In future, blockchain will be used to identify fake news content, and excessive online shopping will be identified by the World Health Organisation as an addictive disorder.
These are among Gartner’s “Top 10 Strategic Predictions for 2020 and Beyond”, as identified by Gartner VP, analyst Daryl Plummer during a presentation at Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2019 in Orlando, Florida, this week.
The predictions examine how technology is changing the definition of what it means to be human, focusing on the impact of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), crypto-currency and online shopping trends on businesses and consumers.
Plummer called on CIOs and IT leaders across the globe to help their organisations adapt accordingly in this changing world.
Blockchain authenticates content
By 2023, up to 30% of world news and video content will be authenticated by blockchain, used to counter deep fake technology and fake news photographs and audio.
More organisations and governments will turn to technology to help counter fake news, by using blockchain technology to authenticate news content as the technology creates an immutable and shared record.
Excessive online shopping identified as addiction
By 2024, the World Health Organisation will identify online shopping as an addictive disorder, as millions of consumers abuse digital commerce and encounter financial stress.
“With the increasing availability of consumer data, marketers are able to pinpoint exactly which consumer will buy their product and at what point in the buyer journey.
“As technology grows more sophisticated, marketers will be able to more accurately predict what consumers want, how to price products and where to position them, “explained Plummer.
Digital innovation timelines double
Through 2021, digital transformation initiatives will take large traditional enterprises, on average, twice as long to deliver and cost twice as much as anticipated.
AI increases accessibility
By 2023, the number of people with disabilities employed will triple due to AI and emerging technologies reducing barriers to access through virtual offices and virtual meeting places.
Necessary changes will range from the cultural (ie, removing the term “stand-up” meeting) to the technical (ie, adjusting legacy systems to be more accessible).
AI emotions drive ads
By 2024, AI identification of human emotions will influence more than half of the online advertisements which consumers view.
With the increasing popularity of sensors that track biometrics and the evolution of artificial emotional intelligence, businesses will be able to detect consumer emotions and use this knowledge to increase sales.
BYOD becomes BYOE
Through 2023, 30% of IT organisations will extend their “bring your own device” (BYOD) policies with “bring your own enhancement” (BYOE) to address augmented humans and balance security in the workforce.
Currently, industries like automotive and mining are using wearables to increase worker safety, while travel and healthcare are using wearables to increase productivity.
As these technologies evolve, organisations will begin to consider how physical augmentation can be leveraged in personal and professional lives.
Internet of behaviour to link people and actions
By 2023, individual activities will be tracked digitally by an “Internet of behaviour” (IOB) to influence benefit and service eligibility for 40% of people worldwide.
The IOB will be used to link a person digitally to their actions. For example, linking your image as documented by facial recognition with an activity such as purchasing a train ticket can be tracked digitally.
Mobile crypto-currency increases
By 2025, 50% of people with a smartphone but without a bank account will use a mobile-accessible crypto-currency account, with Africa expected to have the highest growth rates.
As marketplaces and social media platforms begin supporting crypto-currency payments, much of the world will shift to mobile-accessible crypto-currency accounts.
G7 establishes AI oversight
By 2023, a self-regulating association for oversight of AI and machine learning designers will be established in at least four of the G7 countries.
AI technology is vulnerable to implicit and explicit bias, logic gaps and general algorithm complexities.
Regulating AI is challenging, but industries will need to create standardisation around development and certifications, as well as a set of professional standards for ethical AI usage.
Workers orchestrate business applications
By 2023, 40% of professional workers will orchestrate their business application experiences and capabilities like they do their music streaming services.
Historically, organisations have offered employees a “one-size-fits-all” application solution, regardless of job description or needs.
In the future, business units or central IT will receive capabilities in building block form, enabling them to create individual “playlists” of applications customised to specific employee requirements and jobs specs.
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