Every September, since we began putting together a Strategic Intelligence Estimate (SIE) ahead of the new year, we have debated internally whether it is worth the effort. And this year was different only in that we had to take a very hard look at what our internal capacity would allow, as we grappled with rapid growth and training a large cadre of new staff. Ultimately, we have always decided there is great value in building this compendium of work for our clients – and for our analysts.

The pandemic accelerated humanity’s deep dive into online life with work, medical appointments, and even happy hour gatherings – moving the world more firmly into a virtual space that allowed for shared connectedness while attempting to keep people healthy. In 2022, the next evolution of this trend into a largely AI and data-driven “metaverse” looms large, holding intriguing promise as well as risks. The metaverse concept has become more widely recognized …