This year is shaping up to be a transformative year in technology.

Generative machines are turning business strategies on their heads, uprooting decades-old foundations and building a workforce that’s more technically creative than ever before. As investment snowballs, there’s a growing need for seamless integration. We’ve covered five key trends and their developments below.

• Generative AI

Artificial Intelligence boasts more capabilities than ever before. It can create ultra-realistic content, from high-definition images to error-free computer coding.

Small and large businesses now use AI-powered technologies, including ChatGPT by OpenAI, to bolster company processes. These include design, product development, and ideation across multiple industries – including the creative arts.

• Human-like technologies

While it’s true that AI isn’t sentient, it’s getting closer to the definition.

Computer software is increasingly developed to be able to see, hear, and recognise people and speech in the same way as a real human. While these functionalities aren’t entirely accurate yet, it’s certain that they will seriously affect our interactions with tech. Even Tesla and Starlink entrepreneur Elon Musk admits that AI could pose a threat if it turns against humans.

• Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality gives gamers and tech users an immersive, three-dimensional experience in a computer-generated environment. Designed to mimic reality, it frequently appears on gaming maps created with advanced computer software.

Users or players may also wear headsets, bodysuits and other devices to engage with VR. Already employed by various retailers and leading luxury brands, this tech is changing how we shop, learn, and process new information. It’s something that might eventually be integrated into familiar games like Deal or No Deal bingo, but for now, it’s the pinnacle of the action genre.

• Spatial computing

Combining features of both AR and VR, spatial computing is when digital content is overlayed into real-world setups. It encompasses any human-computer interaction that’s perceived as taking place in real time, around bodies, rooms, and physical environments.

Creating a blended physical and digital world, spatial computing is expected to revolutionise the way we interact with technology – and with each other, too.  

• Smarter Internet of Things (IoT)

It’s estimated that there will be more than 39 million IoT connections worldwide by 2033. That’s almost triple the current figure, proving the exponential development in smart technologies.

Increased AI integration will naturally lead to smarter homes, cities, and industries. But smarter doesn’t always mean greener, so it’s important to keep researching options and choose the best solutions for your household or business. At the forefront of innovation, computers are starting to work harder – with simplified code that streamlines processes.

Keeping things ethical

As technology becomes more powerful, there’s a growing focus on responsible development and use. This includes data privacy, bias in AI, and the environmental impact of tech.

The trends we’ve listed highlight the immense potential of technology in 2024. However, it’s crucial to consider the ethical implications along with the exciting advancements. Keep an eye on industry developments, especially those concerning charitable work and projects.