Top 10 Technology Trends Of 2024: A Year Of Innovations, Controversies & Debates.

As we bid adieu to 2024, it’s time to reflect on the top technology trends that made headlines this year. From the rise of generative AI to the growing importance of sustainable technology, these trends have transformed how we live and work.

The tech industry has long been a hotbed of innovation, but with innovation comes controversy. In 2024, several major issues have sparked heated debates across various sectors, from AI ethics to data privacy. These controversies have brought attention to technological advancements’ ethical, social and environmental implications.

Now, here’s a closer look at the top 10 technology trends of 2024:

1. Generative AI and the Spread of Misinformation

Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and deepfakes have been making headlines in 2024 due to their ability to create highly realistic but misleading content.

Also, read| Deepfake Video Of Alia Bhatt Goes Viral: Fans Express Major Concerns

These technologies have been used to spread misinformation, particularly during critical events like elections and has made headlines also in the entertainment world.

This happened priorly on the X platform and the media claimed that X remained as the number one platform in spreading misinformation. 

“The counter to misinformation is better information.”
Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/TsnfQ1mXJo

— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) December 25, 2024

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024, the rapid proliferation of synthetic content is a serious threat to democracy and social stability and has paved the way for debates in social media platforms in 2024.

200+ Female Idols Found In Deepfake Porn, Netizens Disgustedhttps://t.co/nUWTaeMERR

— Koreaboo (@Koreaboo) August 29, 2024

When it comes to technology in India, a wave of deepfake videos hits India celebrities several Indian celebrities have fallen victim to deepfake videos which have been circulating on social media platforms.

For instance: actor Rashmika Mandanna’s deepfake video was posted by an Instagram account that has been uploading similar manipulated content.

Also, read| Elon Musk’s Own AI Tool Flags Him As A ‘Leading Misinformation Source On X’

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt’s deepfake video which digitally superimposed her face onto the body of actress Wamiqa Gabbi went viral before being exposed as fake.

These incidents point fingers at the growing concern of deepfake technology being misused to spread misinformation and compromise the privacy of individuals.

2. Data Privacy, Cybersecurity Breaches and Virtual Arrest

Data privacy remains a hot-button issue in 2024 with tech companies facing intense scrutiny for their data collection and surveillance practices.

One of the most significant incidents involved a social media giant being accused of collecting user data without proper consent. This violation led to legal battles and reignited debates on the balance between user privacy and profit-driven data monetisation models.

India’s largest health insurance provider, Star Health and Allied Insurance has suffered a massive data breach, exposing sensitive personal information of over 31 million customers.

The breach was facilitated through chatbots on Telegram, highlighting concerns about data security and technology misuse. The leaked data includes mobile numbers, addresses, medical conditions, tax details, and medical claims.

Also, read| Star Health Insurance Stock Falls 2.5% Amid Massive Data Breach

The breach has had severe consequences for Star Health, including a significant decline in its market value and a reputational crisis. The company has filed complaints with regulatory authorities and is conducting a forensic investigation. Similar cases have been reported in the year 2024.

In June, a massive data breach was reported, allegedly exposing the personally identifiable information (PII) of over 375 million Airtel India users on the dark web.

However, Airtel swiftly denied the claims, stating that there was no evidence to support the allegations of a data breach.

There has been a report alleging that Airtel customer data has been compromised. This is nothing short of a desperate attempt to tarnish Airtel’s reputation by vested interests. We have done a thorough investigation and can confirm that there has been no breach whatsoever from… pic.twitter.com/1b2vs2ud4I

— Bharti Airtel (@airtelnews) July 5, 2024

In recent times, virtual arrests have become increasingly prevalent with scammers exploiting people’s fear of law enforcement to extort money.

One such case has come to light in which a 39-year-old software engineer fell prey to a “digital arrest” scam, losing a whopping Rs 11.8 crore.

According to police, the victim was contacted by fraudsters impersonating police officials who claimed that his Aadhaar card was being misused to open bank accounts for money laundering. The scammers convinced the engineer that he would be arrested if he didn’t cooperate with them.

This is not an isolated incident. There have been several cases reported across the country where people have lost lakhs of rupees to such scams.

In one case, a retired army officer lost Rs 1.2 crore after being threatened with arrest for allegedly being involved in a money laundering racket.

In another instance, a businessman was duped of Rs 50 lakh by scammers who claimed that his company was being investigated for tax evasion in India.

3. AI Bias and Discrimination

AI bias has been a persistent issue, and 2024 has seen heightened attention to its potentially harmful effects.

In one prominent case, a facial recognition system was found to exhibit higher error rates when identifying people of colour, sparking accusations of racial discrimination. This has triggered renewed calls for transparency and fairness in AI development.

A stark illustration of how technological advancements can perpetuate racial biases is the use of predictive policing tools.

These tools utilise location and personal data to make predictions about who is likely to commit future crimes and where these crimes may occur.

This approach has raised concerns about the perpetuation of systemic racism, as it often relies on historical crime data that reflects existing biases.

4. Environmental Impact of Tech

While technology has undoubtedly elevated our lives with unparalleled comfort and efficiency, it also casts a long shadow of environmental degradation.

The ecological footprint of the tech industry is multifaceted and far-reaching, spanning from the depletion of natural resources to the generation of staggering amounts of electronic waste (e-waste).

The manufacturing of electronic devices is a resource-intensive process, guzzling enormous amounts of energy and raw materials.

This has devastating environmental consequences including deforestation, soil degradation and water pollution, ultimately threatening the delicate balance of our ecosystem.

The environmental footprint of the tech industry has come under scrutiny in 2024, particularly concerning the energy consumption of data centres and blockchain networks.

A recent report revealed that the energy demands of these facilities have reached unsustainable levels, contributing significantly to carbon emissions.

5. Microsoft Blue Screen of Death Issue

In 2024, Microsoft faced a major controversy when a widespread issue with the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error message caused frustration among users.

After ruling out cyberattacks, the company attributed the issue to a flawed security update related to its Falcon Sensor software.

Also, read| 8.5 Million Devices Affected By Crowdstrike Outage, Says Microsoft

The problematic update which was part of a content configuration update of Crowdstrike for Windows sensors, triggered a logic error that led to system crashes.

The issue which was later resolved, sparked concerns about the reliability and stability of Microsoft’s operating systems.

The incident had far-reaching consequences impacting various organisations worldwide, including airports, hospitals and emergency services. Despite the fix being deployed, companies are still feeling the effects of the issue.

6. Ethical Concerns in AI Development

The rapid growth in AI development has raised several ethical considerations, particularly in how these technologies are being deployed.

In 2024, a hiring algorithm previously used at a major company was found to be biased against certain demographic groups which further raised questions about the ethical use of AI in decision-making processes.

7. Tech Monopolies and Antitrust Investigations

For years, dominance in the tech industry has been held by a few major players. However, in 2024, issues of antitrust have come to the forefront.

Several companies are being investigated and facing lawsuits over practices that critics say are stifling competition and hindering innovation.

For instance: The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department launched antitrust investigations into Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia, citing concerns over their influence on the artificial intelligence industry.

The FTC led the investigation into Microsoft and OpenAI while the DOJ will focus on Nvidia. Notably, the investigations will concentrate on the companies’ conduct rather than mergers and acquisitions.

This move comes as tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta engage in an AI arms race, racing to integrate AI technology to stay competitive in a market projected to reach $1 trillion in revenue within a decade.

Microsoft, for instance, invested $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019 which has since grown to approximately $13 billion.

The investigations made a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of Big Tech’s dominance in the AI market.

The FTC has already opened an investigation into OpenAI’s data collection practices and the European Commission has examined Microsoft’s $13 billion investment in OpenAI.

8. Impact of Automation on Employment

With automation increasingly improving, one of the major contentious issues arises in the contribution of automation toward employment.

A report in 2024 predicted that increased automation would cause considerable job displacement in some industries sparking fear of greater economic inequality and social instability.

Another report from PwC, released in August reveals a striking correlation between AI adoption and productivity growth.

The study found that industries heavily leveraging artificial intelligence, such as financial services, IT and professional services are experiencing a remarkable surge in productivity.

Specifically, these AI-exposed sectors are witnessing productivity growth nearly five times higher than sectors with limited AI exposure including transport and construction.

Also, a report by McKinsey, released in 2024 highlights a major shift in the job market. The study predicts that demand for advanced technological skills, including data science, programming and cybersecurity will surge by 30% by 2030.

As AI-exposed sectors continue to expand workers will need to develop strong IT skills to effectively oversee automated processes and analyse AI-generated insights.

However, the report also notes that many companies have already begun to furlough employees due to the increasing reliance on technology, raising concerns about job displacement and the need for workers to adapt to new technologies.

9. Sustainable Technology and Green IT

The environmental impact of the tech industry has become a pressing concern in 2024. Companies are focusing on reducing their carbon footprint and promoting environmental sustainability. HPE’s GreenLake platform represents a new approach to cloud services that prioritizes energy efficiency.

Companies like Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, HP, and Dell Technologies claimed that they pioneer sustainable practices in the tech industry.

Here’s a brief overview of their initiatives:

• Apple: Aim to be carbon neutral by 2030, using recycled materials, and reducing energy consumption.
• Amazon: Targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, investing in renewable energy, sustainable packaging, and electric vehicles.
•  Microsoft: Commits to carbon negativity by 2030, focusing on sustainability R&D, cloud computing efficiency, and advocating for climate policies.
• Alphabet (Google): Aims to power 100% of its operations with carbon-free energy by 2030, investing in renewable energy, sustainable technologies, and circular economy practices.
• HP: Targets carbon neutrality by 2040, utilizing 100% renewable energy by 2025, and achieving zero waste by 2025.
• Dell Technologies: Aims for zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, promoting a circular economy, using sustainable materials and investing in renewable energy.
• NVIDIA: Commits to reducing its carbon footprint, using renewable energy sources, and implementing sustainable practices throughout its operations and supply chain.

10. Google’s AI Overviews Face Backlash Amid Accuracy Concerns

Google’s introduction of AI Overviews a feature providing AI-driven summaries on search result pages was marred by severe criticism.

The rollout was plagued by issues including the provision of false medical advice and inaccurate information about public figures.

The public outcry prompted Google to limit AI Overviews to fewer queries and implement technical adjustments to enhance accuracy.

Google, this is embarrassing.

You published an impressive video showing Gemini answering your questions. It looked awesome. It looked real-time.

But it was a lie. None of that happened as recorded and presented to the public.

Instead, you cherry-picked frames and edited a… pic.twitter.com/GjyqWPyaIu

— Santiago (@svpino) December 6, 2023

Publishers also expressed concerns about the potential impact of AI Overviews on their website traffic and revenue. They feared that search results comprised solely of AI summaries would answer users’ questions directly on the search page, thereby reducing the need to visit their sites.