We live in exciting times where new technologies pop up regularly. In 2024, many of those technologies will show their real potential and how they could shape the next decade. From AI everywhere to drone security cameras for your home to chips in our heads, next year has several tech and innovation trends in store for us.
AI appears everywhere
Generative AI, the software that can write essays and create pictures, exploded onto the scene at the start of 2023 and grew strongly throughout the year. But it's only getting started—expect it to pop up in many more places during 2024. More software at work will have generative AI features, such as chatbots that can understand elaborate and plain-spoken questions. More search engines will use these AI agents, and we'll even start seeing personal AI assistants, something Bill Gates predicted. In the future, your AI will go with you—not just on your phone, but maybe as a wearable gadget!
Chips in our brains
Would you put a chip in your brain, especially if it could help you store memories? Such chips might even help fight cognitive diseases and restore motor functions to people with disabling injuries. 2024 is when we will see if any of that is possible. Neuralink is a company pioneering brain chips and will start human trials next year. A specialised robot will open a patient's skull, insert delicate electronics, and attach them to a tiny computer embedded in the head. It's not science fiction anymore!
OLED is out, PHOLED is in
Modern television screens often use OLED panels that are crisp and sharp, creating beautiful visuals. PHOLED, or Phosphorescent OLED, is a different way to make OLED panels. Current OLED panels generate a lot of heat, but a PHOLED panel creates almost no heat. The problem was that companies struggled to make PHOLED panels that could display all three primary colours (red, yellow, and blue). But display engineers have found a way to do this, opening the way for even better panels for televisions, tablets, and phones.
More self-driving taxis
Self-driving cars are already a common sight in San Francisco in the USA, and soon in Los Angeles and Beijing, China, through fleets of robo-taxis. These fleets are expanding rapidly and will appear in more cities during 2024. Genuine self-driving personal cars are also likely to become a reality in 2024 (true self-driving means there doesn't need to be a driver; currently, most 'self-driving' cars still need a driver to supervise). Tesla is leading the way by releasing a major update to its cars that will substantially upgrade their self-driving skills.
Drones, drones, drones
You might be tired of hearing about drones, but these flying machines will step up their presence in 2024. Next year, the UK aims to finish the world's first 'drone highway', a series of beacons directing drone traffic between towns in the southern UK. The highway's creators envision a future where drones regularly ferry goods. Speaking of deliveries, Amazon plans to launch its new delivery drones in several cities throughout 2024. And drones are even finding room in our homes: security firm Ring has created a flying security camera that can move from room to room.
In 2024, these technologies are expected to demonstrate their true potential and influence the trajectory of the next decade. With the anticipated trends of the ubiquitous presence of artificial intelligence, the introduction of drone security cameras for residential use, and the prospect of implanted chips in our heads. The upcoming year promises a multitude of technological and innovative developments.
