AdvikaLooking back at 2024 predictions, it’s clear the world of technology and innovation has been both exciting and unpredictable. A year ago, we talked about the rapid rise of AI, renewable energy taking the spotlight, and how new tools like advanced drugs, robotics, and open-source systems would unlock fresh opportunities. Here’s a closer look at how these trends unfolded and what they mean for the future.
### AI Adoption: Slow but Steady
Big companies were expected to fully embrace AI, reshaping their workflows and potentially cutting jobs. While AI spending skyrocketed—enterprise spending grew by 500% to $13.8 billion—the major transformations haven’t fully arrived yet. Many firms are experimenting with AI, but only a small group (about 2%) is seeing significant returns by using AI at scale. Startups and consulting firms have benefited massively, with AI startups scaling faster than traditional ones. However, as IBM’s CEO pointed out, we’re still waiting for these use cases to truly scale across industries.
Interestingly, smaller and more specialized AI models gained traction alongside giants like GPT-4. These compact models are cheaper to run and easier to integrate into different environments, allowing smaller companies and individuals to compete. Open-source models like Meta’s Llama 3.3 and Microsoft’s Phi-4 showed that you don’t always need a massive model to get top-tier results.
### The Business of AI: Legal Battles and Uncertainty
The question of who owns the data used to train AI remains unresolved. Lawsuits like the New York Times vs. OpenAI highlighted the tensions between content creators and tech companies. Some partnerships emerged, but no standard approach to compensating creators has taken hold yet. Governments are stepping in, but most policies favor big industry players over smaller creators or open-access communities.
### AI’s Impact on Elections: Less Chaos Than Feared
There were worries that AI-generated deepfakes and bots might manipulate elections worldwide. Thankfully, those fears didn’t materialize. Vigilant voters, platforms like Meta cracking down on fake campaigns, and global watchdogs helped prevent large-scale AI propaganda. Interestingly, the disruptions seen in elections this year came more from traditional issues rather than AI-driven chaos.
### Renewable Energy Takes Off
Last year, it was predicted that renewables like solar power and better batteries would push fossil fuels out. That prediction held strong. Sodium-ion batteries made their way into cars, while lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries became much cheaper—prices dropped by 24% in just a year! Coal saw a decline globally, with countries like the UK shutting down their last coal plants. However, AI’s energy demands have created new challenges. Data centers powering AI systems require huge amounts of energy, creating bottlenecks that could slow progress in renewable energy efforts.
### Asymmetric Warfare: Cheaper Tools, Bigger Impact
Low-cost drones and simple surveillance tools made life difficult for large militaries this year. In places like the Red Sea, inexpensive technology disrupted global shipping routes, forcing countries to reroute vessels or spend heavily on defense. This trend of using cheap tech to outsmart expensive systems is reshaping how conflicts are fought worldwide.
### Blockchain and AI: Progress Still Limited
There was hope that blockchain could make AI systems more trustworthy by improving transparency and accountability. While some interesting projects emerged, no large-scale applications have taken off yet. On another note, cryptocurrency bounced back this year, with Bitcoin hitting $100k—driven partly by political shifts and new partnerships in the crypto world.
### Scientific Breakthroughs: Slow but Promising
AI continued to speed up drug discovery and materials science research. Tools like AlphaFold and GNoME helped researchers find new materials faster and file more patents. For example, one study showed a 44% increase in new discoveries thanks to AI-powered tools. However, regulatory hurdles and the challenges of working in physical environments mean we’re still at the beginning of this journey.
Drugs like Ozempic (GLP-1s) also gained attention for their transformative health benefits. Originally popular for weight management, these drugs are now being studied for their potential to treat Alzheimer’s, addiction, and anxiety. As their use expands, they could reshape healthcare in profound ways.
### Humanoid Robots: Beyond Expectations
Humanoid robots made significant progress this year. South Korea became the first country where robots make up 10% of the workforce. Surprisingly, robots are proving most useful in specialized tasks rather than general-purpose roles—like installing solar panels 10 times faster than humans can.
### The Big Picture: Change Is Messy
If there’s one takeaway from this year, it’s that innovation doesn’t follow a straight path. Technology evolves quickly, but figuring out how to use it effectively takes time. Whether it’s AI transforming industries or renewable energy shaping the future, these shifts are complex and often messy.
Looking ahead to 2025, the journey continues. Let’s keep exploring these trends and uncovering new opportunities together!
