Inside Time’s Best Inventions and Innovation Selection Process
Episode Description
ABOUT THE EPISODE Emma Barker Bonomo, Editorial Director at Time, joins Barbara Kahn and Americus Reed to discuss how the magazine curates its annual Best Inventions list, highlighting the criteria, trends, and global significance behind the most impactful innovations of the year.
ABOUT THE PODCAST Marketing Matters is hosted by Wharton marketing professors Barbara Kahn and Americus Reed. Each week they discuss marketing and advertising trends, consumer behavior, data and analytics, the latest in retail marketing, brand-building, and much more with their expert guests. Episodes are recorded at the Wharton School.
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Brief Summary
Emma Barker from Time discusses the Best Inventions list and highlights innovative products for 2025.
Key points
- The Definition of Innovation. Innovation is about implementing new ideas to create value and solve problems.
- Emma Barker on Year-End Lists. Emma Barker discusses Time's famous year-end lists and their significance.
- The Impact of Design. Design plays a crucial role in product selection, often driving consumer interest.
- Humanoid Robots in the Home. The rise of humanoid robots poses new implications for domestic work and job replacement.
- Whimo's Driverless Cars. Whimo had a huge year, expanding into new cities and gaining recognition.
- The Aura Ring Revolution. Aura Ring has transformed the wearable space, prompting major companies to file patents.
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Episode highlights
- The Definition of InnovationInnovation is about implementing new ideas to create value and solve problems.“Innovation is defined as the process of implementing new ideas.”0:38Dec 20, 2025
- Emma Barker on Year-End ListsEmma Barker discusses Time's famous year-end lists and their significance.“Time is kind of famous for lists.”2:25Dec 20, 2025
- The Impact of DesignDesign plays a crucial role in product selection, often driving consumer interest.“Design is huge. It's one of our most popular categories.”5:31Dec 20, 2025
- Humanoid Robots in the HomeThe rise of humanoid robots poses new implications for domestic work and job replacement.“Humanoid just means that it’s moving more and more to replicating humanlike movements.”18:02Dec 20, 2025
- Whimo's Driverless CarsWhimo had a huge year, expanding into new cities and gaining recognition.“They were on the cover of our time 100 most influential companies.”21:30Dec 20, 2025
- The Aura Ring RevolutionAura Ring has transformed the wearable space, prompting major companies to file patents.“They have totally revolutionized the wearable space.”26:11Dec 20, 2025
- Whole Milk Formula InnovationA new infant formula based on whole milk meets European standards, sparking interest.“This is one of the only formulas available in the US that is only based on whole milk.”29:24Dec 20, 2025
