The late management expert Peter Drucker once remarked, “Trying to predict the future is like driving down a dark country road at night without headlights, looking out the back window.” In the rapidly changing tech landscape, it feels like the back window might be fogged up, especially when trying to anticipate new trends.
In 2022, we witnessed NFTs go from being the latest trend to fading into obscurity, cryptocurrency experience a tough downturn, and nuclear fusion take its first steps from the realm of science fiction toward reality. Yet, for those attuned to innovation, it’s possible to spot patterns that indicate where society is heading and predict the technologies that will guide us there.
As we step into 2023, CNN asked four experts to share their predictions for the technologies that will shape our lives this year. Here’s what they had to say.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly woven into our daily experiences, from e-commerce to social media algorithms. Ayesha Khanna, co-founder and CEO of Addo, an AI and data solutions firm, predicts that in 2023, AI-generated images and music will explode. She believes AI will not replace humans but will act as a new team member, offering ideas and drafts for various tasks.
Futurist Bernard Marr, author of “Business Trends in Practice” and “Future Skills,” also expects AI to play a significant role in augmenting workers’ abilities as new tools emerge to help them fully leverage AI.
However, Khanna warns that more work is needed to ensure that AI tools, such as GitHub’s Copilot, remain accurate and free from bias. This is particularly important in sensitive fields like healthcare, where AI-generated recommendations could have serious consequences.
Despite Meta’s losses in the metaverse space, the concept of virtual worlds is gaining traction. Khanna predicts that retail and entertainment companies will increase their efforts to engage customers in metaverse platforms, such as Roblox, in 2023. Marr adds that smaller companies will join the larger corporations already established in the metaverse, and the technology will become more mobile and accessible through devices like headsets and smart glasses.
Abishur Prakash, co-founder and geopolitical futurist at the Center for Innovating the Future (CIF), predicts that sustainability and clean energy will take center stage in 2023. With clean energy projects like the solar power initiative linking Africa and Europe, the global energy landscape will evolve in response to geopolitical tensions.
Cynthia Selin, an associate professor at Arizona State University, highlights that energy storage technologies such as batteries and hydrogen will be crucial in the coming year. She believes that clean hydrogen, particularly hydrogen produced using renewable energy, will see significant growth and investment in 2023. Additionally, carbon capture technologies, including direct air capture and reforestation efforts, will play an increasingly important role in combating climate change.
Prakash foresees that the war in Ukraine will reshape global geopolitics and spur the pursuit of self-reliance, leading to vertical globalization. He points out that automakers in China are purchasing their own ships to export vehicles, and Apple plans to relocate production outside of China. Additionally, the semiconductor industry will become a focal point in the rivalry between the US and China, influencing global affairs in 2023.
The Internet of Things (IoT) will continue transforming sectors like energy, with smart thermostats helping to optimize energy use and reduce costs. Selin notes that more IoT devices will emerge to improve energy efficiency, while Marr predicts a rise in IoT products focused on health and well-being, such as smartwatches for monitoring health indicators.
Marr also expects 2023 to see more complex machine-to-machine interactions, with global standards and protocols being developed for devices to communicate securely with each other. As IoT security becomes a priority, companies will work to protect against potential cyber threats.
