Technology is advancing at lightning speed, and every year presents new and exciting trends. As digital transformation continues, you can expect the breakthrough trends that made 2023 a remarkable year to persist into 2024.
The confluence of machine intelligence, the blurring of the lines between the real and the virtual, and the internet’s ongoing evolution are all set to significantly affect our lives. Here’s a rundown of these game-changing trends that will impact society and life in 2024.
Generative AI emerged in the mainstream in 2023, but its potential will be revealed in 2024. It will be integrated into everyday applications such as search engines, office software, design packages, and communication tools. When used correctly, it is a super-smart personal assistant that can help us become more efficient, faster, and productive.
Generative AI features will also be integrated with smartphones in a significant way. For instance, it will provide real-time, multi-language translation for better communication and summarize voice memos. It can also enhance how our smartphone cameras gather and process light for photos and videos. Additionally, generative AI can improve the performance of 5G-advanced networks of US cellular phone plans. We are already seeing the benefits of combining AI and mobile computing.
By delegating mundane and repetitive tasks to AI, we can focus on things that require human creativity, explore new ideas and original thinking, or communicate with other humans. Although there are undeniable challenges surrounding AI ethics and regulation, everyone will eventually appreciate the potential benefits of generative AI in our daily lives.
There’s been a growing buzz around quantum computing for a while now, and 2024 will mark the year when this is set to transition to tangible benefits. Quantum computers can simultaneously carry out vast numbers of calculations by harnessing elements of quantum physics, such as quantum entanglement and superposition. That allows them to operate using qubits (quantum bits) that exist in multiple states simultaneously, rather than a state of either 1 or 0, like traditional computer bits.
Early investors in quantum technology include banks and financial services organizations that hope to enhance the power of AI systems developed in recent years for fraud detection, risk management, and high-frequency trading.
Quantum computing doesn’t speed up every job using computers but will benefit various compute-heavy fields. These include drug discovery, genome sequencing, cryptography, meteorology, material science, optimization of complex systems such as traffic flow through large cities, and even the search for extraterrestrial life.
Advanced technology is breaking the boundaries between the real and the virtual worlds. Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and the immersive internet make our existence as digital avatars seem more real. This is evident in our work lives, where remote collaboration through platforms like Zoom, Teams, and Slack has become the norm.
In our leisure time, online gaming and e-sports are more popular than ever. Social apps such as TikTok and Instagram allow us to create virtual spaces where we share our “real” lives, often curated and filtered to create digital personalities that become our virtual selves.
Across industries, this concept of a virtual representation of a real-world object, system, or process is known as a digital twin. It could be as simple as an individual component or as complex as an entire city or ecosystem.
Notably, the digital twin is built from data captured from its real-world counterpart. Advances in the science of genomics mean we can break down the fundamental essence of life into digital code, which can then be manipulated and rebuilt in the real world to engineer new drugs and eradicate diseases.
In 2024, we will continue to see less distinction between the real and virtual worlds. This means the digital is becoming increasingly realistic, and the real is becoming as flexible and malleable as the digital.
Studies show that in the last three years, one of every two businesses has fallen victim to a cyberattack. By 2024, the cost of these attacks on the industry is expected to surpass $10 trillion. Given this rapidly growing threat, technological solutions that enhance defenses and provide a fighting chance for businesses are a top priority.
Cyber resilience is more than just cybersecurity. It also includes measures to recover and ensure continuity when defenses are breached, or circumstances beyond our control arise. This may involve remote work procedures to ensure businesses can operate even when staff cannot reach central locations. This technological solution may not be traditionally viewed as a component of cybersecurity.
Automation of cyber defense through AI and machine learning and integrated frameworks that merge security measures with continuity protocols are essential elements of any cyber resilience strategy. Additionally, you should be aware of societal actors, from social engineering attacks to PR firefighting.
The complexity of cyber threats is rising, and there is growing competition to introduce innovative solutions using advanced technologies such as AI. As a result, we can expect cyber resilience to remain a significant trend in both the business and consumer technology sectors until 2024.
As countries and corporations work to meet net-zero commitments, sustainable technology will continue to take center stage in 2024. At the same time, individuals will increasingly leverage technology to minimize their personal impact on the environment.
Sustainable technology includes more environmentally friendly ways of doing things we already do. These include electric cars, bikes, and public transport, which will continue to increase their market share in 2024. Novel solutions include carbon capture, storage, and green and renewable energy technologies. The circular economy will become more important as durability, recyclability, and reusability are built directly into products at the design stage.
The tech world will further embrace ideas such as green cloud computing, where infrastructure and services prioritize reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, and sustainable apps. These are software tools designed to help us live more eco-friendly.
We will also become increasingly alert to greenwashing, a superficial effort to generate positive PR around a particular technology.
As we enter 2024, a future filled with challenges and opportunities awaits. Generative AI promises to revolutionize our lives, blurring the boundaries between real and virtual. Sustainable technologies will be crucial in combating climate change, while advancements in cyber resilience are essential to safeguard businesses and individuals against intensifying cyber threats. The dawn of quantum computing holds the potential to unlock groundbreaking solutions across diverse fields.
While there are undeniable hurdles to overcome, embracing innovation responsibly will be vital in shaping a future that benefits all. It is an exciting time to be alive, and our choices today will determine the world we create for tomorrow.
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