Top Technology Trends From 2021

Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been new technological advances to meet the new needs of the new reality. Some of those trends proved to be efficient and practical even in a post-epidemic world. Here are the top technology trends from 2021.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

There has been a lot of buzz about Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the past decade. This is due to its potential to impact our lives in numerous ways, including how we work, play, and interact. Some of the areas that AI is already making notable effects include:

• Smartphone personal assistants

• Image and speech recognition

• Navigation apps

• Ride-sharing apps

Another potential application of AI is exploring interactions for undiscovered connections to gain more insight by analyzing data in real-time. This will help service providers like hospitals to notice changing patterns in customer behavior and better resource utilization. It will also help to enhance personalized experiences and drive more revenue. The AI market is projected to grow exponentially in the next five years with increased spending on AI systems. As AI grows, there will be the creation of new jobs in areas such as programming, development, support and maintenance, and testing. Additionally, AI jobs such as AI architect and machine learning offer one of the highest salaries in the industry. Machine learning is a by-product of AI and uses training data to learn or mimic patterns to create new data that resembles the original input. This trend is expected to create numerous jobs in the near future in professions such as data scientists, robot monitoring professionals, content curators, and automation specialists.

Cloud Computing and Quantum computing

Cloud computing has been around for some time now, and it’s slowly spreading across multiple industries. However, cloud computing has its limitations, and the solution to solving those problems is Edge computing. It will help speed up data transfer by processing data in a data center. Edge computing is essential in remote areas with low connectivity, especially when processing time-sensitive data. This technology trend will grow with the increase in the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and it’s expected to create various jobs.

Edge and quantum computing will create jobs such as Cloud reliability engineer, cloud infrastructure engineer, and DevOps cloud engineer. Quantum computing utilizes quantum phenomena like quantum entanglement and superposition. Applications of this technology in the finance sector include high-frequency trading, managing credit risk, and detecting fraud. Quantum computing is also used in the fight against COVID-19. It can examine, track, analyze and act on data from multiple sources, ideal for developing potential vaccines. Big tech companies are diving in and making quantum computers that are much faster than regular computers. Quantum computing is expected to generate huge revenues in the next five years. People with experience in quantum mechanics, information theory, probability, and machine learning are set to benefit the most.

Cyber Security

Cybersecurity is evolving rapidly with innovations to keep up with emerging threats. Data security and privacy have never been more important than in this digital age, and the rise of malicious hackers making cybersecurity a top priority for individuals and organizations. The demand for cyber-security professionals is constantly increasing as hackers find new ways to bypass the toughest security measures. Some of the jobs in demand include malware analyst, security engineer, ethical hacker, and chief security officer.

Internet of Things and 5G

Internet of Things (IoT) has many applications in our daily lives since many devices have built Wi-Fi and can connect to the internet. Appliances like smart thermostats can be controlled remotely when you are away from home, increasing convenience. IoT can also be applied in business to increase efficiency, security and enhance the decision-making process. New technologies like 5G network will boost the use and spending of IoT worldwide. 5G is expected to take over from 3G and 4G and revolutionize our lives. Not only will you be able to browse, stream and download content faster, but it will also be used in HD cameras to boost security. Companies can use 5G for smart retail and smart grid control.

Blockchain

Blockchain is a record-keeping technology that is behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It stores data in blocks that are chained together. New information enters a new block, and once it’s filled, it is chained with the previous block in chronological order. This makes it very secure since you cannot change the previous block, and they are consensus-driven. More industries are adopting the use of blockchain technology leading to the creation of job opportunities. These technology trends are expected to grow in the foreseeable future, creating job opportunities, generating revenue, and improving the quality of life. Some of the trends were accelerated by the needs during the pandemic, but they are here to stay. Failure to adapt to these trends can make a business obsolete or get knocked out by competition.