There’s no doubt about it that the world as we know it is progressing faster and faster every year. Many of the advancements we’ve seen in 2016 will continue to get stronger in 2017 and beyond. So, what are our top tech trends we think you need to look out for in 2017? Let’s find out:
Artificial Intelligence
We already live in a world of AI: your phone alerts you of upcoming road hazards and alters your route and your online calendars continually sync to give you real-time updates of what you have planned for the day. While it may seem basic to most of us and a part of our normal day-to-day routine, artificial intelligence is just going to keep advancing. With products like Amazon’s Echo and Google Home, we’re already entering an era of artificial intelligence that is learning to take all your data, consolidate it and give you what you need, when you need it and on the fly. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it, don’t you think? Going into 2017, I believe the advancements and hot topics for AI are going to be niches such as smart home tech and devices you can wear that will give you more data about yourself than ever before.
With so much AI being created, developed and then advancing at such a staggering rate, do you think machines will ever overtake the people who have created them? Even though Stephen Hawkins has warned, “AI could be either the best or worst thing ever to happen to humanity,” I still don’t believe that we will ever reach a point of total control for artificial intelligence. Sergey Gribov, who recently did an interview with CBS news, seems to agree with my statements by stating:
“Hopefully, we will not get into a point when AI will replace people, I don’t think that will happen. I think we will get AI to outsource what we don’t want to do. People will have more time to do the things they enjoy doing. That’s what I think we’ll see even more of in 2017.”
The Year Of The Drone
While 2016 seemed like an epic year for the drone, I really believe that whole industry is just getting started and will soon explode. Drone tech is not only progressing faster than ever before, but they’re becoming more affordable for the everyday consumer to purchase.
Commercial Drones
With that being said, I believe 2017 we are going to see a huge commercial drone push from companies like Amazon who will be implementing their Amazon Prime Air service. If this becomes the norm, you’ll see a drastic reduction of delivery drivers and instead could have drones flying over you on a regular basis. While we’ll probably see a huge cut in jobs, we’ll also see quicker delivery times and new job sectors within the company that could become available.
Personal Drones
Drones for personal use are becoming a massive market:
Companies like Airblock are changing the game by offering drones that can be pieced together using magnetic parts. This flexibility allows the drone to be configured in an almost limitless amount of ways and for only $129, it’s more affordable than ever.
Zero Zero Robotics has also created an uprising of selfie drones that will follow you wherever you go. With facial recognition on their $599 model, it also includes a great quality, 13 megapixel camera. These types of drones are becoming increasingly popular for the extreme sport’s enthusiasts who want a drone camera that can capture everything their doing, with more focus on their craft and less needed input.
With drones becoming more affordable, this technology will be getting into the hands of our younger generation where it can be tinkered with, transformed and advanced at super-sonic speeds. Expect to see drone inventions within the next 10 to 20 years that we never thought before imaginable!
The Social Media Shift
Social media has always been about capturing your personal story, but I think until today it has been done by content creators in an overall “professional” way. In 2017, I see social media becoming more about creating and documenting your every day life rather than putting on a big production that looks staged and fake. Viewers are drawn to the realness of the people they’re viewing, and with this comes the need and trend for content producers to put out imperfect, real life situations that their followers can interact and relate to. Because of this shift, I believe we’ll start seeing a continual rise in platforms like Snapchat and Instagram’s Stories. Both of these platforms currently offer a real, quick look into the lives of the people they follow. As 2017 goes on, we’ll probably start to see other creative and unique companies come out with similar social platforms that allow content producers to achieve these same results in unique, different and creative ways.
What Do You Think?
Tech is always shifting, changing and evolving, so what do you think the changes in this industry are for 2017 and beyond? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts!