What sci-fi-esque inventions are the most plausible and could happen soonest?

The key detail being the following. "The US National Ignition Facility (NIF) has made significant strides in nuclear fusion, but it’s not yet efficient enough for power grid use. The facility’s laser system loses over 99% of the energy in a single ignition attempt."

I truly hope that fully maintained nuclear fusion will become a reality. However, I don't see this being achievable for another few decades.