What will be the trend in 2024?

Technology in time, by Dall-e

2016: The Rise of AI and Machine Learning

• The year 2016 marked a turning point in the AI and machine learning (ML) fields. Major tech companies like Google, IBM, and Facebook significantly invested in AI research, leading to breakthroughs in deep learning and neural networks.
• AI started to transform industries such as healthcare, with the development of algorithms capable of diagnosing diseases, and finance, through automated trading and risk assessment.
• The increased integration of AI into everyday applications, such as personal assistants (Siri, Alexa), recommended systems on streaming platforms, and the first wave of AI in autonomous vehicles, demonstrated the practical implications of these advancements.

2017: Cryptocurrencies and ICOs Boom

• Bitcoin’s value skyrocketed, peaking at nearly $20,000 by the end of the year, drawing immense public and media attention.
• ICOs emerged as a revolutionary fundraising method for startups, particularly in the blockchain space, raising billions of dollars, albeit with significant volatility and regulatory scrutiny.
• Ethereum gained prominence with its smart contract functionality, further fueling the ICO craze and expanding the blockchain application beyond just cryptocurrencies.

2018: Data Privacy and Security

• The Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed the misuse of Facebook user data in political campaigning, prompting a global debate on data privacy.
• The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect, setting a new standard for data privacy laws globally and emphasizing user consent and data protection rights.
• Cybersecurity incidents, including major data breaches, highlighted the growing need for robust security measures in the digital age.

2019: 5G Rollout and IoT Expansion

• 5G networks began rolling out in various parts of the world, promising faster speeds, lower latency, and the capacity to connect more devices simultaneously.
• The expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) saw an increase in smart devices, from home appliances to industrial equipment, leveraging the improved connectivity offered by 5G.
• Discussions around the potential impact of 5G on various sectors, including telemedicine, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities, became more prevalent.

2020: Remote Work and Video Conferencing Surge

• The COVID-19 pandemic forced a global shift to remote work, leading to a surge in the use of video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.
• Companies and educational institutions rapidly adopted digital collaboration tools, accelerating the digital transformation.
• This shift sparked discussions about the future of work, digital fatigue, and the importance of cybersecurity in remote work environments.

2021: NFTs Craze

• Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) exploded in popularity, especially in the art and entertainment sectors, with some digital artworks selling for millions of dollars.
• NFTs sparked a broader conversation about the value and ownership of digital assets, intellectual property rights, and the potential of blockchain in verifying authenticity.
• The environmental impact of NFTs, particularly concerning the energy-intensive nature of some blockchain networks, became a point of debate.

2022: The Metaverse Gains Traction

• Tech giants like Meta (formerly Facebook) and others announced significant investments in developing metaverse platforms, envisioning a future of interconnected virtual spaces.
• The concept of the metaverse extended beyond gaming into areas like virtual workspaces, education, and social interactions.
• The development of AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) technologies became increasingly linked with the metaverse, pushing forward innovations in hardware and immersive experiences.

2023: AI and Generative AI Take Center Stage

• Generative AI, capable of creating original content such as art, music, and even code, gained prominence, showcasing the creative potential of AI.
• Developments in AI ethics and governance, particularly around topics like deepfakes and AI bias, received increased attention.
• AI began to play a more significant role in sectors like healthcare (e.g., drug discovery, personalized medicine) and environmental science (e.g., climate modeling), demonstrating its expanding influence.

2024: What will be the trend? Let’s recap!

2016: The year of Machine Learning (should have been “Learning the Machine” instead).

2017: The year of Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings).

2018: The year of Data Privacy and Security (Cambridge Analytica scandal, birth of GDPR).

2019: The year of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT).

2020: The year of Remote Work and Video Conferencing Technologies (thanks to CoVid19).

2021: The year of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): very expensive monkey jpgs.

2022: The year of the Metaverse. Now deserted virtual words for fun and business.

2023: The year of AI and Generative AI. Guess what I used to do this list?

We saw so many profiles in LinkedIn changing year by year their tagline, following the trends lol

Now, Let’s do a collective prediction: what will be the trend in 2024?
Let me know in the comments!

Share or tag your visionary friends, and let’s see if we get it right!