What will technology look like in 2024? We have some ideas. From generative AI on smartphones to screenless gadgets and toys, here are our four big tech predictions for the coming year.
2023 saw a significant shift away from pointless product launches, especially in smartphones. The discussion shifted to new areas of technology, signaling a rethinking of how technology can play a critical role in our lives. This unexpected turn of events demonstrated the industry’s ability to refocus. The clear winner of this development was artificial intelligence. This was a watershed moment for personal tech and catalyzed long-term technology adoption.
In 2024, we can expect to see continued momentum in AI, including its potential impact on the devices we use every day and beyond. Here are four big personal tech predictions that could have a big impact in 2024.
Big Changes to Happen in Personal Tech
Generative AI is coming to smartphones
Smartphones will become smarter in 2024. It won’t necessarily undergo a physical change, but it’s set for significant evolution and the introduction of new use cases that will refresh the smartphone experience. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a central role in smartphones and has contributed to features like voice dictation and camera improvements. However, the emergence of generative AI is expected to bring completely different capabilities.
In 2023, Google’s Pixel 8 series offered a preview of how AI could improve the smartphone experience with features like Magic Compose and Magic Editor. This served as a taste of what was to come. Similarly, Qualcomm showed what 2024 smartphones might look like when it unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip in October. The processor, set to power every major Android smartphone this year, including the OnePlus 12 and Samsung Galaxy S24, brings next-generation on-device AI to consumer hardware.
For example, the photo enlargement feature allows the user to resize an image without distorting it or reducing the image resolution. In a demonstration, Qualcomm demonstrated how to use time-of-flight sensors to measure the number of particles present in the air and how to use AI to determine air quality to determine if it is safe to go outside. In another demonstration, infrared sensors were used with an AI model on a phone to determine the moisture level of a person by touching their skin. These features may not be immediately adopted by smartphones, but they are a step forward from where we are today.
The discussion has moved beyond voice-based assistants like Google Assistant and Siri, as well as Auto-Correct. The introduction of ChatGPT shows that AI is more than just a buzzword and that processing generative AI tasks on the device at the chip level seems to be the future, at least for mobile devices. This means that developers, operating system providers, and OEMs will need to modify their applications and software to fully utilize AI on the device. All eyes are on Apple, the North Star, to see how it responds to Google and Qualcomm by bringing generative AI capabilities to the iPhone.
Devices and toys without screens
If Human’s Imran Chaudhary is to be believed, smartphones are on their last legs. But what will replace it? Well, an AI pin-like device designed to be worn on our clothes allows users to answer calls, send messages, and get answers to questions without ever looking at the screen. It’s a device that Chaudhry believes is the future of technology, but without the screen, all with artificial intelligence. However, the question remains: Can the device live up to the hype? This question worries everyone, but no one has a clear answer.
Chowdhury’s confidence in shipping the device in March for $699 proves he’s ready to take on his former employer (in this case Apple) with an iPhone killer. The stakes are high, but Chaudhary is not alone in this field. It may be most visible because of its experience at Apple, but experiments are underway to make screenless, AI-powered products more popular and mainstream. Grok, for example, is an interactive AI toy for kids that lets them chat with the toy, ask questions
An extension of augmented reality glasses
Even if Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse doesn’t take off, the market hasn’t completely eliminated augmented reality/mixed reality headsets. With Apple’s launch of Vision Pro in “early 2024,” mixed reality and augmented reality devices will finally come into focus, though the actual increase won’t happen anytime soon. It is still early and no one knows which technology (AR or MR) will be accepted.
Experts expect more of these headsets to hit the market in the coming years, though initial failures and high retail prices have so far limited consumer interest. Overall, 2024 will lay the groundwork for a new ecosystem for these headsets to form, just as smartphones did in the early 2010s. That’s a good sign because companies like Apple can focus more on improving the user experience and preparing developers for compatible apps instead of rushing to sell more units to attract new customers.
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Portable consoles dominate
2023 was the best year for handheld consoles, amazing interiors, and subject matter experts. While mobile gaming is huge, portable gaming devices saw a breakthrough for the first time in a decade. Valve strengthened its position with the Steam Deck OLED, and major PC manufacturers Asus and Lenovo both introduced their first-generation handheld consoles.
Not to forget smaller players like Ianio and Analog, who continued to release niche handhelds, attracting new customers to the once-popular portable gaming space. Sony also drew attention with the PlayStation Portal, but not the kind of handheld console we’ve been waiting for. However, gamers have never been bored as handheld consoles have proven to be the best way to play games on the go.
These are just a glimpse of the exciting things to come in personal tech. Remember, the future is unpredictable, but one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be packed with incredible new ways to live, work, and connect. So, stay curious, embrace the changes, and get ready for a thrilling ride!
