How Will The Tech Industry Change in 2024?
This year the technology industry is set to transform, impacting both professionals and organisations. As advancements in technology continue to increase, we can expect to see a shift in how these professionals and organisations adapt to these advancements.
With the industry being dominated by evolving AI and cyber security, it is no secret that the technology industry will have to look at the rules of AI, how we can enhance our cyber security to protect ourselves from the harm of AI and why passkeys are dominating over passwords.
We take a look at the trends set to take charge in the technology industry this year, including how it might have an effect on your role.
Contents of this article:
- The government and industry set to collaborate on the rules of AI and how it will affect your role.
- How will this affect my role?
- Regulators and Governments
- Technology Companies and AI Labs
- AI Experts and Researchers
- AI and the unknown ability of cyber attacks and how it will affect your role.
- How will this affect my role?
- Cybersecurity Professionals and Specialists
- AI and Machine Learning Experts
- Critical Infrastructure Operators
- Passwords are out and pass keys are in and how it will affect your role.
- How will this affect my role?
- Cybersecurity Specialists and Engineers
- Biometric and Authentication Technology Experts
- IT Decision-Makers and Policy Developers
- User Experience and User Interface Designers
The Government and industry set to collaborate on the rules of AI
Around the world, nations will look to introduce new laws to regulate AI.
Prime Ministers and Presidents will start to lean on experts at AI labs like Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Inflection AI, Anthropic and Cohere, seeking to understand the opportunities and implications that come with artificial intelligence.
Mustafa Suleyman, advocating for an IPCC (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) for AI, emphasised the necessity of comprehending, monitoring, and accurately assessing AI functionality before imposing regulations. He commented: "Policymakers cannot act, as they are now, blind"
"The IPCC model has several positives for AI," he added. "It is built as an impartial scientific body that doesn’t conduct its research. It brings together leading experts from around the world in an independent, authoritative form. While not an actor in its own right, that information has been pivotal in helping catalyse and steer the world’s response to climate change."
The initial assembly of digital ministers, technology leaders, and AI experts took place t Bletchley Park, known as the primary hub for Allied code-breaking in World War II, in early November. Twenty-eight nations, including the US, China, and the UK, reached an accord to collaborate on AI safety and research initiatives.
How will this affect my role?
The introduction of new laws to regulate AI will impact roles and responsibilities within the technology sector.
Regulators and Governments
Governments worldwide will create new legislative frameworks to oversee and regulate AI technologies. This will involve policymakers, legal experts, and government officials to draft and implement these laws.
Technology Companies and AI Labs
Companies involved in AI research and development, such as Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Inflection AI, Anthropic, and Cohere, will face increased scrutiny and compliance requirements. These organisations will likely collaborate more closely with governments, providing expertise, insights, and technological guidance for crafting effective regulations.
AI Experts and Researchers
Experts in AI will play a crucial role in advising governments and policymakers on the technical aspects, ethical considerations, and potential implications of AI regulations. They may also contribute to shaping the standards and guidelines for AI development and deployment.
AI and the unknown ability of cyber attacks
Air traffic control, motorway networks, power stations and government websites could all fall victim to major cyber attacks in 2024 if they don't increase their defence tactics.
Many systems in sectors such as health care and transportation, rely on outdated technology that makes them the perfect targets for cyber attacks.
In April 2023, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre warned that there was an emerging threat to critical national infrastructure. The security centre warned that groups have the intent to launch 'destructive and disruptive' cyber-attacks and that CNI organisations must ensure they have taken the appropriate steps to strengthen their defences.
Cyber Security Specialist, Bryn Hawkins commented; "AI Technology is rapidly advancing, and its implications for cyber security are both fascinating and concerning."
"The integration of AI into hacking techniques opens up a Pandora's box of possibilities, some of which we might not even have considered yet."
As AI continues to rise, it is likely to lead to more sophisticated cyber attacks in 2024.
How will this affect my role?
The increasing threat of major cyber attacks in critical sectors like air traffic control, motorway networks, power stations, and government websites will significantly impact roles within technology and cybersecurity:
Cybersecurity Professionals and Specialists
There will be a heightened demand for cybersecurity experts specialising in AI-driven threat detection, prevention, and response. Cybersecurity specialists will need to continuously update their skills to counter evolving AI-powered attack techniques.
AI and Machine Learning Experts
AI and machine learning experts will play a crucial role in developing advanced security measures and adaptive systems capable of identifying and mitigating AI-driven cyber threats.
Critical Infrastructure Operators
Professionals operating critical infrastructure systems like air traffic control, power stations, and motorway networks will need to work closely with cybersecurity experts to reinforce defenses, update outdated technology, and implement resilient systems.
Passwords are out and passkeys are in
Passwords are known to have security problems, with them being easily guessable and being liable to brute-force attacks with the vulnerability to phishing scams. IT professionals are pushing for a turn to tighter security, a report from Health IT Security found that 41% of IT decision-makers support pass-wordless authentication for stronger identity security. This year, we may start to see companies improve their security by abandoning passwords for passkeys.
Passkeys have a higher advantage over passwords because they require the sender and the receiver to agree that a transaction is valid through tools like PINs, biometric data, secured devices, and Bluetooth. Some organisations will stick to passwords longer than others, it is expected that the healthcare industry will transition almost entirely to passkeys in 2024. This will result in health information that is better secured.
How will this affect my role?
The transition from traditional passwords to more secure authentication methods like passkeys will have several implications for roles in technology and cybersecurity:
Cybersecurity Specialists and Engineers
Professionals who specialise in cybersecurity will need to adapt to and implement new authentication methods like passkeys. They will play a crucial role in designing, implementing, and maintaining systems that rely on passkeys and other advanced authentication technologies.
Biometric and Authentication Technology Experts
Specialists in biometrics, secure device management, Bluetooth technology, and encryption will become increasingly important in developing and securing passkey-based systems.
IT Decision-Makers and Policy Developers
IT decision-makers and policy developers will need to advocate for and establish protocols for adopting passkey-based authentication across organisations. They'll be responsible for implementing strategies and frameworks to ensure a smooth transition while maintaining security and user accessibility.
User Experience and User Interface Designers
Designers will have to create intuitive and user-friendly interfaces for passkey-based authentication methods to ensure smooth adoption and minimal user friction.
As we start to unfold 2024, the tech industry will keep adapting to ensure that organisations are protected from detrimental cyber attacks and the harmful rise of AI technologies. 2024 in the tech industry promises a year filled with new opportunities and challenges for professionals and organisations within this sector.