How 4 Emerging Technologies Are Shaping Our Interconnected World

We are at the dawn of a new world, ushering in the unknown. What once seemed?like benign complexity now holds groundbreaking advancements. In the world of IT,?we have seen a rapid shift to complete reliance on technology across numerous?industries. The birth of the Internet ushered in an era of connectivity that many?could not have anticipated. Now, we are on the cusp of a new technological?Evolution.?

In my circles, AI and machine learning are dominating subjects, and for good?reason. There have been significant breakthroughs in AI models and hardware?designed to accelerate their development. AI is reshaping how we interact with?computers, opening new paths of possibilities. However, alongside AI, there are?other breakthroughs that every keen observer and organisational leaders should?keep an eye on; they hold the keys to doors we haven’t even noticed exist. It’s not?just the individual properties of the advancements that interest me, it’s how they all?come together to change our world.?

Electric Fusion?

I recently learned that scientists have made significant strides in achieving?controlled nuclear fusion, a process that promises limitless and clean energy.?Recent experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of sustaining fusion?reactions for longer durations and with greater efficiency than ever before. Its the?National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the United States that achieved a net energy gain?in a fusion experiment, marking a historic milestone. This breakthrough brings us?closer to replicating the sun’s power on Earth, potentially revolutionising energy?production and drastically reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. If I should be too hopeful, we may see electric fusion in our lifetime, bringing us closer to a world?where the energy that powers our economies is clean, ensuring there is a planet for?future generations.?

Quantum Computing?

Quantum computing is rapidly advancing, yet several technical hurdles have slowed?its mainstream adoption. One significant challenge has been maintaining what’s?called quantum coherence. Recent breakthroughs, however, are promising.?Researchers at IBM and Google have developed advancements crucial for stable?quantum computations, addressing issues related to quantum coherence. A team?at the University of Science and Technology of China achieved a new milestone with?their quantum computer Jiuzhang 2.0, when it performed tasks exponentially faster?than classical supercomputers. The current fastest super computer is called?Frontier, its performance is 1,194 petaFLOPS. It is estimated that Jiuzhang can?solve problems at 10 power 24 than this. However, despite these advances, the?field still grapples with scalability and error rates, keeping them from mainstream?commercial use. Developments in quantum computing are closely followed by early?adopters. Quantum computing will accelerate AI models and real-time problemsolving?capabilities. With limitless fusion power to meet their energy and cooling?needs, I hope quantum computers will be a force for good in solving some of?mankind’s yet unsolvable issues.?

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AI Advancements?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to integrate deeper into various facets of?society. From healthcare diagnostics to creative arts, AI’s ability to process and?analyse vast amounts of data is enhancing human capabilities. These capabilities?will be further enhanced by breakthroughs in quantum computing and clean energy.?Public Generative AI models, such as OpenAI’s GPT-O, Google’s Gemini, exemplify?the potential of AI to revolutionise industries by automating tasks, improving?decision-making, fostering creativity and inching us closer to humanizing robotics.?Personally, I like the idea of an AI in my pocket and that’s why AI models such as?the NVIDIA Jetson, known as and Edge AI, are poised to disrupt industries. In Edge?AI processing is performed locally on edge devices rather than relying on cloud?computing, allowing for real-time processing.?

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Network Speeds?

?A team at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology?(NICT) in Japan recently achieved a data transmission rate of 319 terabits per?second over a distance of more than 3,000 kilometres using advanced multi-core?optical fibers. This record-breaking data transmission rate highlights the potential?of optical fiber to revolutionise global communications. High-speed networks will?support the exponential growth of data, enhance connectivity, and enable the?seamless integration of technologies like IoT (Internet of Things) and smart cities.?This connectivity will drive innovation, improve access to information, and foster?economic development on an unprecedented global scale.?

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The Interconnected Impact on Society?

When considered together, these advancements form an interconnected web of?technological progress that promises to drive societal transformation. The clean,?abundant energy from electric fusion will power the data centres and?computational needs of quantum computers and AI systems. Quantum computing?will accelerate AI development by solving complex problems faster, while AI will?optimise the use and distribution of energy resources. High-speed optical networks?will ensure that these technologies are accessible and interconnected, facilitating?real-time data exchange and collaboration on a global scale.?The synergy between these technologies will create a future where energy is?sustainable, computation is boundless, intelligence is augmented, and connectivity?is ubiquitous. This convergence will not only drive economic growth but also?address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity, from climate?change to healthcare.?

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All Risk and Opportunity

Seeing and anticipating the formation of new technological and interconnected?patterns will ready those that participate for opportunities to come. Advancements,?particularly the ones I have talked about here, present us with new challenges and?risks. As we step into a new world of opportunities, we will are also walking into a?world of unknown risks that will impact societies in unknown ways.?

The unknown risks are better described by the concept of “emergent?vulnerabilities”, once described by Nathaniel Husted and Steven Myers in?“Emergent Properties & Security: The Complexity of Security as a Science”.?Emergent vulnerabilities and properties are security weaknesses that arise from?the interactions between system components, rather than from the individual?components themselves.?

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The idea of emergent properties, such as the ones I discussed in interconnected?impact of society, are where we unlock opportunities that we have not even thought?of or anticipated. To be prepared, as Husted and Myers suggest, we must anticipate?through building models of emergent risk detection to match the level of?sophistication in the advancements and breakthroughs.?As we stand on the cusp of these technological revolutions, staying informed and?engaged with these advancements will be crucial for harnessing their full potential?and shaping a better future for all.?

How do you think we can best prepare for the risks associated with these emerging technologies?

About the author?

Lawrance Nyakiso,?Senior Cybersecurity Advisor

Information Security Professional, specializing in the development and execution of strategies that safeguard against evolving threats. Expertise in designing and implementing security solutions that ensure both risk mitigation and compliance. Strong foundation in software engineering and technical leadership, with a track record of successfully leading teams in high-stakes fintech and large enterprise environments, driving impactful security initiatives.?