2020: The Year of Change in Tech

An opinion piece by Andrei Ene, TribalScale IT Operations Manager

The year started as usual — new year, new beginnings, and definitely a lot of new technology projects on the horizon. As we saw at CES in January, everything from AI to 5G networks are in the works. We thought we would go through the year as usual but quickly that outlook changed. COVID-19 brought the world to its knees.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many exciting things that we have already learned from this crisis. Obviously, going past the usual “we weren’t prepared for this” and “the economy is collapsing before our eyes”, I feel we realized that technology makes the world go ‘round. Technology is what keeps us going, ensures we stay connected, and drives us forward as a society. Here are the few major realizations I’ve made these past few months:

• Many tech businesses don’t need a physical office to operate efficiently because of technology that makes remote work possible;
• Technology is helping us on a daily basis through giving us a means to remain connected across the globe, across time zones;
• We can still communicate with our colleagues and maintain productivity outside the walls of our office;
• Everyday new technologies are being developed and will help us move forward.

So what are those new technological developments, exactly?

AI (Artificial Intelligence)

In computer science, AI is intelligence demonstrated by machines in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and animals. The term “artificial intelligence” is often used to describe machines / computers that mimic functions that humans associate with the human or animal mind, such as “learning” or “problem solving”.

We now have phones and tablets that can respond to voice commands, with the help of virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, which integrate with multiple useful softwares or appliances around your office or house. We are working on humanoid robots like Sophia, an AI that has the ability to maintain a conversation with you.

We have robots in every industry now such as healthcare, with robots assisting surgeons and monitoring patients, or with factory businesses like manufacturers. We also have countries utilizing drones and robots to ensure social distancing in the COVID-19 era; we have self-driving cars with the help of big companies like Google and Tesla; we have 5G that is being deployed as I am writing, the best network for AI, which will help us develop these technologies and build at a much faster pace.

A few countries have already deployed 5G with AI interaction. Additionally, many companies are developing microchips that will keep data in one place, which will act like a digital keychain so there’s no need to worry that you will lose your wallet with all your belongings, for example. Also, developments are being made in healthcare, such as the chip that can notify emergency services if you’re having a stroke or seizure.

The possibilities of these new technologies are essentially endless, it’s like we’re living in a real life version of Back to the Future. So the question remains, should we fear these new developments or openly embrace them? It’s hard to know for sure what the future will look like, but these past months have undoubtedly revealed to us that these advancements in technology have saved many of our businesses by giving us the ability to work remotely through helpful softwares, or advance healthcare practices to ease response times and limit social interaction — something of utmost importance during a global health crisis.

VR (Virtual Reality)

In a world of social distancing, VR could be something that will revolutionize the way we interact with one another.

Think about it, a virtual world where you don’t have social distancing, you can be anyone that you want, you can meet your friends and play games, have a beer and socialize from the comfort and safety of your home — again, something that could potentially help curb a pandemic’s spread.

I think we are making progress towards that, we have so many brilliant people that are working on great things regarding Virtual Reality or AI. As Bill Gates says, it is time to be prepared for the NEXT Pandemic!

Whether we want it or not, change is coming and the COVID-19 pandemic has made us realize we need technological advancements to be done at a faster pace so we can adapt during crises and continue to make progress. I would wager a bet that AI and VR will be the leading developments for the year 2020 in the changing world of tech.

Andrei is the IT Operations Manager here at TribalScale. With more than 15 years of IT experience he’s always looking for new ways to improve how companies work from an IT perspective. With a deep tech understanding and always willing to learn more he is constantly helping his colleagues work faster and easier with new technologies. In his spare time you will find him building cars or taking on new challenges.

TribalScale is a global innovation firm that helps enterprises adapt and thrive in the digital era. We transform teams and processes, build best-in-class digital products, and create disruptive startups. Learn more about us on our website. Connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn & Facebook!