Into The Unknown

It’s a transitory time for tech in many ways.

As we stride into 2024, the tech landscape is brimming with potential breakthroughs that could redefine our daily lives. But let's cut through the hype and examine some of these technologies with a critical, yet optimistic eye.

Quantum leaps

The so-called holy grail of processing power. The promise is huge – solving complex problems in seconds that would take traditional computers millennia. But let's be real: despite significant advancements, we're probably not seeing a quantum computer on every desk this year. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

However, in the past few years, it’s clear that this field is emerging. At the end of last year, one of the most significant strides was made by IBM with their Quantum System Two, the first modular quantum computer featuring the advanced IBM Heron processors. These processors mark a quantum leap (pun intended!) in reducing errors – a five-fold improvement, to be exact. This development is pivotal because error reduction is crucial for reliable quantum computations

The progress doesn't stop there. The concept of error-correcting ensembles, where qubits work in harmony to outperform their physical limitations, has seen real-world applications. Companies like Google Quantum AI and Quantinuum have demonstrated this, pushing us closer to more stable and efficient quantum computing​.

Moreover, the fusion of classical and quantum computing has led to the rise of hybrid systems. These systems are solving problems previously deemed unsolvable, bridging the gap between theoretical quantum advantages and practical applications.

On the software front, IBM’s Qiskit 1.0 is a game-changer, offering improved stability and speed in quantum algorithm development. The incorporation of generative AI into this framework suggests a future where quantum code development is more automated and accessible.

Social media decay and rebirth

Social media, while often cast aside as not nearly as important as other areas of tech but in reality has large societal impacts, is in flux after mostly 15 or so years of status quo. Aside from TikTok, there hasn’t been much change among the big five: Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Snapchat.

With X teetering into the abyss and all the others looking long in the tooth, there feels like a genuine opportunity to shake things up and do something different. Nothing has emerged yet but there are plenty of attempts, with Threads seemingly the furthest along.

I predict we’ll see a lot more experimentation this year in social media and hopefully, something weird and interesting emerges that finally moves us beyond what we’ve already known.

New ways to interact with machines

Interfaces seem ripe for disruption as well. How we interact with machines hasn’t changed much in many years, but we’re seeing some ideas beyond the desktop and smartphone. Voice tech has never really caught on, with Amazon Alexa smart home devices mainly going unused or underused.

Anyone who has interacted with ChatGPT via voice can see how much more conversational and natural the experience is than talking to Siri or Alexa. We’re going to see AI-enabled voice tech in lots of devices soon, and the car might be the most useful one for this to take off because situationally, you’d benefit from that type of interaction more than most other places.

In this transitory time for tech, the conversation is just as important as the innovation itself. That's why I invite you to join us on ON_Discourse, where I serve as the head of content and product. ON_Discourse is a platform for thought leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to engage in meaningful discussions about these groundbreaking technologies. It's a place where ideas are shared, predictions are made, and the future of technology is shaped by those who are most passionate about it. Join us as we explore the cutting edge of tech, challenge the status quo, and envision a future driven by innovation and creativity.

With excitement for what lies ahead,

Anthony DeRosa