At the start of a new year, there is always speculation as to what tech trends will dominate an increasingly connected world over the following 12 months. Technology has become deeply integrated with the way we do business today, and a recently released report from the market intelligence platform provider CB Insights reveals how advances in technology could impact small and large enterprises in 2020.
While there is a continuation of certain trends we saw budding in 2019 (think artificial intelligence, virtual reality and 5G) this might just be the year they truly gain footing in the business world.
Here are CB Insight’s top five trends to watch in 2020.
1. Advances in and commercialisation of quantum tech
The potential benefits of quantum computing in the world at large are enormous, but this technology is not yet developed enough for widespread use, with conventional computers still outperforming their quantum counterparts. However, certain aspects of quantum computing could prove valuable to businesses. Advanced technologies like AI require a bit of extra computing power, and many organisations have already started adding quantum computers to their existing systems in order to run AI programmes more quickly.
2. The office is anywhere with VR, AR and 5G
There was a lot of talk about 5G in 2019, and as the latest iteration of wireless technology for digital cellular networks becomes more widely available, it will change the way we think about the workplace. Collaboration tools like Zoom and Slack have already made physical office space ubiquitous, and as faster connections enable the use of virtual and augmented reality to bring the office anywhere, we should see the idea of traditional office being disrupted even more.
3. Health tech is big business
Wearable technology is one of the last decade’s most noteworthy developments, and these devices are expected to increasingly be used for the management of chronic illnesses and routine healthcare. All the big names in tech, including Apple, will likely build on the foundations they laid for health tech in 2019, says CB Insights.
4. Cyber risks may become more serious
Following the correct cybersecurity protocols should be a priority for businesses in 2020, as the threat of cyber attacks looks to increase. A sophisticated arsenal of software-based weapons like ransomware, bots, drones and worms, compels organisations to take cybersecurity seriously in order to avoid having important data compromised.
5. Bias in AI set to be regulated
Artificial intelligence has developed in leaps and bounds over the past few years, but there is still significant concern that this technology exhibits racial and gender bias. AI has started forming a part of many companies’ hiring and training practices, and the report expects that governmental regulation will replace the current self-regulatory measures of tech companies over the next year, to avoid any ethical concerns.