Sometimes it feels like the future is here already. The world is changing rapidly, and it’s hard to keep track of all the new technology that is being introduced every day. Every year, we seem to be getting closer to the technology from movies like Blade Runner or Minority Report, and there will always be something new coming out soon enough. From AI to virtual reality, it is incredible to see all the invitations being made all the time. Here are some tech trends worth watching this year to get a better idea of what is coming next!
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Quantum Computing
We’ve seen a lot of developments in recent years, and 2022 might be the year! Researchers are focused on achieving quantum supremacy, which is when a quantum computer can complete a calculation that a classical computer cannot. A quantum computer, if constructed correctly, might be capable of breaking encryption and solving some of the most challenging issues.
Google was the first to achieve this goal, using a device with 54 qubits (quantum computing bits) to execute an essentially useless calculation called a random sampling calculation. In 2021, a team at the University of Science and Technology of China used 56 qubits to solve a more complex sample retrieval problem and later 60 qubits to advance it even further. Getting further and further each year, it’s exciting to see where this trend will be by year’s end.
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality has become a market standard now, and it seems that 2022 will bring even more. With the release of Oculus Rift S and the highly anticipated release of a VR headset from Sony, you are seeing a push towards high-quality standalone virtual reality headsets ready to hit shelves this year and next. Many VR development firms now include machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in their programs. The public may see this in simple capabilities and is already being used in several more complex applications across many sectors.
With all the things that can be done with VR, it is a trend to watch this year! This has resulted in computer vision, enabling devices to perceive and comprehend everything within a camera’s sight. This concept has been somewhat basic in recent years. However, it is expected that this will make considerable advancements over the next year. Another excellent example of this is Google’s machine learning-enabled microscope, which is increasingly able to identify cancer cells in tissue samples. This could lead to more precise medical technologies and allow for more complex treatment and diagnostic tools, all of which are enhanced by VR.
Cryptocurrency
In the last few years, cryptocurrencies have gained a ton of momentum and attention from across the globe for both their potential as a legitimate way to buy goods and services or as a means to store value. In 2021 Bitcoin peaked at just over $65,000 before dropping off massively.
However, it has seen an increase in value since 2015. With 2021 showing a massive interest in cryptocurrencies from market investors, celebrities, and even the average person, it will make for an exciting 2022 in this tech realm. This year you can expect more discussion about cryptocurrency regulation. In the United States, officials have been especially interested in stable coin rules. Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and worldwide are attempting to figure out how to establish regulatory guidelines for cryptocurrencies to make investors safer and reduce cybercriminals’ attractiveness.
Another aspect of this tech to look out for is Crypto EFTs. The BITO Bitcoin ETF, for example, allows investors to invest in bitcoin directly through existing investment brokerages such as Fidelity or Vanguard. The BITO ETF, on the other hand, has also attracted criticism for not being sufficient.
While the fund is linked to Bitcoin and purportedly holds it indirectly, some claim it isn’t enough because it doesn’t own the cryptocurrency directly while it is related to Bitcoin. The fund invests in Bitcoin futures contracts rather than Bitcoins. While Bitcoin futures track the overall trend of cryptocurrency, experts claim they may not always mirror the price of Bitcoin explicitly. Investors must continue to wait for an ETF that holds Bitcoin directly to be released. Over the next year, these aspects of cryptocurrencies are something to keep watch of, significantly if you are invested in it!
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence: the ultimate level of human intelligence and creativity that can be turned into a machine. People often wonder what this may look like in the next few years after it has been predicted to take over the world by Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, and many others. Will humans see an uprising where machines start to think for themselves and become sentient? Will the world become a utopia of abundance and no more work, or will we see our demise by machines that learn how to eliminate humans for good? Before any of this can happen, it’s best to start with the here and now.
In 2022, one aspect of AI to look out for advancement in is Natural Language Generation (NLG). OpenAI, a corporation specializing in AI, recently released its GPT-3 large language model, which has already been utilized by hundreds of apps and is freely available through API. GPT-3 is the most public example of NLG’s potential.
In the last few years, data analytics have evolved from the text-to-text transformation of numerical data into textual insight to text transformations of text-based data points and beginning to transform the ways humans can use creative writing. NGOs are helping people to write for a digital audience.
With GPT 3, you can make all sorts of things, from personality quizzes to custom training data sets, real-time generation of unique replies in conversational AI platforms, and software code. NLG will have many more applications by the end of 2022, and it will be exciting to see where this form and form of AI will be by then!
Conclusion
For 2022 there is a lot to be excited about in the tech world, and some things you should watch more closely than others. In contrast, advancements in VR and quantum computing are striving to make considerable changes to the way humans do things overall, which will be incredible to see how far these techs can push us into a futuristic world!
