Technology trends that you will see in 2018

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are bound to be the two biggest trends 2018.

According to a Forbes study, other trends we will see on the increase are the development of big data, AI permeation, digital centralisation, 5G preparation, data overload, etc.

AI permeation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is getting better and better and is being incorporated into a more diverse range of applications, some of them without us noticing that they are present at all. Rather than focusing on one goal, like communicating with humans, for example, AI is starting to make an appearance in almost every new platform, app, or device, and that trend is only going to accelerate in 2018. Most probably, by the end of the year, it will become more of a mainstay in all forms of technology.

Digital centralisation

‘Smart’ devices have been more and more present in everyone’s life during the last decades. Smartphones, tablets, TVs with lots of different apps to control each one. Therefore, people in general want centralisation, a convenient way to manage everything from as few devices and central locations as possible.

5G preparation

5G has the potential to be almost 10 times faster than 4G. It’s possible that in some Countries this technology will be available by the end of 2019 and this fact will revolutionise how consumers use the internet and consequently how developers think about apps and content. 2018 is going to be a year of massive preparation for it.

Data overload

There was a lot of talk of the awesome power of data in 2017 and considering that GDPR is almost upon us, the topic was even more present among non-technology groups. In 2018 data collection will become an even higher priority, with consumers talking to listening devices throughout their day, and relying on digital devices for more of their daily tasks. Companies will soon have access to—and start using—practically unlimited amounts of personal data. This has many implications, including reduced privacy, more personalised ads, and possibly more positive outcomes, such as better predictive algorithms in healthcare.

All of this will also have the knock-on effect of machine learning and cybersecurity receiving more attention and developments.

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Machine Learning

Is not a surprise that Machine Learning is the next big thing and has a huge number of possible uses. One of the biggest trends in 2018 will be how it integrates into current developments. Teaching a machine to complete tasks that humans are able do, isn’t easy at all, but the improvements in this area are impressive. According to MarketsandMarkest the machine learning market size was around $1.41 billion in 2017, but is predicted to hit $8.81 billion by 2022. 

It's impossible to say exactly what the future holds, but it's clear big data and machine learning are going to dominate 2018. 

Big Data will help with Cybersecurity

Data breaches and cybersecurity threats were a major problem around the world in 2017 as they spread fast and were difficult to avoid. To prevent these problems in the future, companies are using more technology and resources to plug up security. In fact, a study from MeriTalk found that governmental agencies are getting a huge boost out of this technology. The report stated that 81% of government officials are currently using big data analytics to shore up their cybersecurity. 

While it's clear that big data plays a large role in current security operations, there's still a lot of ground to cover. The report also found that only 45% of federal IT administrators found big data to be "highly effective" in the fight against cybercriminals. 

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How to be prepared for it

Experienced professionals who are prepared to deal with these technologies will be even more in demand in 2018. Investing in training and knowledge is the best option to be ready for the changes. At New Horizons Ireland, we provide a wide range of IT courses, which are lead for our experienced and certified instructors.

Full list of training courses

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