
IEEE survey eyes impact of technology in 2023 and beyond
A new study from technical professional organization IEEE covers the most important technologies in 2023 and future technology trends. The study surveyed 350 chief technology officers, chief information officers and IT directors from the U.S., U.K., China, India and Brazil at organizations with more than 1,000 employees across multiple industry sectors on key technology trends, priorities and predictions for 2023 and beyond.
Survey participants said cloud computing (40%), 5G (38%), metaverse (37%), electric vehicles (EVs) (35%), and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) (33%) will be the five most important areas of technology next year. According to the survey, the top industry sectors that will be most impacted by technology in 2023 are:
- (40%) telecommunications
- (39%) automotive and transportation
- (33%) energy
- (33%) banking and financial services
Currently in its nascent stages, the metaverse can be described as an immersive digital network of 3D interactive worlds. The global technologists surveyed said the following innovations will be very important for advancing the development of the metaverse in 2023:
- (71%) 5G and ubiquitous connectivity
- (58%) virtual reality (VR) headsets
- (58%) augmented reality (AR) glasses
Metaverse-related technologies are also expected to be deployed in various ways: 91% of respondents agree, to bring employees together for corporate training across offices, conferences and hybrid meetings, their company is actively adopting metaverse technology strategies in 2023. In addition, over three-quarters (76%) of global technologists say 26%-75% of interactions with colleagues, customers and management at their company will be conducted virtually in 2023.
With AI now becoming ubiquitous, 98% of survey respondents agree that in 2023 and beyond, AI-powered autonomous, collaborative software and mobile robots will automate processes and tasks, including data analysis, allowing humans to be more efficient and effective. In addition, when asked what percentage of jobs across the entire global economy will be augmented by AI-driven software in 2023, 24% of technologists surveyed said 1-25%; 40% of those surveyed said 26-50%; and 27% of respondents said 51-75%.
Related to the IIoT, which optimizes smart industrial machines, sensors, processors and the real-time data they generate, 98% of those surveyed say using digital twin technology and virtual simulations in 2023 to more efficiently design, develop and safely test product prototypes and manufacturing processes will be important, including 68% who say it will be very important.
Because of its fast and high data throughput, 5G will impact vehicle connectivity and automation in 2023, 97% of survey respondents agree. Respondents also said that 5G will benefit these areas the most in the next year:
- (56%) remote learning and education
- (54%) telemedicine, including remote surgery, health record transmissions
- (51%) entertainment, sports and live event streaming
- (49%) personal and professional day-to-day communications
- (29%) transportation and traffic control
- (25%) manufacturing/assembly
- (23%) carbon footprint reduction and energy efficiency
A large majority (95%) of global technologists agree that space satellites for remote mobile connectivity will be a game-changer in 2023 because they enable 5G device connections anywhere, 24/7, leapfrogging terrestrial infrastructure. Close to nine out of 10 of global technologists (88%) agree 6G will primarily be an evolving work in progress in 2023, but that in half a decade 6G will be standardized.
In terms of cybersecurity concerns, those most likely to be in technology leaders’ top three in 2023 – which rose as compared to levels of concern in 2022 – are issues related to:
- (51%) cloud vulnerability (up from 35% in 2022)
- (46%) the mobile and hybrid workforce, including employees using their own devices (up from 39% in 2022)
- (43%) data center vulnerability (up from 27% in 2022)
For more, see “The Impact of Technology in 2023 and Beyond: an IEEE Global Study.”
