What are the most important trends we should be preparing for? Here are the top 10 disruptive tech trends everyone should be paying attention to in 2023.
1. AI is everywhere
In 2023, artificial intelligence will become a reality in the corporate world. No-code AI, along with its simple drag-and-drop interface, will allow any business to harness its power to create smarter products and services.
We have already seen this trend in the retail market, such as the clothing retailer Stitch Fix, which provides personalized styling services, and is already using artificial intelligence algorithms to recommend clothes to customers that best match their size and taste.
In 2023, contactless automated shopping and delivery will also become a huge trend. AI will make it easier for consumers to pay for and pick up goods and services.
Artificial intelligence will also cover most jobs in various industries and business processes.
For example, more and more retailers will use artificial intelligence to manage and automate the complex inventory management process that happens behind the scenes. As a result, convenience trends such as buy online, curbside pickup (BOPAC), buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS), and buy online, return in store (BORIS) will become the norm.
In addition, as artificial intelligence drives retailers to gradually pilot and roll out automated delivery programs, more and more retail employees will need to get used to working with machines.
2. Part of the metaverse will become reality
I don't particularly like the term "metaverse," but it has become shorthand for a more immersive internet; with it, we'll be able to work, play, and socialize on one virtual platform.
Some experts predict that by 2030, the metaverse will add $5 trillion to the global economic aggregate, and 2023 will be the year that defines the development direction of the metaverse in the next ten years.
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies will continue to evolve. One area to watch is the work scene in the Metaverse - I predict that in 2023 we will have more immersive virtual meeting environments where people can talk, brainstorm and co-create.
In fact, Microsoft and Nvidia are already developing the Metaverse platform for collaboration on digital projects.
In the new year, we will also see more advanced digital avatar technology. Digital avatars — the images we project as we interact with other users in the metaverse — can look exactly like us in the real world, and motion capture can even allow our avatars to adopt our unique body language and gestures.
We may also see the further development of autonomous digital avatars powered by artificial intelligence, which can appear in the metaverse on our behalf even when we are not logged into the digital world.
Many companies are already using metaverse technologies such as AR and VR for employee onboarding and training, a trend that will accelerate in 2023. Consulting giant Accenture has created a metaverse environment called "Nth Floor". The virtual world mimics a real-world Accenture office, so new and existing employees can perform HR-related tasks without being present at a physical office.
3. Progress of Web3
Blockchain technology will also make significant progress in 2023 as more and more companies create more decentralized products and services.
For example, currently we store everything in the cloud, but if we decentralized our data and encrypted it using the blockchain, not only would our information be more secure, but we would have innovative ways to access it and analyze it.
In the new year, NFTs will become more usable and useful. For example, an NFT ticket to a concert might get you backstage experiences and memorabilia. NFTs could become the keys we use to interact with many of the digital products and services we purchase, or could enter into contracts with other parties on our behalf.
4. Connectivity between the digital world and the physical world
We are already seeing a bridge emerging between the digital and physical worlds, a trend that will continue in 2023. This merger has two components: digital twin technology and 3D printing.
A digital twin is a virtual simulation of a real-world process, operation or product that can be used to test new ideas in a secure digital environment. Designers and engineers are using digital twins to recreate objects in the virtual world so they can test them under any conceivable condition without the high cost of experimenting in real life.
In 2023, we will see more digital twins being used, from factories to machinery, and from cars to precision medicine.
After testing in the virtual world, engineers can tweak and edit the components before creating them in the real world using 3D printing.
For example, an F1 team could collect data from sensors during a race, along with information such as track temperature and weather conditions, to understand how the car changes during the race. They can then feed data from the sensors into a digital twin of the engine and car components, and run scenarios to make design changes to the car on the move. These teams can then 3D print car parts based on their test results.
5. More and more editable nature
We will live in a world where editing can alter the traits of materials, plants, and even the human body. Nanotechnology will allow us to create materials with entirely new functionalities, such as being waterproof and self-healing.
CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology has been around for a few years, but in 2023 we will see this technology accelerate and allow us to "edit nature" by changing DNA.
Gene editing works a bit like word processing, where you drop some words and put some back in -- except you're dealing with genes. Gene editing can be used to correct DNA mutations, address food allergies, improve the health of crops, and even edit human traits such as eye and hair color.
6. Progress in Quantum Computing
Currently, the world is racing to develop quantum computing on a large scale.
Quantum computing, the new way to create, process and store information using subatomic particles, is a technological leap that is expected to allow our computers to run a trillion times faster than today's fastest conventional processors.
But one potential danger of quantum computing is that it could render our current encryption techniques useless — so any country that develops quantum computing on a large scale could undermine the encryption practices of other countries, businesses, security systems, etc. With countries like China, the U.S., U.K., and Russia pouring money into developing quantum computing technology, it's a trend to watch carefully in 2023.
7. Progress of Green Technology
One of the biggest challenges the world is currently facing is putting the brakes on carbon emissions so that the climate crisis can be addressed.
In 2023, green hydrogen energy will continue to make progress. Green hydrogen is a new clean energy that produces close to zero greenhouse gas emissions. Shell and RWE, two of Europe's largest energy companies, are creating the first pipeline of large-scale green hydrogen projects powered by offshore wind in the North Sea.
At the same time, we will also see progress in the development of decentralized grids. Distributed energy generation using this model provides a system of small generators and storage located in communities or individual homes so they can provide power even if the city's main grid is unavailable.
Currently, our energy system is dominated by large gas and energy companies, but a decentralized energy plan has the potential to democratize electricity globally while reducing carbon emissions.
8. Robots will become more like humans
In 2023, robots will become more human-like—both in appearance and capabilities. These types of robots will be used in the real world as event greeters, bartenders, concierges, and chaperones for the elderly. They will also perform complex tasks in warehouses and factories, working alongside humans in manufacturing and logistics.
One company is working to create a humanoid robot that can work around the home. At the Tesla Artificial Intelligence Day in September 2022, Elon Musk unveiled two Optimus humanoid robot prototypes and said that the company will accept orders in the next 3 to 5 years. The robots can do simple tasks like carrying items and watering plants, so maybe soon we'll have "robot butlers" helping out around the house.
9. Research progress of autonomous systems
Business leaders will continue to make progress in creating automated systems, especially in the field of distribution and logistics, where many factories and warehouses are already partially or fully automated.
In 2023, we'll see more self-driving trucks, ships, and delivery robots, and even more warehouses and factories implementing autonomous technology.
British online supermarket Ocado, which bills itself as "the world's largest online grocery retailer", uses thousands of robots in its highly automated warehouses to sort, handle and move groceries. The warehouse also uses artificial intelligence to place the most popular items within easy reach of robots. Ocado is currently promoting the autonomous technology behind their warehouses to other grocery retailers.
10. Greener technologies
Finally, we'll see more of a push for environmentally friendly technologies in 2023.
Many people are addicted to technology gadgets like smartphones, tablets, etc., but where do the components that make these gadgets come from? People will think more about where the rare earths in products like computer chips come from and how we consume them.
We're also using cloud services like Netflix and Spotify, and the massive data centers that run them still consume a lot of energy.
In 2023, we will see supply chains become more transparent as consumers demand that the products and services they buy are energy efficient and adopt greener technologies.
Post time: Jan-06-2023