2023 has been a year of remarkable progress, advancement, and innovation, especially in tech. As corny as it may sound, we have seen a literal quantum leap across the tech and science space this year, which unfolded like the pages of a science fiction novel.
In a groundbreaking development, IBM became the first company to build a Quantum chip that can work with more than a thousand qubits. Following that, a research team at Harvard designed the first logical programmable quantum processor, putting mankind one step closer to achieving ‘Quantum Supremacy.’
Consumer tech space has also seen a drastic overhaul with new and improved wearable technologies. Flexible displays have become creaseless, and batteries have become more power efficient, allowing companies to experiment with new wearable devices.
We have also started seeing more and more applications of blockchain technology as Smart Contracts become a more popular and safer way to execute terms without involving any third parties.
Amidst this whirlwind of new advancements and innovations, a few towers above the rest, setting the course for our future.
Artificial Intelligence – Bard, Gemini, GPT-4, DALL·E 3, Meta AI and more
Artificial intelligence, especially generative AI, was in the spotlight this year from the very beginning.
This year, we’ve witnessed advancements and a revolution in AI applications, profoundly altering how we interact with technology.
The year started with Microsoft bringing the capabilities of OpenAI’s ChatGPT to Bing, their search engine as a Copilot. On top of that, OpenAI released Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 or GPT-4 in mid-March, putting themselves on the frontline as one of the pioneers of AI advancement. Following the release of GPT-4 from OpenAI, companies like Zoom, Ford, HubSpot, and Khan Academy unveiled various AI-powered tools.
Google introduced Bard, their conversational AI, to compete with Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing Chatbot Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT with the GPT-4 update.
Throughout the year, Google kept adding new and valuable features to Bard, like YouTube video summarisation. And with the latest integration with Google Gemini, a multimodal LLM that surpassed GPT-4 in almost every benchmark, Bard is racing against the tides to make big splashes that will shape how people search and use information online.
Adobe also jumped onto the AI train and released its own generative AI machine learning model, Firefly, which is explicitly used for graphics design.
OpenAI made another significant leap in generative AI, specifically image generation, with DALL·E 3. Even though image generation models like DALL·E or MidJourney are not technically ‘new’ in 2023, such tools didn’t take off until recently. For a long time, such tools were limited to enthusiasts. But as we get used to AI and AI-powered tools, people are increasingly using AI in their daily tasks.
This led to an inter-industry overhaul, causing companies like Canva to integrate generative AI in their design tools.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Quest Devices, also dipped their toes into the AI space and announced Meta AI across its suite of products, which will act as a generative AI assistant for the users.
The emergence of text content generation AI models is also a big thing to come in 2023. Tools like Jasper, Wordtune, and Scribe are becoming more and more valuable to content creators and bloggers.
Generative AI tools like AlphaCode, SeamlessM4T and GitHub Copilot also made headlines with their shocking capabilities. 2023 has been the breakthrough year for Generative AI in every sense.
Hydrogen-Powered Planes – Sustainable aviation fuel for a cleaner future
2023 marked a pivotal year in aviation history with the emergence of hydrogen-powered planes, symbolising a significant step toward sustainable air travel.
Earlier this year, a Hydrogen-powered aircraft from Universal Hydrogen, nicknamed “Lightning McClean,” completed a 15-minute test flight over the U.S. West Coast and the English countryside. Following the success of this test flight, aviation startups like ZeroAvia and Universal Hydrogen are expected to commence commercial operations as early as 2025.
Hydrogen fuel cells, the technology driving these planes, work by converting hydrogen into electricity, which then powers electric motors to spin the propellers. This method not only promises a nearly 90% reduction in life-cycle emissions compared to traditional aircraft but also operates without emitting harmful nitrogen oxides or fine particulate matter.
While the current focus is on retrofitting small, short-haul turboprops seating around 50 to 60 passengers, the success of these models is anticipated to lay the groundwork for larger, more powerful hydrogen aircraft, including potential hydrogen combustion engines. Major aircraft manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing are already exploring hydrogen technologies, reflecting the industry’s commitment to addressing climate change.
The aviation sector’s quest to reduce its carbon footprint drives the shift to hydrogen. Hydrogen, mainly when produced using renewable energy, offers a cleaner alternative to conventional jet fuel. Though more expensive to produce currently, hydrogen’s superior energy efficiency means it could become a cost-effective option in the long run.
