Innovation

From Slums → Smart Cities. AI is quietly rewriting the future of urban transformation. What do you think about this one? What used to take 20 years of fragmented planning can now be simulated, optimized, and executed with data precision. Here’s what’s changing : 🏙 Digital Twins Before Demolition Cities like Singapore use platforms like Virtual Singapore to model infrastructure, population density, flood risk, and traffic — before a single brick is moved. 💧 Fix What Matters First AI prioritizes sanitation, drainage, power, and transport gaps based on real impact — not politics. 🏗 Affordable Housing at Scale Generative design tools from companies like Autodesk simulate thousands of layouts to optimize cost, airflow, and sunlight — cutting waste and accelerating delivery. ⚡ Smart Utilities = Lower Cost Living Cities like Barcelona use AI + IoT to reduce energy waste and improve public services. Inclusive Growth Data-driven frameworks promoted by UN-Habitat help transform informal communities into productive economic zones. The biggest misconception: Urban renewal is about demolition. It’s not. It’s about intelligence. It’s about precision. It’s about building systems — not just structures. The next generation of megacities won’t be defined by skyscrapers. They’ll be defined by algorithms. #AI #SmartCities #UrbanTransformation #DigitalTwin #FutureOfCities

What are the trends that will shape fintech in 2026? Here is my top 10 list. 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 as settlement infrastructure Stablecoins will be used at the settlement layer of financial services to bypass cross-border delays, cut-off times, trapped liquidity, and fee opacity in existing rails. They will sit underneath banks and payment schemes for specific B2B, treasury, and platform payout flows rather than replacing them. 𝟮. Commerce and payments become increasingly 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 An increasing share of commerce and payment activity will be initiated by software agents outside of pilots, as shared protocols, governance models, and accountability frameworks compete for adoption across the value chain. 𝟯. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘀 reclaim the 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 stack More fintechs will pursue banking licences to gain direct control over deposits, settlement, and economics, primarily to reduce dependence on sponsor banks and external balance sheets rather than to operate as full-service banks. 𝟰. The rise of 𝗔𝗜-𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 fintechs A new generation of fintechs is being built with AI embedded into core operations by default, allowing them to operate at lower marginal cost and handle higher volumes vs. legacy operating models. 𝟱. The 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀 escalate As AI agents become widespread, incumbents and challengers will increasingly compete for control of the agentic layer. Incumbents will embed agents into existing platforms, while challengers will position agents above multiple services to capture distribution. 𝟲. Fintech play moves 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 Fintech competition will shift from broad coverage to execution within specific industries. Advantage will come from handling sector-specific cash flows, risk, and workflows, favouring embedded vertical players over horizontal platforms. 𝟳. Increased fintech 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 activity Fintech consolidation will increase as firms acquire capabilities rather than build them internally. Infrastructure providers will add vertical functionality, scaled technology firms will fill capability gaps, and incumbents will consolidate for defense. 𝟴. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱 shifts to agent manipulation Fraud will increasingly target agent-driven workflows rather than individual accounts or cards. Attackers will influence outcomes through input manipulation, synthetic interactions, and falsified context. 𝟵. Banks 𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀' play Banks will expand focus on tokenised deposits to retain control over settlement and liquidity, particularly in wholesale and treasury contexts. 𝟭𝟬. 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 moves to the infrastructure layer Tokenization will advance where it improves core market infrastructure, with adoption concentrated in wholesale uses such as settlement, collateral management, and fund administration. What's missing? Opinions: my own 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: https://lnkd.in/dkqhnxdg

Empathy Isn’t Missing — It’s Misframed I’ve watched this video countless times. Every time, I don’t see generosity. I see design. I used to believe people ignore the truth because they don’t care. Now I realize it’s because they don’t see what I see. Empathy isn’t a lack of compassion — it’s a lack of perspective. And perspective can be designed. The words didn’t change the man’s story — they changed our frame of perception. When language shifts from description to contrast, it activates awareness. That’s the mechanism behind empathy — it’s not emotional contagion, it’s cognitive reframing. → We respond to difference, not repetition. → We act when a message bridges our world with someone else’s. → We feel when language turns distance into proximity. Here’s how I try to apply that lesson in my own work: ✅ Reveal contrast, not condition. Don’t describe pain — expose the gap between what is and what could be. ✅ Design for awareness before emotion. Help people notice first; feeling follows naturally. ✅ Make others participants, not observers. Use framing that transfers perspective, not pity. ✅ Use silence strategically. Leave room for the reader to complete the meaning. Because empathy doesn’t start with emotion — it starts with architecture. The right words don’t tell people what to feel. They help them feel what was already true. 💭 The Question 👉 When you communicate — are you trying to make people care, or helping them notice what they’ve been blind to all along? #LeadershipDesign #FramingEffect #CommunicationStrategy #CognitiveEmpathy #BehavioralPsychology #PerceptionDesign Video credits: Dr. Marcell Vollmer

