Trend 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) permeates all aspects of our daily lives and is, according to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, “more important than fire and electricity.” AI, being an extension of human intelligence, allows both individuals and businesses to gain significant time and productivity. The trend in 2023 is to leverage AI alongside human intelligence to optimize workflows and results, taking advantage of its ability to handle complex tasks in large quantities, quickly, and at a lower cost. Many AI tools are now making life easier for millions of users, including:
- Flair.ai: Generate product visuals
- Imagica: Application creation
- Chat GPT, Copy.ai: Chatbot, writing assistance
- Murf AI: Voiceovers, professional audio content creation
- Adcreative.ai: Ad creation, visuals
Trend 2: Blockchain
Blockchain is a decentralized system operated by multiple participants who regulate and contribute to its functioning. It records the history of all transactions since its creation. For example, when transferring money, you must go through an intermediary, such as a bank. Blockchain, on the other hand, is self-regulated by its users, who ensure its proper functioning by adding secure, tamper-proof data. This decentralized control prevents fraud and strengthens data security and processing. For instance, Carrefour has integrated blockchain technology since 2019 to trace its products, and Awake, a French watch brand, uses it to track the manufacturing and ownership history of a watch.
Trend 3: Sustainability
Technology must be developed with environmental sustainability in mind. The extraction of raw materials for manufacturing tech equipment can have a negative environmental impact, while the energy required to power and cool data centers contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, consumers and investors are increasingly seeking companies with strong ecological credentials. By 2025, without sustainable AI practices, AI will consume more energy than human labor, significantly offsetting carbon-neutral gains. Emerging practices aim to reduce energy consumption for Machine Learning (ML). It’s crucial to develop sustainable technologies and practices, such as using eco-friendly materials for IT equipment and creating energy-efficient data centers.
Trend 4: Virtual Workspaces
By 2027, fully virtual workspaces will account for 30% of business investments in metaverse technologies. The COVID-19 lockdowns disrupted our work habits, giving rise to teleworking, which has now reached a point where virtual workspaces can replace physical offices. The benefits of virtual workspaces include:
- Flexibility: Hire and gather employees from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection.
- Savings: Reduce costs related to office rents, equipment leasing, and travel.
- Productivity: Employees are often more productive when they work autonomously in a comfortable environment.
However, it’s important to maintain structure and keep teams motivated to avoid isolation or disengagement.
Trend 5: Web3
Web3, also known as the “semantic web,” is the third generation of the World Wide Web, aiming to improve how information is organized, stored, and shared on the internet. It relies on technologies like blockchain and AI to help computers better understand and process web data. Web3’s goals include improving web security, privacy, and decentralization by allowing multiple parties to share and control data rather than a single entity. Although still in development, Web3 has the potential to revolutionize how we use and interact with the internet. As Avivah Litan, VP Analyst at Gartner, states, “Web3 innovations will take the internet into new realms and give rise to applications that were previously not possible.”
Bonus Insights: Cloud hosting and cybersecurity remain crucial in 2023:
- By 2023, 70% of all business workloads will be deployed on cloud infrastructure, up from 40% in 2020.
- 49% of organizations have experienced a data breach in the past two years, compared to 39% in the previous year.
- A company is hit by a ransomware attack every 14 seconds.
Explore our cloud and cybersecurity offers or contact us to learn more.
Sources: openai.com, digitiz.fr, YouTube, CNIL.