Aerial drones have topped Forrester’s follow-up list of the next 10 top emerging technologies for 2024.
The first top 10 technologies list was released in June. This follow-up list highlights how AI continues to dominate the technological landscape, as well as how innovation in advanced computing remains an important trend.
The technologies in these lists have been identified to deliver tangible ROI for firms over the next two years.
Aerial drones have topped the list for its ability to automate tasks that require repetitive manual labour or expensive equipment. They can also provide critical insights from data collection. Amazon is currently already working on testing this out in the UK.
Drones are expected to deliver significant ROI in the short term (0-2 years). Also featured in the short-term benefit horizon of the list is synthetic data. It refers to artificially generated data that mimics real-world data but without the privacy and security risks.
This data supports AI. AI chips are also in the list of short-term benefits.
Artificial intelligence features in the list two more times — Explainable AI and Sensory AI — both expected to make an impact on ROI delivery within the next two to five years.
Technologies in early stages of development and expected to take more than five years to deliver potential are 6G networks, and quantum computing platforms.
This continued list of Forrester’s emerging technologies for the year highlights the continued acceleration being driven by AI, as well as the potential for up-and-coming projects.