How Present Emerging Technologies Can Distrupt Industries

We currently live in a world in which many new technologies are emerging. Each with its own capabilities and features. Because development doesn't happen linearly anymore, most of them are becoming exponential in nature. They've reached a solid base in which they can jump to the next level exponentially.

In my view, disruption happens gradually until it reaches a point where it becomes sudden. This is because there are two aspects to it; theory and practical. We've theoretize about technologies that didn't achieve enough practicality. And there are practical technologies that didn’t manage to catch on because it lacked sufficient theory.

This post will explore some of the present emerging technologies that have the potential to disrupt industries in the near to far future, and discuss their implications and scenarios.

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Present Emerging Technologies

Technology can create value and impact for society. But it can also disrupt the status quo and change the rules of the game. In many cases, it does both. It's one of the reasons why I see regulation and technology are diametrically opposed. The former sets the rules and status quo while the latter keeps breaking them in a sense that it goes beyond it. Uncharted lands.

Present emerging technologies are those that are currently being actively developed and deployed. They have the potential to create significant impact and disruption in multiple industries
and domains. Some examples of present emerging technologies are:

• Artificial Intelligence(AI): Augmenting the human brain through the use of machines and algorithms to perform tasks on par with the average person or beyond.

• Quantum Computing: Next level computing through the use of quantum physics and the superposition, creating computers that can process information faster and more efficiently than traditional computers.

• Biotechnology: Infusing biology with technology through the use of living organisms(or its parts) to create products or modify processes for specific purposes, such as health or agriculture.

Disruption Scenarios

The disruption that these technologies could cause will depend on multiple factors. Some of the main factors are their technical feasibility, economic viability and social acceptance. I think economic viability doesn't carry much because we're entering an age of financial abundance. Much of the weight will be on social acceptance and technical feasibility.

Some possible scenarios of disruption are:

Artificial Intelligence's disruption has already begun. Generative AI models have made redundant many traditional creative workers. The popular Gen AI models have heavily penetrated into the (social) media landscape. But with other models or other iterations AI could disrupt various other industries.

Through automating and optimizing the various work activities and processes in almost every industry. For example in manufacturing, transportation, finance and health care industries.

Other the other hand, the labor market will be disrupted both positively and negatively. Positively, creating new jobs and skills. Negatively, displacing existing ones. Hopefully, the positives far outweighs the negatives.

The theory behind Quantum Computing seems fascinating to me. It bends time and reality. I see the disruption through enhancing everything that a traditional computer does.

This could happen through enabling new applications and services that are beyond the reach of traditional computers. With the speed of development and the amount of data that is generated, most applications will do much better when they're operated on a quantum computer.

Can you imagine blockchain or AI or other related technologies running on a quantum computer? It's capabilities will be almost limitless.

It could also disrupt the information technology industry by creating new standards and protocols for security and communication. Privacy 5.0.

With Biotechnology, longevity or reverse aging might not be that far away. Obviously, the main disruption will be in the healthcare and related industries. It could enable personalized medicine, gene editing and synthetic biology. All three will democratise healthcare when they become economically viable. Big pharma will be on the losing end.

On the agricultural front, with the introduction of biofuel. The environment could be disrupted through biodiversity, creating an optimal habitat for Earth dwellers.

In Closing

Depending on how they are developed and deployed, these emerging technologies could have significant impacts on the world in general. Creating new possibilities and challenges for various domains in life.

Despite the big risks that comes with quantum computing like quantum supremacy, It is the one I'm most excited about.


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