Disruptive technology trends determine the way the new year will be shaped. They will accelerate and transform many industries at a rapid pace throughout the year. They will shape the world and the future and will be present on the horizon of business owners and investors alike.
The intelligent digital mesh is going to include interconnected humans, robots, devices, content, and services all driven by digital transformation. Disruptive technology trends are going to propel the future where technology innovation leaders must evolve and change at the same pace of the trends they must embrace. Or, they could be left behind and suffer a slowly mass extinction.
Perhaps the obvious technology to watch closely in 2019 –before we can move on to anything else– will be 5G. 5G is a necessary technology. Without 5G technology, none of the technologies mentioned below would be possible. Autonomous vehicles, drones, the Internet of Things, and supercomputers could not be possible without 5G networks.
5G technology is going to improve processing speeds by more than 10 times in 2019. This is the technology that can make possible, for instance, the much expected remote surgery in rural areas.
Artificial Intelligence surgery might sound too futuristic to some. However, robot surgeons powered by AI are bringing new innovations and accuracy to the operating room.
Here are the top five technology trends you need to know.
1. Machine learning
Another exciting emerging technology is machine learning, which is essentially a computer’s ability to learn on its own by analyzing data and tracking repeating patterns. For example, social media platforms use machine learning to get a better understanding of how you’re connected with those in your social network. They do this by analyzing your likes, shares and comments and then prioritizing content from your closest connections, serving you that content first. Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations will continue to bring scientific breakthroughs, in part, thanks to the vast amounts of data that new technologies have been collecting and is now available. In 2019, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence will be embedded in the business platform creating and enabling smart business operations.
In the Artificial Intelligence space, China is going to leave the U.S. behind, emerging as a leader in AI developments and applications. Advances in Machine Learning technology and algorithm training will result in new and more advanced AI. Autonomous vehicles and robotics are the two industries that will see the most rapid developments during 2019. In 2019, there is going to be a convergence of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning in business applications. As AI and learning technologies get to work together in order to reach better results, AI will have greater accuracy at all levels.
2. Artificial intelligence
AI is about machines with human attributes – speaking, reading, seeing and even recognising emotion – completing tasks while also “learning” from repeated interactions. Using algorithms that adapt to location, speech or user-history machines can perform tasks that are dangerous or tedious, more accurately or much faster than humans. AI use cases cover data security, financial trading, healthcare, marketing personalization, fraud detection, recommendations, online search, natural language processing, smart cars, predictive sales and sales forecasting, customer service, robotic process automation, predictive maintenance, manufacturing analytics, data visualization, hiring, performance management, employee monitoring, insurance, credit lending and scoring, and much more.
Within a few years, analysts predict that all software will use AI at some level, according to US research and advisory firm Gartner. Importantly AI offers the opportunity to continuously tailor products and services providing a competitive advantage over rivals that is not easily copied. The question to ask is ‘how can AI help my organisation?
3. 5G
The fifth generation of cellular mobile technology, commonly referred to as 5G, is coming faster than most people realize. Major telecom providers around the world are upgrading their networks to open the next chapter of mobile communication and meet ever-more advanced and complex sets of performance requirements.
One 5G connection test, conducted by Finnish outlet Kauppalehti and wireless carrier Elisa, showed 14 times better performance over 4G LTE in a real-world environment, delivering speeds over 700 Mbps using Huawei-made equipment. Theoretically, 5G should be able to provide download speeds at up to 1,000 times faster than 4G LTE thanks to technologies such as millimeter waves, massive MIMO, full duplex, beamforming, and small cells.
With 5G, users will be able to download an entire high-definition movie in less than a second, but that’s only one reason why it is one of the most important technology trends for 2019. “These networks will boost the development of other new technologies, too, such as autonomous vehicles, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things,” explains IEEE.
4. Internet of Things (IOT)
One of the biggest tech trends to emerge in recent years is the Internet of Things. Simply put, the Internet of Things (abbreviated IOT) is the idea that all technological devices can be connected to the internet and to each other in an attempt to create the perfect marriage between the physical and digital worlds. How will this impact you? It depends on your industry. For example, for those who work in marketing, advertising, media or business management, IOT could provide a wealth of information on how consumers engage with products by tracking their interactions with digital devices. In turn, this data could be used to optimize marketing campaigns and user experiences.
The really cool thing about IOT is that it’s not only changing the way we do business but also the business models we use to do it. For example, according to Deloitte, flexible consumption models (also known as pay-per-use models) are going become increasingly more popular across all industries as new customer data becomes available.
5. Automation
Robots in manufacturing go back to the 1960s. Now it’s the scale and breadth of the transformation that automated systems make possible, as a result of other advances in machine learning and connectivity, for example, that puts automation firmly at the forefront of technology trends. From convenient devices at home to industrial applications on a massive scale, automation will be a key focus of technological change, with potentially far-reaching economic and social consequences.
Currently, professional services such as the legal and finance industry are being disrupted by automation with feedback from these sectors being that core technical skills together with management and people skills being more important than ever. How will automation disrupt your industry?
With emerging technologies changing professional industries including banking, eCommerce, healthcare and education, staying up to date on the latest trends will give you a better understanding of your chosen industry and make you a more competitive candidate. Best of all, this knowledge might open up new doors within your field and others.
