Oct 18, 2018 - Energy expert and innovator Lawrence Orsini shares his research and work on blockchain applications that will transform global energy grids at local, national, and international levels. He provides a snapshot of today’s energy markets, consumers’ willingness to generate their own energy through green technology, and blockchain’s ability to create peer-to-peer markets for excess energy. Pointing to experiments in Australia and German, Orsini shows how blockchain will support the next generation of energy infrastructure. He discusses the roles of stakeholders -- policymakers, energy producers, and corporate intermediaries -- and he sugges...

Apr 14, 2018 - This case study details the AKASHA project, an initiative using blockchain technology to improve the social media experience for all stakeholders. Networks can be more private, inclusive, unrestricted, and participatory, rather than an instrument for central powers to censor, track, and influence users. AKASHA illustrates the potential and possible obstacles of blockchain-based social media.

Dec 15, 2017 - This project explores how blockchain will change business models dependent on free big data. Distributed ledger technology will enable instant payment networks, loyalty schemes, aggregated metadata, multi-jurisdiction processes, and transactions within multinationals, potentially without liability for customer data and in compliance with EU General Data Protection Regulation.

Mar 22, 2019 - The use of artificial intelligence is diffusing, making it one of the broadest technological revolutions ever. Blockchain technology has the unique ability to improve the reliability of AI training data and secure AI implementations through smart contracts and on-chain governance. This project examines AI, the differences among centralized, decentralized, and distributed AI, the utility of autonomous agents, and current scalability and governance challenges.

Jul 31, 2019 - This project examines how blockchain supports user centric identity systems, through such technological primitives as public key cryptography, hashing functions, zero-knowledge proofs, and homomorphic encryption. Its authors set nine benchmarks—technical specifications, governance, security, privacy, recovery and revocation, user experience, data controls, and degrees of decentralization and self-sovereignty—by which prospective users and ecosystem partners might assess different identity services and compare them to each other and the status quo. The purpose is to help users map their goals to the technical features necessary for achievi...

Feb 09, 2021 - This research project surveys what federal governments can do to exploit the next era of technology across their operations, within their economies and society, and with their allies and global partners. It focuses on the threats and opportunities facing the United States—including China’s increasing dominance in global supply chains and strategic innovation. It also speaks to challenges the new administration faces, and recommends five areas for immediate action: securing digital systems, citizen identities, and personal data; embracing cryptocurrencies and launching a digital dollar; transforming government services and culture; engagin...