Next-Gen Tech: Youth Driving AI, Quantum Computing, and Biotech

By Bikram Dasgupta, EY GDS Consulting Technology Sector & AI Innovation Leader

 The future isn’t waiting; it’s unfolding now shaped by the bold ideas and innovations of young minds.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is diagnosing diseases in seconds, quantum computing is redefining security, and biotech is unlocking new possibilities in healthcare. What once seemed distant is now reality, driven by the ambition and creativity of the next generation.

These next-generation technologies are rapidly moving from theory to application—reshaping industries and challenging traditional boundaries. What’s driving this shift is a powerful blend of fresh ideas, bold ambition, and cross-disciplinary innovation. Startups, open-source communities, and leading academic institutions are accelerating breakthroughs that once seemed decades away. For organizations and governments, the message is clear: to stay competitive and relevant, they must not only embrace these advances—but play an active role in enabling their continued evolution.

Youth-driven AI: from automation to ethical impact

Young developers are redefining the boundaries of AI, moving far beyond automation into high-impact, real-world applications. Across sectors, we are witnessing remarkable progress. In healthcare for example, AI models are accelerating the detection of complex diseases; in finance, intelligent systems are enabling real-time market analysis; and in education, youth-led ventures are personalizing learning through adaptive platforms. This wave of innovation is not only technologically impressive—it reflects a mindset oriented toward solving systemic challenges at scale.

In parallel, the growing influence of AI across hiring, public services, and everyday decision-making is bringing ethical considerations to the forefront. By 2025, it is believed that over 60% of online content will be AI generated, while other research claims this could go up to 90% by 2026. Today’s emerging technologists are deeply engaged in shaping responsible AI—advancing transparency, reducing bias, and driving governance conversations.

From algorithmic audits to ethical design principles, young professionals are helping establish a more accountable AI ecosystem. Meanwhile, generative AI is unlocking new creative possibilities, powering hyper-personalized experiences and inclusive, localized solutions—particularly in emerging markets. Their efforts signal a future where technology and values advance together.

Quantum computing: from theory to transformation

Once confined to theory and elite labs, quantum computing is now solving real-world problems—thanks to a new generation of quantum pioneers. In healthcare, quantum algorithms are accelerating drug discovery, compressing timelines from years to months. In finance, startups are leveraging quantum models to optimize risk and fraud detection. In logistics, quantum systems are reimagining supply chain efficiency and reducing emissions in ways that classical computing cannot match.

However, unprecedented capability brings new challenges. Quantum machines could eventually render today’s encryption obsolete, creating vulnerabilities across digital infrastructure. Anticipating this, young cryptographers are leading the charge in developing post-quantum encryption protocols—technologies that are already being piloted by governments and enterprises to secure the future of digital security.

Biotech: healing people—and the planet

Among the new generation, biotechnology is addressing some of humanity’s most urgent challenges. Young scientists are advancing CRISPR-based gene editing to enable personalized cancer therapies, developing lab-grown organs that could one day eliminate transplant waitlists, and using AI to dramatically accelerate vaccine development—turning what were once considered moonshots into lifesaving breakthroughs. CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and is a gene editing technology that allows scientists to modify DNA with precision and efficiency.

But biotech’s impact of biotech extends far beyond human health. Youth-led startups are engineering plastic-eating bacteria and creating carbon-neutral biofuels to fight climate change. One standout team of researchers under 25 years of age is developing 3D-printed tissue technology that is revolutionizing burn treatment.

Young innovators are redefining the future

Young innovators aren’t waiting for permission—they are building the future from dorm rooms, maker labs, and startup garages. But to scale this momentum, we must create ecosystems that support them from the ground up. At the school level, integrating emerging technologies into STEM education and funding grassroots innovation will spark early curiosity. Businesses must move beyond one-off sponsorships to long-term support—mentoring young talent, offering platforms, and investing in their visions. Governments should in turn embrace agile policymaking, balancing innovation with ethics. Public-private partnerships will be the bridge from potential to progress.

The next big breakthroughs won’t come from legacy systems alone. They’ll come from the bold ideas of a new generation. It’s time to bet on them—not just to imagine the future but to lead it.

Disclaimer: The views reflected in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organization or its member firms.