Deloitte’s 15th annual Tech Trends report helps business and technology leaders separate signal from noise and embrace technology’s evolution as a tool to revolutionize business. Six emerging technology trends demonstrate that in an age of generative machines, it’s more important than ever for organizations to maintain an integrated business strategy, a solid technology foundation, and a creative workforce.
Dive into the six emerging technology trends:
Interfaces in new places: Spatial computing and the industrial metaverse
The industrial metaverse, supported by spatial technologies, is rapidly becoming an enterprise tool, with projected revenue reaching US$100 billion by 2030. Investments in digital twins, 5G, cloud, edge, and AI technologies are driving this transformation. A new era of digital twins is emerging, offering photorealistic, physics-based simulations powered by AI. The spatial web or Web 3.0 is also developing, potentially creating a US$600 billion market by 2032. This technology allows interaction with real-time information from our physical environment using cutting-edge interfaces like smart glasses. The integration of AR/VR tools in industries is enhancing efficiency, with applications in monitoring, onboarding, and safety, as well as revenue growth. Spatial operations also aid product design and testing under simulated conditions, significantly improving agility, time to market, and sustainability. However, as companies adopt spatial computing, they must also address potential privacy, cybersecurity, and data protection issues.
Genie out of the bottle: Generative AI as growth catalyst
Experience the future with Generative AI, a powerful tool mimicking human cognition, enhancing productivity, and fostering innovation. Implementing it requires strategic planning and a focus on unique business needs. As businesses navigate data management, robust governance, and copyright issues, industry-specific AI models stand on the horizon as a game-changer. They offer a tailored approach to meet unique needs, providing a significant competitive advantage. Generative AI is more than a trend; it's a seismic shift in the business world, promising to redefine industries. Download the Tech Trends 2024 Report to read more about how to embrace this transformative power and unlock your business's potential.
Smarter, not harder: Beyond brute force compute
In today's rapidly evolving digital world, businesses are on the brink of experiencing an extraordinary transformation. As we uncover revolutionary methods to manage complex workloads, we are stepping into a new era of not-only-digital computing. Imagine harnessing the power of smarter coding, specialized hardware like GPUs, AI chips, or even delving into the realms of quantum, neuromorphic, and optical computing! These breakthroughs promise quicker, more efficient operations, potentially enhancing your company's competitive edge and fueling innovation. But the journey doesn't stop at performance improvement. These technologies are a beacon of sustainability, offering greater performance with less power, a critical step towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Yes, challenges remain, but overcoming these obstacles will only make the victory sweeter. And the future? It holds the promise of cloud services integrating these cutting-edge technologies, bringing about a paradigm shift in computing.
From DevOps to DevEx: Empowering the engineering experience
As the demand for tech talent intensifies, companies are enhancing developer experience (DevEx) to successfully attract and retain top professionals in the field. Enhanced DevEx can improve end-user and customer experiences by focusing on providing the right tools, platforms, and feedback mechanisms. However, many companies still need to eliminate barriers to developer productivity. With standardized platforms, tools, and clear processes, organizations can improve productivity and accelerate innovation, as demonstrated by companies like CarMax and Etsy. In the future, as technology becomes central to businesses, all employees might potentially become low-level engineers, leading to a significant boost in productivity and satisfaction.
Defending reality: Truth in an age of synthetic media
The rise of AI has led to an increase in malicious deepfake content, making it difficult to discern real from fake. However, organizations are adopting strategies and tools to identify harmful content and predict potential attacks. Methods such as multi-factor authentication and online vigilance remain crucial. Partnerships with tech giants and AI startups help businesses access the latest preventive tools. Technologies such as Reality Defender and Intel's deepfake detection tool are being used to assess content authenticity. The advent of quantum computing could both exacerbate and help resolve this issue, potentially allowing businesses to predict and proactively tackle attacks. Preparation is key as enterprises must stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape.
Core workout: From technical debt to technical wellness
Organizations must modernize aging core systems, including infrastructure, data, and applications, to keep up with evolving technologies. A holistic, health-focused approach is suggested, emphasizing regular checkups and preventative care for legacy technologies. Workforce readiness and cyber risk are also integral to this modernization journey. The future holds potential for self-healing systems like adaptive AI that can learn and reprogram themselves. The ultimate goal is for core systems to age gracefully, with built-in support and continuous monitoring.
