Tech Trajectories: Projecting Trend Advancements

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Reflecting on technological advancements and examining how foundational technology trends evolve is essential to seeing where the world and society are headed. Last year, significant strides were made in data governance, automation, edge computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and the metaverse. IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) is keeping its eye on what’s ahead for these technologies that are transforming various industry sectors. In this article, I’ll examine the current state of these technologies and outline the advancements and directions we expect ahead.

Data Governance
As technology evolves, building frameworks that ensure people have trust in systems holds significant weight. Integrating Trust, Identity, Privacy, Protection, Safety, and Security (TIPPSS) principles into data governance strategies ensures data integrity and confidentiality.

The rapid adoption of AI and machine learning (ML) technologies has made data governance increasingly critical. The focus has been toward enhancing data security, privacy, and compliance with evolving global regulations. Developments included the creation of robust frameworks and advanced encryption techniques to safeguard data.  The IEEE 7000™ Standards Working Groups has made significant strides in ensuring ethical alignment in autonomous and intelligent systems, tackling potential ethical issues up front to foster greater trust and market acceptance.

In addition to these focus areas, a continuing rise in screen time among children and teenagers that began during the COVID-19 pandemic has also underscored the need for standards addressing the data governance of younger users. IEEE SA played a pivotal role in this area, advancing standards such as IEEE 2089 for Age-Appropriate Digital Services, IEEE 2089.1 for Online Age Verification, and IEEE 3527.1 for Digital Intelligence (DQ).

IEEE's CertifAIEd program is pivotal in building this trust by focusing on risk governance in the context of AI and rapid technological changes. The program implements effective data governance frameworks that uniquely address and emphasize the importance of accountability, transparency in data usage, algorithmic bias mitigation, and data privacy management. The program’s approach to system-level value-based design ensures that while products themselves aren't certified, the overarching systems are vetted for ethical and secure operation. This holistic framework promotes trust and reliability in emerging technologies, setting a foundation for robust data governance as we move into 2024 and beyond.

To read this entire article, which appeared in the September 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.