WIPO’s global report on IP filings is out and records are being broken. 2024 saw the highest ever patent filings – 3.7 million worldwide. Design filings also peaked at a record 1.6 mln, while trademark filings stabilized after two years of decline. But within this rich trove of data from nearly 150 IP offices, a few deeper insights stand out. First, emerging and developing countries continue to embrace IP-driven growth and transformation, whether driven by the need to diversify engines of growth, support increasing aspirations of local innovators and entrepreneurs, create more attractive investment environments, or simply seek new sources of growth. For the sixth consecutive year, India posts double-digit growth in patent filings, with Türkiye also up some 15%. Among the top 20 countries of origin, 12 saw increases in trademark filings, led by Argentina, Brazil and Indonesia, and with strong growth in upper middle-income economies like Colombia, South Africa, Thailand and Viet Nam. Design filings tell a similar story, with the fastest growth in India, Morocco and Indonesia. What this means is that many emerging economies are following the path of the world’s established innovation powerhouses in using IP as a strategic lever for economic growth, diversification, development and resilience. The next challenge is commercializing more of these filings, so they become real-world products and services. Second, we’re seeing more domestic, or “resident” filings. In areas like trademarks and designs, resident filings have traditionally made up the vast majority (+70%) as local businesses often register IP to protect brands and designs serving domestic markets. Now, we’re seeing the same dynamics in patents. Resident patent filings grew almost 7% last year, the fastest rise since 2016, to 72% of the total. This growth in domestic filings suggests that innovation ecosystems are maturing (even for high-tech discoveries, inventors typically file at home first before expanding abroad). It may also reflect shifts in global trade flows, with some industries becoming more localized. Third, many of the major trends in recent years continue to accelerate. Just as AI and digital innovation dominate the headlines, computer technology remains the top field for patent activity, with its growth outpacing all others. The gender balance in innovation is also improving. The proportion of women inventors in international patent applications has increased from 11.6% in 2010 to 18% last year. Beyond the individual data points, the value of this report lies in what it reveals about the global state of innovation and the direction it’s heading. This year’s WIPI shows that people everywhere continue to believe in the power of IP to protect ideas and incentivize innovation, and it gives WIPO the energy to continue strengthening IP ecosystems everywhere to give these innovators and creators the tools to protect and commercialize their ideas. 🔗 https://ow.ly/gub150XqnE7

Real consumer insight does not sit in market reports. It lives in everyday behaviour. I have always believed that if you want to understand the Indian consumer, you must walk the aisles, visit the kirana stores, and spend time in homes. The questions are simple: why did they choose this brand, what made them switch, what are their latest unsatisfied needs, what habit stopped them from trying something new. The answers are rarely written down. They are observed in the pauses, the hesitations, the way a hand reaches for one pack over another. India is a mosaic of markets. What sells in Chennai might fail in Chandigarh. A message that resonates in Delhi could fall flat in a tier-three town. Income, culture, and even climate shape choices. Unless you immerse yourself in these realities, your strategy risks being built on assumptions. The sharper your consumer insight, the stronger your competitive edge. Do not delegate consumer understanding to agencies or reports. Make it a personal discipline. Sit with retailers, shadow buyers, watch the trade. The real breakthroughs are found not in a meeting agenda, but in how people actually live, shop, and decide. #leadership #entrepreneurship #consumer #mindset

🚨 Introducing the AI Apps 50: Startup Edition Ever wondered how startups are spending their money when it comes to AI? Our team at Andreessen Horowitz worked with Mercury to crunch the numbers and rank the top applications by spend. The list + what we learned from it ⬇️ - Horizontal apps have a slight lead over vertical (60% of the list). This includes general assistants (ex. Perplexity) and SIX different meeting support tools (ex. Fyxer AI). But, it also encompasses creative tools and vibe coding tools that are used in roles across orgs. - Vertical apps can augment human labor...or replace it. We're mostly seeing the former - but five companies on the list allow customers to "hire AI" (ex. Crosby Legal, Cognition, 11x). Labor augmenters mostly assist with customer service, sales, and recruiting. - Vibe coding has landed in enterprises. It's not just a prosumer trend! Number three on the list, below OpenAI and Anthropic? Replit. Other listmakers in the category include Lovable and Emergent, while Cursor made the ranks for more technical users. - Products are making the consumer -> enterprise jump. 12 cos also appeared in our most recent Consumer AI Top 100 - almost all of which started out B2C and have migrated B2B over time. In fact, 70% of listmakers are available for individual use (no enterprise license needed)! Check out the full report: https://lnkd.in/gmMvfvSv

