Transformative Tech: 2023 Wrapped

Transformative Tech: 2023 Wrapped

As we near the end of another year, we wanted to look back at some of the biggest technological developments in 2023.

Here Dr Phininder Balaghan, shares his thoughts on five areas we witnessed technical growth over the past twelve months.

1. Proof of Concept:

2023 saw many technology developments failing to progress past Alpha, with projects and concepts meeting challenges or stalling before reaching more advanced stages. Some of these challenges could be due to technical difficulties such as scalability, performance, security, or interoperability with existing systems, or resource constraints including financial, skills, or time. There are also multiple challenges around market demand, competitive landscape, regulatory compliance, and the lack of collaborative ecosystems. These themes will likely influence many emerging technology trends in this area.

2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning:

Large Language Models (LLM) have brought AI and ML to the forefront of public interest in 2023, especially with the prevalence of ChatGPT and the increasing capability of handling complex tasks with unprecedented accuracy. We're seeing AI applications across security, healthcare, finance, and creative fields such as art and music, evidencing the power and versatility of machine intelligence. AI is being integrated seamlessly into services and home devices, enhancing user experiences and making technology more intuitive. The AI and ML landscape will certainly continue to grow in the coming years.

3. Sustainable Technology Solutions:

The growing urgency to address climate change, mixed with rapidly increasing demand for computing power, has driven the prioritisation of sustainability in 2023. Innovations have focussed on energy efficiency, green data centres, and renewable energy. The technology industry’s role in sustainability is evolving from a contributor, to a key proactive force for change, with this year highlighting the sector’s commitments to reducing the carbon footprint of technology.

4.Servers for Cloud Computing:

Throughout 2023, several multinational companies (MNCs) including AWS, Azure, Google, Oracle, and IBM continued to acquire server rooms for cloud computing. This poses challenges such as resource concentration and limited competition through potential monopolies - especially hindering small business’ access. It may also pose a threat to other businesses and users, with increasing reliance on a handful of primes.

5. Cybersecurity Evolution:

Cybersecurity measures have had to advance to meet the growing sophistication of cyber threats in 2023, with AI-driven threat detection, zero-trust architectures, and decentralised identity solutions at the forefront. With increasing reliance on digital technologies and unprecedented volumes of sensitive data, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures has never been greater.

The past year has seen some pretty transformative changes, across everything we do. From the metaverse blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds, to sustainable technology addressing global challenges, these developments are unlocking exciting new possibilities and shaping the way we live. While navigating the ever-evolving technological landscape, it's clear that the future holds many more groundbreaking advancements…