Each week, the Tomorrowist team publishes a video podcast and a deep-dive article on a single important trend facing businesses. But business leaders need a holistic view of the changing business landscape. Here are a few stories from around the web focused on other Tomorrowist-worthy trends that readers shouldn’t miss.
The Return of the Dire Wolf (Time)
What to Know: Biotech company Colossal has successfully de-extincted the dire wolf using advanced gene editing, cloning, and surrogate birth. By modifying just 14 genes in the gray wolf, scientists recreated key dire wolf traits — including size, strength, and vocalization.
Why It Matters: If extinction no longer means forever, the belief that science can “undo” ecological loss may embolden decision-makers to greenlight disruptive development or roll back habitat protections. This could lower the threshold for what’s considered “acceptable” environmental damage. In that sense, the promise of de-extinction might ironically accelerate extinction in the first place. Industries such as mining, oil and gas, real estate, and infrastructure development may press for more relaxed restrictions around endangered habitats.
23andMe’s Demise Is a Warning: The US Needs to Overhaul Genetic Data Protection (The Guardian)
What to Know: 23andMe, once a leader in direct-to-consumer genetic testing, has filed for bankruptcy, which has prompted concerns over the fate of its vast database of user DNA. Officials including the California attorney general have urged users to delete their data, warning that it could be acquired by less than ethical entities during bankruptcy proceedings. The collapse of 23andMe comes amid growing public interest in polygenic indexes, which are tools that use DNA to predict traits and disease risks. It raises urgent questions about how this sensitive genetic data should be regulated, stored, and used.
Why It Matters: The demise of 23andMe signals a turning point in the business of genetic testing and raises urgent regulatory questions. Without safeguards, insurers could face death spirals in pricing, employers might misuse genetic data, and fertility services could shift toward ethically murky forms of selection. As more people gain access to genomic data, the need for modern regulation —and possibly a public genetic data infrastructure— is growing fast.
Quantum Mechanics Might Have the Solution to Joystick Drift (The Verge)
What to Know: Joystick drift, the issue in which game controllers register movement without input, has plagued gamers for years. Tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors may be the future of gaming and other industries because they offer greater accuracy and lower power consumption and can be installed in existing controller designs with little modification. The big console makers haven’t adopted TMR yet, but third-party manufacturers are beginning to roll out products with this upgrade.
Why It Matters: Wear and tear from physical contact has long limited the durability of consumer electronics. TMR’s contactless design offers a compelling alternative, setting the stage for longer-lasting components across devices. As industries push for sustainability, improved performance, and lower long-term costs, innovations like TMR could influence product design well beyond gaming — extending to smartphones, wearables, automotive sensors, and industrial equipment.
Thumbtack Bets on AI to Dominate Home Services (Fast Company)
What to Know: Despite sluggish home sales and remodeling activity, home services platform Thumbtack posted $400 million in revenue in 2024 — a 27% jump from the previous year. The company credits its growth to strategic investments in artificial intelligence, including tools that analyze user-uploaded photos of home issues and respond to plain-language questions, making the contractor hiring process feel less like keyword searching and more like chatting with a savvy neighbor.
Why It Matters: As generative AI redefines consumer search behaviors, Thumbtack’s model hints at how vertical platforms may challenge traditional search engines. Its growing integration with platforms including Nextdoor and Alexa also signals a future in which home services are booked ambiently across digital ecosystems. For businesses, it underscores how data, AI, and distribution partnerships can create category-defining platforms — even in fragmented, offline-first industries like home maintenance.
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