As we look ahead, hydrogen-powered planes represent more than an eco-friendly alternative; they are a beacon of innovation, setting the stage for a greener, more sustainable aviation industry. With ongoing advancements and increasing support from major players in the sector, hydrogen aviation stands on the cusp of transforming air travel as we know it, and it all started in 2023 with a successful test flight.
Mixed Reality – Apple Vision Pro, Quest 3 and Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
This year, we have witnessed a transformative leap across the reality-virtuality continuum, especially with the launch of Apple Vision Pro, Quest 3, and Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. While Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) weren’t novel concepts this year, these devices triggered a significant evolution in how we interact with digital environments.
Apple Vision Pro emerged as a game-changer, seamlessly blending AR and VR to create immersive mixed experiences. Its advanced machine learning facilitates real-time, hands-free environmental interaction and personalised virtual experiences, setting a new standard in the field.
Quest 3 advanced MR with its sophisticated AI algorithms, enhancing user engagement and interaction in virtual spaces. This device offers an enriched virtual experience and promises gaming, education, and professional training advancements.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses marked a pivotal moment in wearable MR technology, especially with Meta’s new assisting copilot, Meta AI. These glasses, while stylish, incorporate cutting-edge AI to provide real-time information overlay and intuitive interaction with the user’s environment, redefining the concept of wearable technology.
Together, these innovations are not just technological marvels; they represent the future of MR. Integrating advanced machine learning and AI offers more than entertainment – they provide tools for enhanced learning, immersive storytelling, and interactive social connectivity. As these technologies continue to evolve, they are poised to reshape our daily lives, offering new ways to interact with the world around us.
Passkeys – A quick and secure passwordless authentication
As envisioned in 2022 during the initial announcement, the digital world is now ready to embrace Passkeys as the next groundbreaking approach to online security, marking a significant shift from traditional password-based systems. Developed as a more secure and user-friendly alternative, Passkeys rely on a cryptographic technique where a unique digital key is created and stored on the user’s device, eliminating the need for remembering complex passwords.
Passkeys work by utilising public key cryptography. When users register with a service, their device creates a pair of cryptographic keys – a private key that stays securely on the device and a public key shared with the online service.
The private key stored in the device can only be accessed by the phone’s screen lock, usually through Fingerprint, Face ID and Touch ID, which are much more secure than passwords or pins that can be easily copied.
For authentication, the service requests a signature using the private key, verified using the public key. This method ensures that the private keys remain safe even if a server is compromised, significantly reducing the risk of mass data breaches.
Major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft have been instrumental in adopting and promoting Passkeys, integrating them into their operating systems and browsers. This initiative has led to widespread adoption across various platforms and websites, enhancing user experience and security.
Passkeys represent a paradigm shift in online security. Removing the vulnerabilities associated with traditional passwords simplifies the user experience and provides a robust defence against cyber threats. As more companies adopt this technology, Passkeys are set to become the new standard in digital security, profoundly changing how we protect our online identities.
Brain-Computer Interface – Neural smartbrain bridging brain and computer
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), also known as neural electronics, are pioneering the future of human-machine interaction. This technology enables direct communication pathways between a brain and an external device.
BCIs convert brain signals into commands, allowing control over computers or prosthetics. Unlike earlier rigid devices, recent advances in flexible neural electronics offer a more harmonious integration with brain tissue, enhancing biocompatibility and reducing scarring.
A significant stride in BCI was made by Elon Musk-led Neuralink, which obtained approval in September 2023 to conduct human trials. Their clinical trials aim to examine the safety and efficacy of their BCI systems, and they are actively looking for volunteer patients to conduct this 6-year-long PRIME study.
BCIs have the potential to transform the lives of individuals with neurological conditions, offering improved management of conditions like epilepsy and enhanced control over neuroprosthetics without the need for frequent recalibration.
This year has indeed laid the foundation for a future that’s more interconnected and empowering than ever. These groundbreaking techs, from AI that amplifies human creativity to hydrogen-fueled planes that promise a cleaner sky, and from the seamless integration of our digital and physical realities to the profound connections made possible by brain-computer interfaces, are not just shaping the future—they are actively forging a new and better reality for everyone.
Author: Rifat Ahmed
