Predicting the future of technology is a lot like predicting the weather. You look at the data, make some educated assumptions, factor in probability, and make your prediction knowing that at any moment an unforeseen change in global conditions can swing things in a completely different direction. The accuracy of a 10-day weather forecast is about 50%. Let’s see if I can do at least as well as your local weather forecaster with my technology predictions for 2024.
Internet everywhere:
Highspeed Internet service is required for business today. With almost all applications now hosted in the cloud, if you are in a rural area that is not easily connected to the Internet, it is hard to be competitive. SpaceX wants to fix this problem by covering the world with its Starlink high speed internet service. Estimates are that they have 5,000 small low earth orbit satellites in use now. There are plans to deploy 12,000 satellites with a possible number reaching 42,000. All this means that where high speed internet was not available before, it will be soon, creating greater competitive equity for businesses in less densely populated areas.
Small business will be using Artificial Intelligence everyday:
You may not realize it, but even if you are not using ChatGPT, you are using ChatGPT. Sounds strange, let me explain. If I receive a text message while driving, I let Siri read the message to me. This week, my daughter sent me a picture by text. Siri looked at the picture and described it to me. Is it just me, or is that a little creepy? Last year I started using Fireflies.AI to record meetings that I am in. Fireflies (nicknamed Fred) joins all of my web and Teams meetings, records and transcribes the meetings. Not only does it record the meeting, it uses ChatGPT to summarize the meeting and track the “to dos” for each individual in the meeting. This is very helpful not only to keep track of commitments from a meeting but to also be able to review meetings that I have missed.
Cybersecurity prioritization:
Cybersecurity is a journey, not a destination. As cyber criminals become more sophisticated in their use of AI, businesses, from small to large, will prioritize cybersecurity measures to keep from being attacked and becoming a statistic. We’ll also witness the predictive use of AI to foresee potential threats and redefine digital defense emphasizing prevention over recovery.
Extended Reality use by business will increase:
Extended Reality is the grouping of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality. This technology will be used to enhance the shopping experience and customer service.
- Virtual shopping: You will be able to use your kid’s virtual reality goggles to walk through an online store. Much like going to a supermarket or your favorite clothing retailer while never leaving your home.
- Assembly assistance: Have you ever tried to put together a piece of furniture that comes in flat boxes only to be frustrated by the paper instructions? Extended reality will be able to help you put the furniture together with step-by-step 3D instructions.
- In-store experience: while shopping in a physical store, you will be able to scan an item with your cell phone for additional information about the product, reviews, and examples of the product in use.
No doubt we’ll witness a myriad of other changes in how we interact with others and conduct business due to advances in technology in 2024. If you thrive on change like I do, it’s bound to be an exciting year ahead. I’ll revisit my predictions at the end of the year and see how I did. Until then, I recommend all business owners stay on top of what is happening in technology in 2024 and leverage the heck out of it to advance your business.
Wishing you health, happiness and prosperity in 2024!
Eric Olmsted
President, On Line Support
