The 5 AI trends defining 2024
2023 redefined the impact of AI for enterprise, governments and entire societies. Chat-GPT saw the fastest ever user growth for a web application. Google and others were under pressure to quickly follow suit and roll out their own versions - while searches for ‘artificial intelligence’ hit an all time high.
2024 looks set to be equally transformative, with five major trends driving AI adoption across both public and private industries. Here’s what to expect from the year ahead.
1. Workplace attitudes to AI will keep shifting - and job satisfaction will rise
In 2024, we’ll see a continued shift in the way workers interact with AI technologies in their day to day work. In many industries there is increasing recognition that AI isn’t simply designed to replace humans in their job roles, but to augment us in our work - in other words, to help us work more productively and efficiently by freeing up time spent on tasks that can be automated.
Just as lo-code and no-code tools haven’t replaced software developers, AI will instead increase the value of employees for enterprise as workflows become more sophisticated.
As a result, we’re likely to see higher levels of job satisfaction and security, with employees giving more time and attention to tasks that require uniquely human skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation.
2. Regulation will begin to catch up with technology
Regulators across the world have struggled to keep up with the fast pace of technological development in the past few years. Now, in the Middle East, United States and the European Union, legislation is beginning to catch up.
Each region faces its own unique challenges and opportunities for AI. In 2017, the United Arab Emirates appointed the world’s first Minister for AI, whose remit in 2024 includes finding the right level of legislation for AI to flourish safely in the UAE - where priorities for AI regulation may differ from, for example, Japan or the United States.
And in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the new Intellectual Property law is the region’s first to offer explicit protections on intellectual property rights for content created by AI. The law seeks to support Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority's (“SDAIA’) strategy objectives on “maximizing data and AI’s contribution to realizing the objectives of Vision 2030, ensuring that all government entities make greater use of data and AI and promoting the Kingdom's image as a global leader in the field of data and AI.”
3. We’ll see more enterprise use cases for multimodal AI models
Multimodal AI refers to artificial intelligence that integrates diverse forms or modes of data - like video, audio, speech, images and text - to create more accurate assessments, derive more meaningful insights, and formulate more precise predictions for real-world challenges.
In 2024, multimodal AI models will become larger, more complex, and more powerful. Google will take its next-generation Gemini multimodal model to market, aiming to compete with GPT-4, with capabilities including the to prototype apps or AI from a combination of text and image inputs.
For enterprise, multimodal AI also allows for improved customer service experiences, with sophisticated virtual assistants that can respond accurately to complex queries, advanced customer service bots capable of interpreting emotions and intentions and improved accessibility for users with disabilities.
4. Healthcare professionals will automate more manual tasks
AI models are already supporting healthcare professionals in administrative elements of their work to reduce cognitive load, including by transcribing and summarizing patient meeting notes for follow ups and electronic health records. Generative AI also has a key role to play in clinical decision-making, giving the ability to analyze large and complex datasets and create more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
For example, AI-powered systems can already quickly identify patterns and anomalies in medical images, assisting radiologists in detecting diseases like cancer at an early stage. This not only saves lives but also improves the efficiency of healthcare delivery, allowing doctors to see more patients in a shorter amount of time. In 2024 we’ll see further improvements on these metrics as adoption increases.
5. Generative AI in Education
Education, too, continues its transformation by the application of generative AI. In 2024, we will see more deployment of AI-powered virtual assistants in classrooms, providing personalized support and guidance to students.
Generative AI algorithms can also analyze individual learning patterns and preferences, tailoring educational content to suit each student's needs. This personalized approach to learning can improve students' engagement, understanding, and retention of knowledge.
Furthermore, generative AI can facilitate the creation of interactive simulations and virtual reality experiences, making education more immersive and interactive.
The future looks bright
for those enterprises best placed to take advantage of AI. SBM can help. We’re on hand as your go-to technology partner, giving you the capability and the insight to succeed. Get in touch to learn more.