Tech and mobile app predictions from Inflectra for 2024

The year 2024 is upon us and, with it, some of the biggest changes technology has ever brought to multiple industries. Technological innovations and mobile applications promise to create seismic shifts across countless sectors, from the healthcare industry and manufacturing to military and defense.

Below are five ways developments in technology and mobile applications will forge into the unknown and forever change the landscapes of many markets.

Software is in; Hardware is out

Programmable software is taking the world by storm and quickly making hardware obsolete. Why? Software is more versatile and programmable.

From the supply chain and logistics space to the aerospace and automotive industries, software keeps replacing discrete parts.

But all hope is not lost for hardware companies. It simply means they need to deliver additional agility and adaptability to their solutions, to become more flexible like their software counterparts and competitors.

One big difference to note here, however, is that most software companies are not required to adhere to stringent tests (e.g. ASPICE, ISO26262) whereas hardware companies are. So these hardware companies that are becoming more software-like must turn to tools used for designing and testing hardware (e.g. CAD, CAM, PLM) as well as those used for software (e.g. ALM, DevOps, etc.).

Data will be protected by artificial large language models

AI large language models (LLMs) empower businesses to leverage the power of AI without compromising their data privacy. If companies are concerned that their data, when entered into AI platforms, will ultimately end up online, this is the best solution to prevent that.

LLMs use massive external datasets rather than a company’s personal, private data, making them an excellent fit for companies that cannot risk exposing secure data to the internet by allowing AI to access it. Doing so lets companies get a quick snapshot of a public LLM, download it, and then store it locally using edge computing.

However, building and training an LLM can be highly resource-intensive since they require high-end hardware that is expensive and also demands high-end computing power.

Thanks to new AI platforms, vendors can now download models and run them on less robust infrastructure to get insights and answers to questions without the model requiring their own, secure data, from which it can learn. At the time of writing, Apple just announced that it can run a snapshot of an LLM on an iPhone using existing hardware.

This keeps confidential data from accidentally showing up in the model and makes it more affordable for companies to apply AI to their applications. It also empowers software vendors to embed AI into their products more reliably, rather than requiring access to a live LLM.

Business users who want to be able to use AI without compromising their data security may want to consider downloading a local copy of an LLM that will allow them to adopt AI large language models (LLMs) without risking their data security by letting AI models use it for training purposes.

Coming soon to a doctor near you: Healthcare kiosks

If you haven’t seen a healthcare kiosk yet in a doctor’s office near you, expect to soon. These kiosks are designed to free up medical providers to do more complex tasks and supplement in-person care by handling the menial ones.

After the pandemic, there was a big drop in the number of doctors and nurses in the workforce. Self-service kiosks like this will help to fill that void by assisting medical providers with simple tasks and minor diagnoses. They can take height and weight measurements. They can also scan patients’ eyes and use other biometric markers to confirm identity, etc. They can even help with the initial wellness exams and potentially suggest diagnoses and protocols for minor ailments.

By identifying common markers and then escalating patients to human doctors, healthcare kiosks may ultimately revolutionize the healthcare industry if their vitals fall outside the scope of acceptable or expected norms.

Advertising is about to become hyper-personal thanks to AR and VR

Get ready for advertising to become much more targeted and personalized - and more tied to people than locations. With VR and AR becoming the norm, physical and out-of-home advertisements such as billboards will soon vanish and be replaced by hyper-customized ads displayed to each person via VR and AR, based on their unique needs, location, and purchasing habits.

As a result, companies should carefully consider how this shift could change their future marketing strategies and/or lead to a significant change, pivot, or overhaul in their marketing and advertising campaigns in 2024.

New off-the-shelf solutions make the defense industry more agile

How mission systems are created, developed, tested, and deployed is changing as the defense industry becomes increasingly agile. This change is mainly due to the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, demonstrating how a less financially robust military can still succeed with less funding.

As a result, many defense organizations are now starting to use off-the-shelf components (e.g. commercial drones) they can adapt for military use. This is much cheaper than designing a weapons system from scratch, which requires the development of use requirements and having companies custom-build solutions. Commercial products can be mapped to end-use requirements and altered by simply changing how systems are defined and designed, rather than beginning with a blank page and investing in needlessly expensive, custom-built solutions.

As we watch how these new technologies continue to change the course of history and force various industries to adjust and pivot, 2024 will prove to be an exciting year filled with promises of disruption and adaptation. By paying close attention to these pioneering innovations, companies can stay ahead of the curve and anticipate shifts that may require new strategies.

Embracing these technological advancements isn't merely an option but a necessity for staying competitive and relevant in an ever-evolving landscape. The lessons learned from the past years emphasize the critical need for agility and foresight in navigating the waves of change. As we step into 2024, the fusion of artificial intelligence, blockchain, biotechnology, and other breakthroughs will undeniably redefine norms and create unprecedented opportunities.

Companies willing to harness the power of innovation, pivot when necessary, and boldly explore new strategies will not only survive but thrive in this era of constant transformation. The dawn of 2024 beckons as a catalyst for those who dare to envision, adapt, and lead amidst this wave of disruptive change.