Artificial Intelligence to Spearhead Technological Progress in 2024, Reveals IEEE Report
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of technology cannot be overstated, with projections for 2024 positioning it at the forefront of technological evolution. This forecast stems from a comprehensive survey by the IEEE, the largest technical professional organization globally, involving over 350 technology executives from various corners of the world including the U.S., China, the U.K., India, and Brazil.
Entitled “The Impact of Technology in 2024 and Beyond: An IEEE Global Study”, this research aimed to capture the technologies believed to drive significant growth in the subsequent year. Across the board, AI and its related technologies like machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) garnered immense attention, with 65% of the surveyed executives highlighting it among their top three technological priorities.
In a detailed conversation with VentureBeat, IEEE Fellow Karen Panetta emphasized, “Generative AI has emerged as a versatile tool for myriad applications ranging from data analytics and report generation to trend analysis and product development. Its unlimited potential straddles a wide array of sectors, including but not limited to healthcare, marketing, cybersecurity, and manufacturing.”
According to industry specialists, AI’s integration into diverse fields is poised to revolutionize software development, supply chain management, and cybersecurity, among others. Alongside AI, technologies such as extended reality, cloud computing, 5G networks, and electric vehicles are expected to dominate the technological landscape, as per the survey findings.
The IEEE report further sheds light on AI’s escalating deployment in sectors like telecommunications, manufacturing, financial services, transportation, and energy, improving efficiency and decision-making processes to mirror human cognition.
Highlighted applications of AI cover a broad spectrum, including real-time monitoring for cybersecurity, automation within supply chains and warehouses, enhancement of software development processes, streamlining recruitment, and expediting the drug discovery process.
“AI is set to significantly transform software development and cybersecurity, elevating these fields with unparalleled efficiency, security, and resilience,” shared Yale Fox, an IEEE member, during an interaction with VentureBeat. Fox underscored AI’s capabilities in accelerating coding practices, refining code quality, upgrading predictive threat detection mechanisms, and automating mundane security tasks.
Nonetheless, the broader adoption of AI introduces novel cybersecurity challenges that necessitate vigilant attention. Chief among these concerns are deepfakes, sophisticated social engineering ploys, and AI-assisted identification of software vulnerabilities.
“One of the formidable challenges in the evolving threat landscape includes the easy fabrication of realistic fake audio and video content using AI, ushering in several new challenges,” Fox conveyed to VentureBeat.
The survey underscores the pivotal role of 5G networks in supporting AI’s further advancement through its promise of reduced latency, enhanced data transfer speeds, and broader connectivity for intelligent devices.
“The exponential growth in data generation and transmission necessitates robust support mechanisms. 5G aims to fulfill this need, ensuring rapid data gathering and transmission to fortify our cybersecurity measures,” commented Panetta.
Additionally, the synergy between AI and the nascent field of quantum computing is anticipated to catalyze groundbreaking technological advancements. “Quantum computing is expected to revolutionize our computing infrastructures, making them more suited to AI’s computational demands. This partnership is likely to yield more resilient AI models and novel algorithms aimed at enhancing AI’s explainability and scalability,” remarked Panetta.
While celebrating AI’s potential, IEEE experts advocate for responsible advancement and the primacy of human oversight in AI developments. This study not only solidifies AI’s position as a key driver of economic and technological progress in 2024 but also as a focal point of innovation for years to come.
