AI Emerging Trends
AI Emerging Trends
AI Emerging Trends
Abstract: Emerging technologies and programming techniques increase our ability to create intelligent software programs.
With the advent of viable neural networking solutions, we have come even closer to building artificially intelligent machines.
This Paper explores the impact of AI systems on society, and proposes enhanced ethical and professional roles for artificial
intelligence developers, with an emphasis on interpersonal communication and impact awareness. Computer systems will
continue to get more powerful, and will become increasingly ubiquitous in the future, making the standards of development of
artificial intelligence a salient topic in modern engineering. Despite a socially ingrained fear of intelligent machines, there is no
governing body to oversee the continued development of AI systems. Development of a strong artificial intelligence would
surely call into question (for some) that which we define as “alive.” It is yet unclear whether an electronic entity would be
entitled to legal and civil rights. Furthermore, we do not know whether such an entity or race of entities would be dangerous to
society. These problems indicate a strong ethical component in the development of intelligent software. This paper argues that
intelligent machines will be intertwined in our future society, and addresses the lack of a concrete body to govern the
development of computer software. The accompanying research further establishes that engineers will have increased ethical
and political responsibilities in the development of artificial intelligence systems in the future.
E merging technologies are characterized by radical predicted trends for the coming year:
novelty, relatively fast growth, coherence, 1) The Internet of Things
prominent impact, and uncertainty and ambiguity.
In other words, an emerging technology can be defined as Cisco, who terms the “Internet of Things”, “The Internet of
"a radically novel and relatively fast growing technology Everything,” predicts that 50 billion devices (including our
characterized by a certain degree of coherence persisting
over time and with the potential to exert a considerable smartphones, appliances, and office equipment) will be
impact on the socio-economic domain(s) which is observed wirelessly connected via a network of sensors to the
in terms of the composition of actors, institutions and internet by 2020. Cisco also estimates that IoT will be
patterns of interactions among those, along with the
associated knowledge production processes. Its most valued at $4.6 Trillion for the Public Sector in the next ten
prominent impact, however, lies in the future and so in the years
emergence phase is still somewhat uncertain and
ambiguous. Key Components of IoT: Big Data (and data mining),
Emerging technologies include a variety of technologies Sensors (RFID, chips, transistors, Analytics (predictive).
such as educational technology, information
technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, cognitive Mark Zuckerberg recently announced plans to create his
science, psych technology, robotics, and artificial
intelligence. own artificially intelligent, voice-controlled butler to help
Emerging technologies are those technical innovations run his life at home and at work. For this, he will need
which represent progressive developments within a field
for competitive advantage. Converging technologies appliances that can talk to his digital butler—a connected
represent previously distinct fields which are in some way home, office, and car. These are all coming, as CES, the
moving towards stronger inter-connection and similar
goals. However, the opinion on the degree of the impact, big consumer electronics tradeshow in Las Vegas,
status and economic viability of several emerging and
converging technologies vary. demonstrated. From showerheads that track how much
water we’ve used to toothbrushes that watch out for
II.7 TOP TECH TRENDS IMPACTING INNOVATORS cavities, to refrigerators that order food that is running out,
they are all on their way.
2015 was a transformative year for technological
innovation. 2016 continues that technology trend with
Starting in 2016, everything will be be connected—
1 including our homes and appliances, our cars, street lights,
and medical instruments. They will be sharing will likely change operations in both the public and private
sectors in the next decade.
information with each other and perhaps gossiping about
us, and will introduce massive security risks as well as Companies are already developing technology to distribute
artificial intelligence software to millions of graphics and
many efficiencies. And we won’t have much choice,
computer processors around the world. AI, machine
because they will be standard features—as are the cameras
learning, and natural language processing can be used to
on our Smart TVs that stare at us, and the smartphones solve a variety of business problems. AI can understand,
that listen to everything we say. diagnose, and solve customer problems — without being
specifically programmed.
2) Data Science & Digital Transformation:
Augmented reality intertwines the physical and digital
According to Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, we produce world by computer-generated sensory input such as sound,
more data every other day than we did from the inception video, graphics, and sometimes even smell. Google Glass
of early civilization until the year 2003 combined. and Oculus Rift, are already good examples of these
Therefore, organizing, managing and analyzing data is emerging technologies.
more important than ever.
