The Game-Changing Technologies of 2024

By B. Sapoznik

In a world where everything seeks our attention, it is extremely difficult to be able to filter all the received information into knowledge, especially with the surrounding reports of fake news. Amidst this process of filtration, it is even harder to keep up with the new advancements made in the world, which are mixed in different conspiracies, lies, and other chaotic information we are exposed to every day. If you haven’t noticed, 2024 has set a great stage for new game-changing technologies to be released, and so our present point in 2024 gives us enough hindsight to be able to reflect: what are some of the technologies which have truly been incorporated throughout this past year?


In February 2024, Apple released the Apple Vision Pro, which has been an invention long speculated on the technological market. The Vision Pro is a virtual reality headset, which features cutting edge technology and incredible eye/hand tracking sensors. In relation to the hardware used, the Vision Pro contains a 23-million-pixel display, M2/R1 chips, head-tracking spatial sound systems, and others. As much as the invention has been shocking for Apple consumers, the product has reportedly been unattractive for users, with around 300,000 units sold – a shocking low number for a product so desperately speculated in the market. Even though the VR headset hasn’t been much of a success, it has most certainly been one of the major technologies of this year.

On the other hand, the past year has seen a significant growth amount in the market of biotechnology. For instance, the AlphaFold 3 software has allowed for the facilitation of protein formation prediction by research and model-creation through generative AI. This was enabled through Google’s DeepMind group and has been the Chemistry Nobel Prize winning software of 2024 after being released in May 2024. With this technology, the prediction and modelling of protein structures is extremely enhanced, since it facilitates the process for studies and makes biological studies more efficient.

Furthermore, in relation to AI, 2024 has probably been the year with the largest breakthroughs in AI models. From image and text generation to medical diagnostics to database analysis, the AI industry has grown exponentially in this past year. This growth has happened in such a large scale that researchers estimate the AI market to reach U$D 305.9 billion by the end of this year. Yet of course, we have all been ’guinea-pigs’ for their tests, and there have been thousands of reports on faulty versions of AIs from various companies in an attempt to enhance such capabilities. Although, we have now reached an era of relative stability, and it is easy to picture how such technologies can expand in future years, as we see companies such as Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and others fully immerse into the market. As we observe this rise, it is important to note the dangers that the human society might be exposed to, such as job loss and AI control in later years.

Also, the expansive AI industry has been extremely relevant for the theme of quantum computing. This is an area of computing which uses several behaviors of microscopic and sub-atomic particles to improve ways of increasing efficiency in comparison to normal computers through calculation and data models embedded on such particles. In 2024, quantum computer research has led it to become less error-prone, and scientists view capacities of AI working alongside quantum computing as a positive, serving to amplify the capabilities of both fields in more productive and efficient manners. Certainly, this is another sector which could be interesting to accompany in 2025 and in later years due to its predicted expansion.

In general, these have been the main sectors highlighted in innovative technologies until October 2024. There are many more industries and technologies which have also been developed, such as microchip and energy industries, though these are both sectors which are expected to breakthrough in future years, as opposed to the sections mentioned in the article which have stood out specifically this year. The technologies mentioned in this article have certainly been revolutionary in this past year, and will serve as a suitable base for future technological advancements and assistance in many areas of studies, work, and lifestyle as a whole.

Bibliography:

• https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/01/08/1085094/10-breakthrough-technologies-2024/ https://www.fastcompany.com/91154522/apple-vision-pro-sales-supply-chain-idc-asia-europe-price-cost
• alphafold.ebi.ac.uk
• https://techtour.com/news/2024/the-state-of-quantum-in-2024.html#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20key%20themes,complement%20each%20other%20is%20immense.
• https://www.qureca.com/resources/article/quantum-computing-for-dummies/#:~:text=In%20simple%20terms%2C%20quantum%20computing,than%20one%20at%20a%20time.
• https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/ai-statistics?utm_campaign=Generic-Tutorials-DSA|NT:Se|LO:BR-EN&utm_medium=ppc&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpvK4BhDUARIsADHt9sQEmzAWxbcm8j-s_iRCzzxqgw89x7cpHmAmQ_N8G0iUKGzsAxHP9u8aAoJeEALw_wcB