The Future of Tech Innovations on Society

By: Katie Brenneman

Recent growth in tech industries like artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and renewable energy has changed the world dramatically in the past five years.

Today, programs like ChatGPT can provide real-time answers to complex questions, host remote conferences with hundreds of participants, and power your home with solar panels.

The scale of these innovations emphasizes the near-exponential growth that the tech industry enjoys today. Many of our favourite tools and devices, like Zoom or wearables, did not exist a decade ago or were still in their infancy.

But what will the future hold for technological advancement? Will fuel cells reshape the way we power our vehicles? Will wearables help us catch health conditions sooner? Answering these questions with any degree of certainty is impossible. However, one thing is clear: technology will rapidly reshape society in the coming years.

AI and Big Issues

The world faces some major challenges in the next few decades. Climate change is already placing pressure on vulnerable populations, income inequality is worsening, and more people face health-related issues like diabetes and cardiovascular illness. These issues are being tackled by inventors in the tech industry, who are currently working on tech like:

• Healthcare:The expansion of wearables and the IoT means that people can track health data and make better-informed decisions. This is particularly useful for people who are managing chronic illnesses and need to stay updated with their vital signs.
• Safety: AI-powered safety systems can take in hundreds of variables and help drivers make safer decisions on the road. AI can also prevent collisions by using camera data to hit the brakes when a crash is about to occur.
• Climate Resilience:Climate change will reshape the way the world works. Responding to these changes requires forward-compatible devices that are resilient to high winds and temperatures. This will help decision-makers respond to catastrophes and reduce waste caused by obsolete devices.
• Fibre Internet:For techs like natural language processing models and IoT devices to be effective, users need access to high-speed fibre internet. Fiber offers better speeds, improved reliability, and larger bandwidths.

Inventors who push the boundaries of tech in these industries will help us pivot towards a more eco-friendly, data-informed world. This is crucial today, as many of our long-term issues, like climate change and wealth inequality, are coming to a head. While technology alone cannot solve these systemic issues, it can alleviate some of the tension folks will feel as the world grows hotter.

Anti-Aging

The beauty industry is awash with products claiming to turn back time and reduce wrinkles. However, very few products can back up their claims, and even fewer can combat aging. While it’s unlikely that we’ll ever be able to stop the clock on aging, there are a few breakthroughs in anti-aging technologyto make note of today, including:

• Cell Reprogramming:Harvard scientists have been experimenting with four genes to return aged cells to their embryonic-like state. This can replace cells damaged by heart attack or stroke and help reduce the decline related to cell aging.
• Gene Therapy:Mutations make genes non-functional. This is a real issue when people are aging, when they may be more prone to disease and illness. Gene therapy can modify a gene to treat the disease and help people live longer.
• Telomere Extension: Telomeres cap everyone’s chromosomes. However, telomeres shorten at the end of each cell cycle until they reach a critical length where they can no longer divide. Extending these telomeres with technology can fight back against aging and reduce cancer risk.

Technological advancements may help scientists better understand why we age and how to prevent it. However, the best advice for most people remains the same: do not smoke, lead a healthy, active lifestyle, and minimize your alcohol consumption.

Low Impact Vehicles

Data collected by Natural Resources Canadashows that the average Canadian vehicle emits around 4,600 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere per year. This makes gasoline the worst offender for emissions amongst all popular fuel sources. However, moving away from gasoline is difficult, as many drivers cite concerns over reliability and range when considering a switch to electric.

In years to come, automotive suppliers seek to solve this puzzle by increasing access to hydrogen fuel cell technology. Manufacturers like Volkswagen and Hopium, a hydrogen fuel car manufacturer, support this movement. Today, 50 hydrogen fueling stations are in the USA, and many hope the tech will catch on in nations like Canada soon.

Conclusion

Innovations in the tech industry can redefine the way that the world works. In the last 5 years alone, we’ve seen an explosion of AI tech and a dramatic increase in EV adoption. While the future of tech remains unclear, industries like healthcare, automobile manufacturing, and AI show signs of strong growth. This can improve our quality of life, fight back against climate change, and empower everyday citizens to make more sustainable lifestyle choices.

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Katie Brenneman is a writer looking to grow her online presence and portfolio.