From women’s digital health to the wake-up button to the AI ​​assistant: the five technology trends for 2024 | Technology

If 2023 was the year of Web 3, smart cars and home telemedicine, in 2024 artificial intelligence, women’s health and innovations to fight climate change will gain more power than ever. These are the conclusions of CTA, the organizing association of CES, the most influential consumer electronics show in the world. During this edition, organized this week in Las Vegas, more than 4,000 exhibitors presented some of the most innovative devices on the planet and anticipated what technological trends will dominate 2024.

Women’s health

Health is one of the areas that will benefit the most from artificial intelligence. That’s according to Brian Comiskey, director of thematic programs at CTA, who predicts advances in primary care, chatbots and telemedicine tools. It then refers to the acronym ChatGPT, which stands for pre-trained generative transformer. “Transformer technology can be used to predict protein sequences at the atomic level, which could revolutionize drug discovery,” says the CTA executive.

Women’s health is also of particular importance this year, according to Jessica Boothe, director of market research at CTA. “Women make up 50% of the population and we see a technological focus on them,” she says. The expert highlights innovations such as Amira Healtha bracelet that uses artificial intelligence to prevent lack of sleep caused by hot flashes during menopause.

The “magic” of ChatGPT

“There was intense enthusiasm for generative AI, with tools that seemed to work by magic, like ChatGPT. But the artificial intelligence ecosystem goes much further: from chips to robots, including material” says Comiskey. In fact, Microsoft announced the first change to its keyboard in almost 30 years: a key to activate the Windows AI assistant.

AI is also playing an increasingly important role in areas such as digital twins, robotics and home automation. Over the past five years, CTA has studied consumer perceptions of this technology. Although most associate it with innovation, futurism and intelligence, there are concerns about its possible consequences on misinformation, privacy and job loss. According to the association, there is general consensus on the importance of regulation.

Sustainability

The Paris Agreement against climate change came into force in 2016. “By 2030, most of the goals are supposed to be achieved. We are now halfway there,” says Comiskey. Among the most notable inventions in terms of sustainability, according to CTA, are an inflatable farm growing food sustainably in deserts and drought-affected areas. Also Exeger solar cellswhich transform any type of light into electrical energy and can be integrated into all types of devices: from headphones to wireless speakers, including e-books or animal trackers.

Tech giants such as Panasonic, Samsung, and LG have devoted portions of their major CES conferences to talking about their strategies in this area. “The science is clear. We must accelerate efforts. Otherwise, the consequence will be death,” said Hirotoshi Ueharra, executive director for quality and environment at Panasonic. Among the projects of this company, which invited EL PAÍS to CES, is that of taking advantage walls and windows to generate solar energy. At the show, she presented panels with varying degrees of opacity so that any exterior surface can generate renewable energy.

The eternal promise of flying taxis

CES is a showcase where the most modern boats, construction vehicles, electric motorcycles and flying cars in the world are exhibited year after year. For years, several companies have been exhibiting their flying taxi prototypes. History repeats itself over and over again. In this edition, the Advanced Air Mobility company of the Hyundai Motor Group presented the S-A2, a taxi capable of flying at 193 kilometers per hour. But it is likely that it will still be years before these types of vehicles arrive on the market en masse. The Korean company expects this device to take flight in 2028.

If flying taxis are still a promise to be fulfilled, electric vehicles are already a reality. The CTA compares them to smartphones on wheels and analyzes in a report what users are looking for when purchasing these vehicles. “They’re looking to avoid concerns about battery and range,” says Boothe, who emphasizes that the ideal is to have a large network of chargers that can charge the car as quickly as a traditional gas station. Buyers are also attentive to safety, costs and environmental management: “Knowing that they will no longer have to buy gasoline makes them feel like good citizens and responsible for the environment . If they also believe that the cost will outweigh the longevity of the car, they will feel in control of their finances. »

Technology, inclusion and disability

“Like artificial intelligence and sustainability, inclusiveness represents a horizontal trend that cuts across all sectors to ensure designs are accessible to everyone,” Boothe points out. Additionally, companies with diverse leadership teams earn 19% more revenue from greater innovation, according to consulting firm Boston Consulting Group.

That’s why more and more companies are trying to build a diverse team and develop inclusive solutions for people with disabilities or the elderly, according to the CTA. This is the case of Garmin, which presented a physical activity tracker at CES which has a mode for people in wheelchairs. Thanks to it, they can monitor the impulses they give and the workouts developed specifically for them. For the hearing impaired, EssilorLuxottica created glasses with speakers which aim to avoid the stigmatization to which those who wear devices that amplify sounds in their ears may be exposed. “With these glasses, the noisier the environment, the more noticeable the difference,” explains Stefano Genco, global director of Nuance Audio at EssilorLuxottica..

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