Invisible UX is coming 🔥 And it’s going to change how we design products, forever. For decades, UX design has been about guiding users through an experience. We’ve done that with visible interfaces: Menus. Buttons. Cards. Sliders. We’ve obsessed over layouts, states, and transitions. But with AI, a new kind of interface is emerging: One that’s invisible. One that’s driven by intent, not interaction. Think about it: You used to: → Open Spotify → Scroll through genres → Click into “Focus” → Pick a playlist Now you just say: “Play deep focus music.” No menus. No tapping. No UI. Just intent → output. You used to: → Search on Airbnb → Pick dates, guests, filters → Scroll through 50+ listings Now we’re entering a world where you guide with words: “Find me a cabin near Oslo with a sauna, available next weekend.” So the best UX becomes barely visible. Why does this matter? Because traditional UX gives users options. AI-native UX gives users outcomes. Old UX: “Here are 12 ways to get what you want.” New UX: “Just tell me what you want & we’ll handle the rest.” And this goes way beyond voice or chat. It’s about reducing friction. Designing systems that understand intent. Respond instantly. And get out of the way. The UI isn’t disappearing. It’s mainly dissolving into the background. So what should designers do? Rethink your role. Going forward you’ll not just lay out screens. You’ll design interactions without interfaces. That means: → Understanding how people express goals → Guiding model behavior through prompt architecture → Creating invisible guardrails for trust, speed, and clarity You are basically designing for understanding. The future of UX won’t be seen. It will be felt. Welcome to the age of invisible UX. Ready for it?

This isn’t a luxury. This is a $200 wheelchair redefining what’s possible. For millions, standing wheelchairs have always been out of reach. Until now. At R2D2, IIT Madras, a team dared to ask: What if mobility wasn’t a privilege, but a right? Their answer is a simple innovation -no Big Tech: A wheelchair that lets you stand—on your terms Ingenious gas-spring technology for seamless movement: -Supports up to 242 pounds -Priced at $200 (when others cost $2,000 or more) But the true breakthrough isn’t just in the engineering. It’s in the lives transformed. → Physical freedom is restored. Stand tall when you choose. Reach the top shelf. Cook your own meals. Keep your body strong and active. → Health is protected. Standing improves circulation. Strengthens bones. Prevents pressure sores. Aids digestion. Reduces heart risks. → Social inclusion becomes reality. Converse at eye level. Join meetings—no barriers. Participate fully in community life. Experience true belonging. Ask yourself: When was the last time you had to look up just to be heard? For millions, that’s every day. This isn’t only about standing. It’s about dignity. It’s about independence. It’s about living fully. And for the first time, it’s within reach for those who need it most. When innovation meets accessibility, lives change. This is technology for humanity. Follow me, Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld for more stories of tech that matters. ♻️ Share with your network to learn more about how simple innovation can change people's live. #TechForGood #Innovation #Healthcare

IBM has unveiled its path to build a fault-tolerant quantum computer.   With a delivery date set for 2029, IBM Quantum Starling is expected to perform 20,000 times more operations than today’s quantum computers. To represent the computational state of Starling would require the memory of more than a quindecillion (10^48) of the world’s most powerful supercomputers.   Since 2020, the company has consistently achieved its roadmap milestones, which should instill further confidence in its commitment to bringing useful quantum computing to the world. Currently, IBM Quantum Starling is being developed at the historic facility in Poughkeepsie, New York, a site integral to IBM's computing legacy. Starling aims to operate circuits comprising up to 100 million quantum gates across 200 logical qubits, enabling the addressing of complex problems beyond the capabilities of classical systems.   Developers should prepare for fault-tolerant platforms by 2029 by exploring IBM quantum systems today, which are already poised to achieve quantum advantage by the end of 2026. https://lnkd.in/eezJHi-M

My team and I get pitched 5–10 new businesses every week. Mostly from entrepreneurs trying to raise money. If you want your message or pitch to stand out to investors, do this: 1. Start with the problem, not the product. If I don’t feel the pain, I won’t value the solution. 2. Be brutally clear. My team should understand your business in 10 seconds or less. 3. Show traction, not just vision. Even if it's small, show me that the market wants it and you know how to deliver. 4. Tell me why you’re the one. I’m investing in you as much as the idea. Show conviction, not just ambition. 5. Make it a conversation, not a monologue. Curiosity builds trust. Ask good questions and make it collaborative. Keep it simple.