurable computing in data centers: Doug Burger, Director, Hardware, Devices, and Experiences, Microsoft Research NExT, said there will be successful and large-scale inclusion of specialized compute in the cloud.

Reconfigurable computing (FPGAs) will go mainstream in data centers for 2016.

Stylus: Bill Buxton, Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research, said the year 2016 will be the year of the Stylus, as drawing, annotation and note-taking will assume a broadly supported and appropriate place.

Conversation assistants: Smarter AI with conversation assistants who might actually make us laugh, predicted Lili Cheng, Distinguished Engineer & General Manager, Microsoft Research NExT.

According to her, more first jobs for kids will be virtual rather than in a physical place.

Data ethics curriculum: According to Kate Crawford, Principal Researcher, “Every data science program will have a data ethics curriculum, giving greater understanding the human implications of large-scale data collection and experimentation.”

Improvements on natural language processing: Li Deng, Partner Research Manager, Microsoft Research NExT, said improved natural language learning by machines based on deep learning methods and state-of-the-art machine translation.

She said the year 2016 will be the year deep-learning makes inroads into business applications including predictive analytics, and its scope will expand.

Health and technology: Jasmin Fisher, Senior Researcher, Microsoft Research Cambridge, said the year 2016 will see main advances in health and well-being.

“The use of innovative interdisciplinary technologies will extend, improve patients’ lives.  Cloud will be used extensively in 2016 to help empower patients’ lives.”

AI: The year 2016 will see significant adoption of artificial intelligence in China, says Hsiao-Wuen Hon, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Research Asia.

It will be the year that video distribution on the Web overtakes TV broadcast.

Computational intelligence: According to Eric Horvitz, Technical Fellow & Managing Director, Microsoft Research Redmond Lab, AI machines that can converse more naturally will be the big trend in 2016.

He said that the year 2016 will be the year that personal assistants become actually helpful by understanding the task you are working on or any commitments you might have made to others.

Cheap sensors, better for environment monitoring: Lucas Joppa, Conservation Scientist, Microsoft Research, said cheap, long range, low-power sensors and radios will allow for better, faster environmental monitoring .

He said the year 2016 will be the year that the world realizes the potential for technology to help avert the 6th mass extinction and transform the way we monitor, model and manage life on earth.

Cryptography: Brian LaMacchia, Director, Security & Cryptography, Microsoft Research, said that the year 2016 will see demonstration of an end-to-end encrypted TLS connection using quantum-resistant public-key algorithms for both key exchange (for confidentiality) and digital signatures (for authentication).

With quantum computers being the future, the current system of encryption will have to upgrade, he said.

He said the year 2016 will be the year that continued advances in quantum computing will draw broad attention to the threat it represents to all of today’s widely used public-key cryptosystems.

Economy: Preston McAfee, Chief Economist, Microsoft, said that in the year 2016 economists will be able to answer if the current low productivity is a new normal, and holds important implications for government policies in order to boost growth.

He said that it will be the year that Silicon Valley recognizes that the value of Uber is its marketplace, not the data.

Security: Sriram Rajamani, Assistant Managing Director, Microsoft Research India, said the year 2016 will see a new generation of systems solutions that guarantee security even if the operating system or other infrastructure gets compromised by hackers.

He said that the year will see new generation of security solutions based on trusted hardware (such as Intel SGX and comparable features from other hardware vendors) starts to hit the marketplace.

Quantum computing: Krysta Svore, Senior Researcher, Microsoft Research NExT, said that in quantum computing in the year 2016 will see the confirmation and demonstration of a topological qubit which is a key technology breakthrough for the field.

Low-cost access technologies: Chandu Thekkath, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India, said that low-cost access technologies like TV white spaces and affordable mobile devices will make the Internet more widespread in India, in the year 2016.

He said that the year 2016 will be the year that rural connectivity takes off in India and significant portions of India come online.

More sensors, scientific breakthrough: Jeannette Wing, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Research, has two predictions for 2016.

In scientific breakthrough, “László Babai will publish his proof that graph isomorphizm will go from nearly-exponential to nearly-polynomial time, invigorating research in algorithms and complexity theory.”

In IT,  “more sensors and devices for monitoring metabolic state so individuals can track their health and well-being beyond heart rate.”

In 2016, she said encrypted communication will be debated by US Presidential candidates.