These are the technology trends of 2024
Developments in AI, the energy transition, and geopolitics
Hey there,
First of all, Happy New Year! 🥂
2023 was a turbulent year with wars, political events, disasters, and much more.
What will happen to us in 2024? Like every year, I write an article about the (technological) trends to keep an eye on the coming year.
In this newsletter, I therefore share the 3 most important (tech) trends to pay attention to in 2024.
Enjoy reading,
Peter
P.S. I also made a video about it (in Dutch, but with English subs):
Technology Trends 2024
What are the most relevant and exciting trends for 2024? I am fascinated by technological developments, such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and clean energy.
In this newsletter, I highlight 3 trends:
AI as a GPT (but not what you think);
Energy transition is going fast;
Geopolitics and computer chips.
Are you curious about my explanation and context on all trends, watch my video: These are the (technological) trends for 2024 🔗
1. AI as a GPT (not what you think)
Much technology has become invisible. Because these technologies are so normal and so intertwined in everything we do, we easily forget how important they actually are in our lives. Think of electricity, the train, printing, the combustion engine, computer chips and the internet.
These types of techniques are also known as General Purpose Technologies. If one is invented, society will change in almost every facet. What kind of changes and disruptions because of AI will we see in 2024?
Probably AI will become more and more intertwined in our daily lives.
2. Energy transition is going fast
Clean energy from wind and sun is becoming cheaper every day. Much faster than anyone thought, even in the most optimistic climate scenarios.
The reason is that the costs of these technologies, especially photovoltaic energy (converting sunlight into electricity), are falling exponentially. This effect does not apply to fossil energy sources. In fact, it is becoming increasingly expensive to win it.
Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency states in its Outlook 2023 that the transition to renewable energy sources is 'unstoppable'. By 2030, clean energy will provide half of global needs.
3. Geopolitics and computer chips
In the book Chip War, author Chris Miller convincingly shows what role the development of computer chips has played in the economic and military dominance of the United States over the past fifty years.
Now the situation is changing. For several years, China and the United States have been in a trade war over computer chips. A complicating factor is that TMSC is the market leader in chip manufacturing. TMSC is located on Taiwan, an island that China considers part of its country.
Invasion of Taiwan?
For the latter reason, various experts argue that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is a real possibility. The question then is how the United States will respond, especially with its current support for Ukraine, among others.
And if a Chinese invasion of Taiwan occurs, it will have far-reaching consequences for the supply of chips and therefore the global economy.
Deep dive
Articles, books, podcasts, videos, documentaries and more on this theme.
1. READ / This book was already in the overview above. But because it is my absolute reading tip of the past year, I will share it again: Chip War by Chris Miller.
A mix of science, technology, business, innovation, geopolitics, war and spies. I thought it was a great book.
2. WATCH / With the advancement of ChatGPT and other similar tools, I often think about the movie Her starring Joaquim Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson (2013, IMDb score: 8.0).
The film's image of the main character's interaction with an operating system seems increasingly realistic.
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