What new pioneering/hobby/DIY field will sprout from EE, what's the next need?

[RoGeorge]

Seems like at first it was the need for communication and radio.  That led to the apparition of ham radio and EE as a hobby.
- Then it was the need for audio equipment that made people start soldering their own power amplifier.
- Then, the need for computing that make the spread of digital design, TTLs and the microcomputers era.
- Then, the need for small automation that led to the microcontrollers for the masses and the "Arduino" era.

What's the current fashion, or the next big rage, a techie can do for a hobby?

[AndyC_772]

Repair and recycling.

[MuhScopeBroke]

Search and destroy

[tpowell1830]

Kinematics and robotics:

https://www.youtube.com/user/jamesbruton/videos

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/12/30/boston-dynamics-robots-dance-video/

[NiHaoMike]

Alternative energy, we're already seeing this as "DIY powerwalls" and the recent events in California and Texas are going to raise interest.

[Terry Bites]

A massive kick in the arse for engineering and science education.
 

[RoGeorge]

- The need for slaves, indeed!   
I suspect, too, autonomous robots with a reasonable AI level will make the next generation of servants, like slaves were in the past, or employees are now.  In the last couple of years there were at least 3-5 dedicated AI accelerator boards (hobby level), either as a low power SoC, or as an USB dongle.  The technology is right there, enough computing power to get meaningful results with single board AI and even ML, enough low power for autonomous robots, and cheap enough AI accelerators (e.g. a Jetson Nano 2GB from nVidia is about the same price as a RaspberryPi 4).

- That reminds me of an even bigger need, the need for immortality, and the recent hopes that came with CRISPR and genetic engineering.  The so called biohacking is getting more and more attention lately.  There are already kits to DIY glowing plants, and companies that can prepare and deliver custom genetic sequences, as easy as one would upload the plans to order custom cuts of acrylic sheet from an online laser cutting service.   

- The need for energy, true that, thought the words are misleading.  We do not lack energy, there is plenty of it around.  The difficulty is to store it in a small enough volume, and in such a way that it can be released upon wish and in a controlled manner.  Big packs of rechargeable Li based batteries, like the latest rage power walls, are the best we have for now.  Still not as dense as a tank of gas, but at least it doesn't smell.  And it's cool!