The most prominent technology events in 2024

The technology world in 2024 continues to witness the strong rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the spread of humanoid robots, and the impressive recovery of the cryptocurrency market.

AI creates explosion

Over the past year, artificial intelligence has penetrated deeply into every aspect of life. At the same time, a series of companies have joined the race to develop humanoid robots, bringing many significant breakthroughs.

The competition between generative AIs is likened to the battle between Microsoft and Netscape in the 1990s for the top browser position. Notable products are constantly being improved such as ChatGPT with GPT-4 or o1, Google Bard transformed into Gemini, Microsoft integrated Copilot into Office and Windows, while Meta deployed AI on Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and the web platform.

Other names like Character.AI, Viggle, Pixverse, Luma AI also asserted their own mark. In addition, Chinese companies like Baidu, Alibaba, and ByteDance quickly launched similar AI. However, experts say that these products are still more similar than truly groundbreaking.

Expanding the trend from photo-generated AI to video-generated AI, OpenAI took the lead when it announced its Sora model in February. Google followed with Veo, Runway introduced Gen-3 Alpha, Meta launched Movie Gen, and Adobe jumped into the game with its own video AI tool. Of these, Sora went commercial in early December, while the others are still in beta.

AI also made its mark at the 2024 Nobel Prize, with important awards being given to leading experts in the field. Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work that laid the foundation for modern AI. Meanwhile, David Baker, John Jumper, and Demis Hassabis were honored with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on decoding proteins using AI.

Artificial superintelligence (AGI) is also becoming a reality when OpenAI announced o1 on December 5, designed to reason logically and give more accurate responses. Previously, Elon Musk and many experts predicted that AGI would appear within the next 1-2 years.

AI Phone

Since early 2024, at CES, smartphone models with integrated generative AI have been officially launched, starting a new race in the mobile technology industry. AI Phone models have the ability to process data locally, helping to reduce dependence on Internet and cloud connections.

Notable products such as the Humane AI Battery with integrated GPT-4, Rabbit R1 with push-button control, or Brain AI using voice have created initial excitement. However, these devices still face many limitations in practical use, causing them to be sold in limited quantities or discontinued.

The trend of combining local AI and cloud AI is expected to dominate in the coming time. Google pioneered with Pixel 8 Pro in late 2023, followed by Samsung Galaxy AI on Galaxy S24 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra with AI Portrait feature. Apple is also not left out by integrating ChatGPT into iPhone through Apple Intelligence platform. This trend is expected to continue to grow strongly in the coming years.

Humanoid Robot Breakthrough

Humanoid robots will take center stage in 2024, with fierce competition between US and Chinese companies.

In the US, Tesla's Optimus has made great strides, such as moving on difficult terrain, performing household chores like cracking eggs, and even practicing yoga. Boston Dynamics' Atlas has also impressed with its ability to perform complex tasks without human intervention.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies such as Wisson Technology, UBTech, and Era Robot are focusing on demonstrating diverse tasks, from climbing mountains, swinging sticks, to assisting in manufacturing plants. In particular, Unitree Robotics is preparing to put its G1 robot into mass production, marking an important step in the commercialization of robots.

Cryptocurrency is booming

The cryptocurrency market has also seen a spectacular resurgence this year. At the beginning of 2024, Bitcoin prices hovered around $42,000 to $45,000, and by mid-December, the value had surpassed $105,000.

According to CoinTelegraph, this rise stems from the US Securities and Exchange Commission's approval of a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), making it easier for users to invest without directly owning Bitcoin. In addition, Donald Trump's unexpected endorsement in the presidential campaign was also a driving factor. He pledged to turn the US into a "cryptocurrency capital" if elected.

Wave of tech layoffs

After a massive layoff in 2023, a second wave of layoffs is coming this year. According to data from Layoffs.fyi, nearly 150,000 employees have been laid off at 529 tech companies, with big names like Intel, Dell, and Cisco being hit the hardest.

Experts say the reason for this cut comes from automation and the shift in priorities to AI projects, leading to the streamlining of traditional departments that are no longer suitable.

Blue screen problem

On July 19, a series of major systems around the world, including airports, hospitals and businesses, were suddenly disrupted by the "Blue Screen Of Death" (BSOD) incident, causing billions of dollars in damage.

The cause was determined to be a software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. They admitted that the error occurred due to insufficient update quality testing, leading to problems with many Windows devices. According to Microsoft's announcement, about 8.5 million computers were affected, but experts say the actual number is much larger.

This event is considered a warning about over-reliance on technology service providers. Although technology brings convenience, today's complex systems can easily collapse due to seemingly small errors. This requires increased stability and safety in the design and operation of technology systems.

David Pac

Update 16 December 2024