EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES
SHAPING OUR
LIVES IN 2030
In the next decade, an array of core
technologies will drive major transformations in
our daily lives. While each technology on its own
is a force for change, it is at the intersection of
multiple innovations across technology domains
where new aordances are discovered,
developed, and deployed. The following are a
selection of core emerging technologies that, in
combination with each other and advancements
in software, connectivity, processing power, and
multi-cloud, data-driven systems will drive or
enable the shifts outlined in this report:
Pervasive Sensors and Internet of Things (IoT): As
advances in computation and new energy sources enable
the distribution of smaller devices, sensors—from
ubiquitous cameras to wearable computers to
environmental sensors—will reveal much about our homes,
cities, bodies, and the way we live.
Mobile Edge Computing: Low-latency, high-bandwidth
wireless networks will make it possible to move data
storage and processing from your mobile device to the
nearby edges of the wireless network, essentially providing
any connected device the power of a supercomputer. This
will allow us to push computing power ever closer to the
edge, improving processing times and bringing articial
intelligence to myriad connected devices.
5G and Beyond: By 2030, 5G will move into maturity and
6G standards will continue the evolution of mobility
networking. 5G will bring forth a new wave of signicantly
faster wireless connectivity, signicantly reducing mobile
network latency. Cities and towns will become more
connected than ever, paving the way for smart cities and
digital infrastructure, along with a more intelligent industrial
infrastructure that thrives on automation.
Articial Intelligence: After decades of slow progress,
articial intelligence is now rapidly expanding in capabilities
and application areas. For example, machine learning, a
branch of articial intelligence commonly used to construct
mathematical models of the world to make predictions, is
employed in everything from chatbots to self-driving cars.
Machine learning algorithms recognize patterns in large
data sets and leverage those insights to determine what to
do next while improving with each repetition of a task.
Extended Reality (XR) and Immersive Media: New
display technologies like exible screens, wearable VR
devices, or even holograms in combination with gestural
and haptic interfaces will enable fantastically compelling
media experiences that stimulate all our senses. The virtual
and real will blend in deeply immersive experiences that
bring us closer together, no matter where we may be. The
world will explain itself through augmented reality that
transforms abstract or hidden information into rich,
interactive moments and compelling layers of content.
Future of Connected Living 4
