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The Importance Of Humanizing Technology

Forbes.com

Technology is all pervasive today and will continue to define our future—at work and in our personal lives. New technologies will continue to emerge and new applications of existing technology will evolve—to enhance our lives, protect the environment and boost business outcomes.

While technology has the power to transform our lives in countless ways, we must remember that tech and gadgets won’t sell or get adopted unless we humans can use them easily to interact with the world around us. Innovators who create technologies by putting people first in the design process fare way better in the industry.

Take the iPhone, for example. One of the reasons it gained popularity—despite the high price point—is its ease of use. Kids and grandparents to baby boomers and Gen Zers don’t need extensive tutorials to use these smartphones. In addition, it offers a host of capabilities making our lives more convenient—from cameras and maps to health trackers and business apps. And there’s the recent craze of ChatGPT, which reached more than 1 million users in its first five days after launching.

Yes, ease of use matters. But using tech for good, providing real-time access to entertaining content, and amplifying product launches are some other tactics to help increase user adoption.

Technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, bringing new and exciting opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.

Here are some trends I believe will play a significant role in shaping our future:

Robots will become our peers.

Robots and automation will continue to play a critical role in the global economy. With the global industrial robotics market projected to surpass $165 billion by 2028, expect to see more robots in a variety of settings, from manufacturing and healthcare to airports and malls. Advances in robotics and related technology, such as improved sensors, machine learning capabilities and advanced algorithms, are making robots more versatile, enabling them to perform tasks that were once thought to be the exclusive domain of humans.

Automation will continue to improve safety in many industries, as machines are able to perform tasks that are too dangerous for humans. I also expect to see more companies delivering robots for social good—from helping people with deaf-blindness to communicate via tactile fingerspelling to people with limited mobility hailing robots to navigate airports and malls.

Finally, I believe we’ll see several companies deliver humanoid robots, remotely piloted by humans to do the heavy lifting and work around the clock. This human-robot team will enhance worker safety and prevent burnout while boosting productivity and accelerating manufacturing efficiency.

Artificial intelligence will shape our future.

If the buzz around ChatGPT is any indication, artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. New and innovative applications of AI will pervade every aspect of our lives and revolutionize the way we work and live—from decreasing accidents in self-driving vehicles and predicting future illnesses to identifying and penalizing motorists for littering. It’s no wonder the global AI market is projected to grow to $733.7 billion by 2027. According to the IDC, investment in AI is expected to reach $500 billion by 2024, with $93.5 billion in private equity poured into AI in 2021.

This also opens opportunities for students and professionals to upskill and leverage the growing industry. However, while the technology is growing in popularity, we must first focus on developing strong governance and removing societal discrimination from algorithms—a topic many organizations are focusing on. Overall, AI has enormous potential for social impact and financial returns.

The metaverse will become a business imperative.

From virtual real estate to in-game purchases, the metaverse has the potential to transform how businesses operate and interact with customers. It can facilitate global collaboration and innovation and create new opportunities and revenue streams.

Currently, more than 160 businesses are snapping up real estate in the virtual world, including consumer brands such as Nike, Gucci, Acura and Estee Lauder. The goal is to leverage the more than 400 million monthly active users who are already in the metaverse. Also, Gartner predicts that 25% of people will spend at least an hour every day in the metaverse by 2026 for work, shopping, education or entertainment. Let’s do the math: Worldometer anticipates the population to be 8.25 billion by 2026. Twenty-five percent of that calculates to a whopping 2.1 billion people who will be in the metaverse every day. Couple this number with $5 trillion, a figure the metaverse is expected to generate by 2030. This means more companies should opt to have real estate in the virtual world. Being in the metaverse is a business imperative and a way to wow customers with awesome experiences.

Space will open new possibilities on Earth.

As I wrote in one of my articles, the space economy will open doors for businesses, innovators and professionals worldwide. Just over the last few years, the number of companies and investors investing in space tech has skyrocketed, supporting companies developing solutions—from cleaning up space junk to making oxygen on Mars. In the U.S., NASA is collaborating with several companies to build new orbiting homes to replace the aging International Space Station. SpaceX, under the leadership of President Gwynne Shotwell, is bringing Elon Musk’s vision to life. It has run flights with real astronauts and is planning to take people to the moon and Mars in the near future.

Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic appear to be more focused on popularizing space travel for celebrities and millionaires, with trips to the lower orbit. Virgin Galactic is selling tickets for $450,000 for a 90-minute trip, while Blue Origin is planning the first all-women crew flight. I am all about women’s empowerment, but don’t you think the resources and money would be better spent on developing new technology that will help people here on Earth and in space?

Bottomline: No matter which industry you work in or plan to enter, the opportunities are huge. The goal should be to develop technologies that matter and wow humans.

Parna Sarkar-Basu is the founder of B&B Consulting and writes about entrepreneurship, business transformation, innovation & tech for good. Read Parna’s full executive profile here.