Emerging Tech Developments Poised to Reshape Business Landscapes
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, several trends are gaining traction and set to reshape the way we live and work. Mike Mason, the Chief AI Officer at ThoughtWorks, is recognized for his leadership in driving the company's generative AI strategy and accelerating AI adoption responsibly across teams and organizations.
While there isn't a direct list of "top technology trends for 20XX" from Mike Mason, his insights on key AI and automation trends shaping society and business interactions as of 2024-2025 can be interpreted as current and near-future technology trends.
Responsible AI Adoption
Mason emphasizes the importance of AI as a strategic capability embedded across business units, with AI initiatives needing to be aligned with business goals, governed ethically, and scaled responsibly to create measurable impact.
AI as a Complement to Human Work
Automation is increasingly substituting routine tasks but complementing human judgment and social skills. This synergy raises productivity and economic output, often increasing demand for skilled labor rather than leading to wholesale job losses.
Operationalizing AI at Scale
Under Mason's leadership, enterprises establish Centers of Excellence and embed AI within frontline operations, meaning AI shapes customer interactions, decision-making, and business process efficiencies.
Navigating Ethical, Regulatory, and Workforce Implications
Mason plays a role in addressing AI governance frameworks and managing workforce transition impacts to ensure AI benefits are equitably realized and risks minimized.
Impact on Society and Business
Society
AI augments human capability rather than merely replacing workers, potentially leading to job transformations where workers focus on complex, judgment-heavy tasks while AI handles routine components. This shift requires new skills and ethical AI deployment awareness.
Business
Companies leverage AI to accelerate innovation, boost productivity, and enable personalized, data-driven customer engagement. Thoughtful AI governance ensures trust and compliance, essential for sustainable AI-driven business models.
In summary, Mike Mason’s perspective at ThoughtWorks suggests that the dominant technology trend is responsible, business-aligned AI adoption that enhances human work and transforms business operations in ways that reshape societal roles and enterprise interactions with technology.
Other Emerging Trends
Docker and Containers
Docker is gaining popularity among developers, testers, and operations, and is being supported by major cloud providers. In 2017, there will be a rising abstraction in how Docker and related technology are used, with containers being considered the unit of computation and micro-services architecture serving as the inter-process communication.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
AR and VR are expected to become mainstream in the next three to five years, significantly changing how people interact with digital systems and each other. Challenges in creating and delivering AR and VR content are expected due to skills and capabilities lagging behind hardware, particularly in the enterprise. However, AR and VR will enable more natural interactions with digital systems, such as moving objects and using gestures, and will potentially improve collaboration through more immersive discussions.
Business Adaptation
Businesses are expected to incorporate machine learning and AI in a meaningful way to increase efficiency and potentially change business models. The new generations expect to have five to ten different jobs in their career, and employees are demanding flexible working hours and locations. This autonomy allows teams to define, build, and run their own projects, empowering them to make decisions.
Competition for Talent
In this rapidly changing landscape, businesses are expected to compete for talent by enabling flexibility, particularly with the use of AR and VR. Natural language processing tools and hardware providing natural interactions will have a huge impact on the adoption of AR and VR, necessitating the need for VR and AR interactive designers to create user-centric designs for AR and VR applications.
The implications of these technologies are still being debated, with some experts predicting a future universal basic income due to job displacement. The increase in self-service platform-as-a-service (PaaS) has enabled teams to put things into production and run them themselves, further fuelling the pace of technological advancement.
In conclusion, these trends indicate a future where technology is not just a tool but an integral part of our lives, transforming the way we work, interact, and live. As we move forward, it will be crucial for businesses and individuals to adapt and navigate these changes responsibly and strategically.
Cybersecurity is a critical aspect as the widespread use of AI, automation, and the increasing trend of Docker and containers introduces new vulnerabilities in data-and-cloud-computing systems.
Artificial-intelligence, when responsibly adopted and ethically governed, can lead to business adaptations such as increased efficiency, flexible working hours, and personalized customer engagement, but may also require retraining and upskilling of the workforce to stay competitive in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.
