During the SXSW 2024 event held in Austin, United States, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) unveiled its annual report highlighting the ten technologies that most influenced global events in the past year. The release took place on Friday (9) and was conducted by MIT’s communication vehicle, the MIT Technology Review.
Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau, editor and CEO of the publication, shared with the audience the criteria that led to the selection of the technologies featured on this year’s list. Artificial intelligence (AI) stood out, occupying the top position.
“It’s no surprise to see AI on the list. 2023 was a year of significant advancements in this field. We are now at a moment where the public interacts directly with AI, consciously testing it and using it to create generative images,” said Bramson-Boudreau.
Despite the challenges faced throughout the year, AI remains a trend promising to transform social behaviors.
Another highlighted technology is solar energy cells, crucial for reducing carbon emissions in the environment. In third place is the Apple Vision Pro, a virtual reality headset with the largest high-resolution screen ever made for a device of its kind, which will begin commercialization later this year.
The MIT report also includes weight loss medications, geothermal energy systems, chiplets, gene editing treatments, exascale computers, heat pumps, and competing platforms that contributed to changes on Twitter.
These technologies represent significant advancements in various fields and have the potential to positively impact the world in the coming years. Check out the following:
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovations
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI stood out, occupying the top position. “It’s no surprise to see AI on the list. 2023 was a year of significant advancements in this field. We are now at a moment where the public interacts directly with AI, consciously testing it and using it to create generative images,” said Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau, editor and CEO of the MIT Technology Review.
2. New Solar Cells: Fundamental technology for reducing carbon emissions in the environment, the new solar cells set efficiency records in 2023, using the mineral Perovskite in conjunction with Silicon.
3. Apple Vision Pro: The virtual reality headset with the largest high-resolution screen ever made for a device of its kind, which will begin commercialization later this year by Apple.
Health and Well-being
4. Weight Loss Medications: With the global increase in obesity, medications such as Mounjaro and Wegovy have become powerful tools against the problem, also demonstrating benefits in protecting against heart attacks and strokes.
5. Gene Editing Treatment: New CRISPR-based treatments have been in development for years, with a Vertex treatment receiving regulatory approval in the United Kingdom and the United States to cure sickle cell disease.
Energy and Sustainability
6. Geothermal Energy Systems: Clean and virtually unlimited technology, geothermal energy systems have great potential, especially with the advancement of new drilling techniques that enable more heat to be released from the Earth to produce clean energy.
7. Heat Pumps: Electrical appliances capable of cooling and heating buildings, heat pumps saw increased sales worldwide, surpassing gas furnaces for the first time in the United States.
Computing and Advanced Technology
8. Chiplets: Specialized microchips that can be interconnected to do everything a conventional chip does and more, promising to make computers faster and more efficient.
9. Exascale Computers: The world’s fastest supercomputers can now perform more calculations than an exaflop (that is, a 1 followed by 18 zeros), allowing for more sophisticated simulations in various scientific areas.
Emerging Technologies and Social Networks
10. “Twitter Killers”: Acquisitions and changes in the structure of Twitter, such as Elon Musk’s purchase and the emergence of alternatives like Bluesky and Threads, have significantly altered the dynamics of this social network.
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