Robotics are also becoming more ingrained in the
Big data and data analytics are collapsing the information deployment of AI. No doubt this will have implication on
gap and giving businesses and governments the tools they governing, commerce, sustainability, health, and even how
need to uncover trends, population movements, customer we fight wars in the future.
preferences, demographics, commerce traffic,
transportation, etc. These tools can also help several 4) Quantum and Super Computing
industries, including the customer service by identifying
We have come a long way from the rather large and slow
caller trends, healthcare by flagging potential fraud and
PCs of the 70s to Google Glass and paper-thin next
financial services by proactively flagging a borrower that is
generation communication devices. We are now at the
on the verge of lapsing in payment.
footstep of quantum computing in The Cloud with flexible
Digital Transformation includes digitizing the customer and wearable electronics. Futurist Ray Kurzweil said that
experience, data flow, supply chain management, mankind will be able to “expand the scope of our
governance, engagement, e-government and virtual intelligence a billion-fold” and that “the power of
government. In its basic description, it is turning paper computing doubles, on average, every two years. Recent
into electronic records. Paper-based to electronically based breakthroughs in physics, nanotechnologies, and materials
systems of documentation requires data collection, science have brought us into a computing reality that we
processing and analysis. could not have imagined a decade ago.
The United States Government maintains one of largest In November, IBM announced that IARPA, the intelligence
repository of documents in the world. Millions of community’s research arm, had awarded them a multi-year
supporting documents are compiled and stored every year grant to continue research into building quantum
by a multitude of government agencies which have a computers. IARPA has also been working with D-Wave to
responsibility to preserve, secure, and retrieve vital develop quantum machines. Google has also been working
information when needed. While paper documents are still with D-Wave and recently presented findings
very much routine for government operations, the goal has demonstrating the D-Wave does perform quantum
been to increasingly move from paper to electronic images. annealing, and is capable of solving certain types of
problems up to 100 million times faster than conventional
3) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality systems. As we get closer to a fully operational quantum
technologies computer, a new world of supercomputing beckons that
will impact on almost every aspect of our lives.
Emergent artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality
technologies are no longer things of science fiction and 5) Smart Cities:
3
Smart Cities integrate transportation, energy, water Cybersecurity, information assurance, and resilience are
resources, waste collections, smart-building technologies, the glues that will keep IoT our world of converged sensors
and security technologies and services. The term “smart and algorithms operational. This has become one of the
city” connotes creating a public/private infrastructure to largest areas of government spending at all agencies and is
conduct activities that protect and secure citizens. This consistently ranked the top priority among government and
includes shared situational awareness and enabling industry CIOs in surveys.
integrated operational actions to prevent, mitigate, respond
to, and recover from cyber incidents as well as crime, In the U.S., most (approximately 85 per cent of the
terrorism and natural disasters. IBM recently announced cybersecurity critical infrastructure including defense, oil
that they are making a $3 billion investment in future IoT and gas, electric power grids, healthcare, utilities,
projects and initiatives such as smarter planet and smarter communications, transportation, banking, and finance is
cities. owned by the private sector and regulated by the public
sector. 2015 was the year of the breach for many large
Smart City Technology and Services. Frost & Sullivan corporations in a variety of private companies and in
estimates the combined global market potential of smart government, including OPM. According to the think tank
city segments (transportation, healthcare, building, Center For Strategic and International Studies (CSIS),
infrastructure, energy, governance) to be $1.5 Trillion cyber related crime now costs the global economy about
($20B by 2050 on sensors alone according to Navigant $445 billion every year. The Cybersecurity Market could
Technology) reach between $80 Billion and $120 Billion by 2017
Global Industry Analysts Inc.
