Many different consumer electronics and IT developments are coming along this year. On Thursday , January 4th we had a lively discussion on how they might impact us. Here are links to some of the articles which guided our conversation:
>>>General trends:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67273155 Tech Trends 2024: AI and electric vehicle deals : 1. AI everywhere, 2. a tough year for electric car sales, 3. humanoid robots, 4. drugs to lose weight .
https://www.kantar.com/inspiration/technology/the-top-5-consumer-tech-predictions-for-2024 The Top 5 consumer tech predictions for 2024 Stabilising Smartphone sales, a software ‘arms race’, and rising pressure for Samsung and Apple. 1. Consumers’ inflation concerns will fall as higher costs are normalised; 2 AI will accelerate software innovation; 3. Consumers will buy more refurbished phones; 4. Samsung and Apple will face fierce rivalry (from Hwawei and Google Pixel; 5.Foldable phone adoption will continue to creep upwards (Note – flip phones are getting cheaper, but they will always be relatively expensive because of the cost of making the folding screen)
>>>People will want to buy more physical media: Paper books for reading, vinyl records for music, Blu ray disks for movies :
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/24/poetry-sales-boom-as-instagram-and-facebook-take-work-to-new-audiences Poetry sales boom as Instagram and Facebook take work to new audiences
https://www.tiktok.com/tag/books?lang=en TikTok Books has led to a revival of the classics such as Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-67805193 Vinyl fans and traders tell of love for LPs as sales soar
https://www.komando.com/technology/physical-media-libraries/898611/ Blu-rays are back: Why people are building physical media libraries again Even though you might “buy” a streamed film from Amazon, they could remove it from their platform and you are snookered; also there are box sets with added content and ultra-high definition 4K remastered movies. https://www.joblo.com/are-4k-blu-rays-the-new-vinyl/ Are Blu-rays the new vinyl? Physical Media will be different – but better – in 2024
>>>Whither Windows?
https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-12-faq-yes-its-coming-in-2024-and-more-surprising-predictions/ Windows 12 FAQ: Yes, it’s coming in 2024 (and more surprising predictions) Windows will go full-on for AI with version 12 being built around new hardware and chips designed to work well with AI.
https://techwireasia.com/12/2023/end-of-microsoft-windows-10-support-pushes-millions-of-pcs-into-landfills/ As Microsoft ends support for Windows 10, millions of PCs could end up in landfills This will mess up Microsoft’s sustainability goals. Some people plan to jump ship! https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/windows-11-vs-macos-in-2024-will-be-a-mess-so-im-learning-linux Windows 11 vs macOS in 2024 will be a mess, so I’m learning Linux
>>>AI and ChatGPT
https://mashable.com/article/microsoft-copilot-ios-android-app-chatgpt-rival In case you missed it, ChatGPT rival ‘Copilot’ is now on iOS and Android – And access to GPT-4 is free.
https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/researchers-train-ai-chatbots-to-jailbreak-rival-chatbots-and-automate-the-process Researchers train AI chatbots to ‘jailbreak’ rival chatbots – and automate the process
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4371959-ai-artificial-intelligence-2024-election-deepfake-trump/ Fears grow over AI’s impact on the 2024 election. With billions of people all over the world going to the polls this year, AI may create a real danger..https://theconversation.com/virtual-influencers-meet-the-ai-generated-figures-posing-as-your-new-online-friends-as-they-try-to-sell-you-stuff-212001 Virtual influencers: meet the AI-generated figures posing as your new online friends – as they try to sell you stuff They can now create very good facsimiles of real people…
>>>Facial recognition
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/01/facial-recognition-could-replace-passports-at-uk-airport-e-gates Facial recognition could replace passports at UK airport e-gates – Border Force director reportedly hopes to create ‘intelligent border’ after being impressed by schemes in Australia and Dubai – (Post-script – However, it’s not good at telling black people apart! https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/police-facial-recognition-technology-cant-tell-black-people-apart/ !!)
Christine Betterton-Jones – Knowledge junkie