6) 3-D Printing
Verticals: the impact of new technologies will certainly
Smart 3-D printing is trailblazing future manufacturing. 3- impact across many verticals, a sampling includes:
D printing connotes a three-dimensional object that is
created layer by layer via computer aided design) Health & Medicine
programs. To be able to print the object, the computer
divides it into flat layers that are printed one by one. By * Health- Implantable devices; (bionic eyes, limbs),* DNA
printing with advanced pliable materials such as plastics, nanomedicines and delivery,* Genomic techniques – gene
ceramics, metals, and graphene there have already been therapy (Gene therapy to enhance strength, endurance and
breakthroughs in prosthetics for medicine and wearable lifespan Gene therapy to enhance human intelligence),*
sensors. Remote sensing tech (Wearables),* Medicine for longevity,
enhancement,* Real-time biomarker tracking and
The big advantage for government is that 3-D printing can monitoring,* Artificially grown organs,* Human
be customized, produced rapidly and is cost effective.The regeneration Human cells interfaced with nanotech,*
possibilities for 3-D printing are seemingly limitless. Cybernetics,* Exoskeletons for mobility
Recently, Rolls-Royce announced it would use 3-D printing
to make parts for its jet engines, and BAE Systems Transportation & Energy :
announced that fighter jets containing 3-D-printed parts
* Sustainability of infrastructure,* Converged
are now being flown.
transportation ecosystems and monitoring,* Autonomous
3-D printing innovation are also making its way into and connected cars,* Predictive analytics(parking, traffic
printing electronics, sensors, and circuits. “Printed patterns),* New Materials for stronger construction and
electronics” or electronic chips are fabricated by printing resilience, * Solar power,* Waste to biofuels,* Protecting
their features on top of thin surfaces. Using the Grid,* Batteries (long lasting),* Renewables,* Energy
semiconducting and conductive inks and materials, 3-D efficiency
printers can now print transistors, sensors, circuits,
Public Safety:
batteries, and displays.
* Surveillance (chemical and bio sensors, cameras,
7) Cybersecurity
drones),* License plate readers,* Non-lethal technologies,*
Forensics,* Interoperable communications,* Biometrics: Mass-market fuel cell vehicles are an attractive prospect,
because they will offer the range and fuelling convenience
Security screening by bio-signature: Every aspect of your of today’s diesel and petrol-powered vehicles while
physiology can be used as a bio-signature. Measure unique providing the benefits of sustainability in personal
heart/pulse rates, electrocardiogram sensor, blood oximetry, transportation. Achieving these benefits will, however,
skin temperature require the reliable and economical production of hydrogen
from entirely low-carbon sources, and its distribution to a
growing fleet of vehicles (expected to number in the many
III. TOP 10 EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES OF 2015 millions within a decade).
B. 2. Next-generation robotics
Technology is perhaps the greatest agent of change in the
modern world. While never without risk, technological Rolling away from the production line
breakthroughs promise innovative solutions to the most
pressing global challenges of our time. From zero-emission
cars fuelled by hydrogen to computer chips modelled on
the human brain, this year’s 10 emerging technologies
offer a vivid glimpse of the power of innovation to improve
lives, transform industries and safeguard our planet.
The 2015 list is:
A. 1. Fuel cell vehicles
Zero-emission cars that run on hydrogen The popular imagination has long foreseen a world where
robots take over all manner of everyday tasks.
Like distributed manufacturing, additive manufacturing is The factory of the future is online – and on your doorstep
potentially highly disruptive to conventional processes and
supply chains. But it remains a nascent technology today,
with applications mainly in the automotive, aerospace and
medical sectors. Rapid growth is expected over the next
decade as more opportunities emerge and innovation in
this technology brings it closer to the mass market.
products. One company already using this model is the US carry them around), drones will be transformational as they
furniture company AtFAB. are self-mobile and have the capacity of flying in the three-
dimensional world that is beyond our direct human reach.
Current uses of distributed manufacturing rely heavily on Once ubiquitous, they will vastly expand our presence,
the DIY “maker movement”, in which enthusiasts use their productivity and human experience.
own local 3D printers and make products out of local
materials. There are elements of open-source thinking I. 9. Neuromorphic technology
here, in that consumers can customize products to their
own needs and preferences. Instead of being centrally Computer chips that mimic the human brain
driven, the creative design element can be more
crowdsourced; products may take on an evolutionary
character as more people get involved in visualizing and
producing them.