10 things that happened in the tech world in 2024

1. AI Models and Generative AI Advancements

The year 2024 witnessed significant advancements in generative AI, with groundbreaking developments by industry leaders OpenAI and Google. These innovations have reshaped the landscape of artificial intelligence, enabling more sophisticated applications across industries.

OpenAI’s GPT-4.5

In 2024, OpenAI launched GPT-4.5, an incremental yet impactful upgrade from GPT-4. This version brought several enhancements:

Improved Reasoning and Comprehension
GPT-4.5 exhibited better contextual understanding and multi-turn reasoning, making it more adept at complex tasks such as technical problem-solving, creative writing, and professional consultation.
Multimodal Capabilities Expansion
While GPT-4 introduced multimodal input (processing text and images), GPT-4.5 refined these abilities. It could analyze images with greater accuracy and generate contextually relevant captions or interpretations, making it a stronger tool for visual data analysis.
Speed and Efficiency
OpenAI optimized GPT-4.5 for faster response times and lower computational costs, ensuring smoother deployment in real-world applications.
Dynamic Plugins Integration
GPT-4.5 included enhanced plugin integration, allowing it to seamlessly interact with external tools, APIs, and databases. This feature broadened its utility in fields like business automation, education, and research.

Google’s Gemini

Google’s AI team introduced Gemini, their flagship generative AI model, as a direct competitor to OpenAI’s GPT-4. Gemini represented a paradigm shift with its emphasis on bridging the gap between human-like reasoning and real-world application:

Unified Multimodal AI
Gemini excelled in unifying text, image, video, and even auditory inputs. This allowed it to handle complex scenarios requiring analysis and generation across multiple media types, making it a leader in immersive AI applications.
Advanced Conversational AI
With innovations in dialog coherence, Gemini redefined conversational AI. It could sustain nuanced discussions, infer user intent more accurately, and provide contextually rich responses, setting a new standard in natural language processing.
Real-Time World Knowledge Updates
Unlike previous models with static knowledge bases, Gemini had real-time world knowledge updating capabilities. This made it more reliable for tasks like real-time news synthesis, financial forecasting, and global event analysis.
Focus on AI Ethics and Safety
Google placed a strong emphasis on ethical AI development with Gemini. Advanced safety layers ensured reduced risks of misinformation, bias, and inappropriate content generation.

2. Mixed Reality and AR/VR Integration

2024 marked a pivotal year in the mixed reality (MR) and AR/VR landscape, with Apple Vision Pro and Meta’s Orion leading the charge. These two flagship devices epitomized the fusion of cutting-edge hardware, intuitive software, and immersive experiences, reshaping the way users interacted with both the physical and digital worlds.

Apple Vision Pro: Redefining Mixed Reality

Apple Vision Pro, unveiled in 2024, became a benchmark for AR/VR technology, combining sleek design with robust functionality. Apple positioned it as a “spatial computer,” emphasizing its role as a productivity and entertainment powerhouse.

Key Features

Unparalleled Display Technology
- Dual micro-OLED displays with a resolution exceeding 23 million pixels delivered stunning clarity, making virtual elements appear lifelike and seamlessly integrated with the real world.
- Wide color gamut and HDR support ensured vibrant visuals for movies, games, and professional applications.
Eye and Hand Tracking
- Vision Pro introduced advanced eye-tracking sensors and infrared cameras, allowing users to control the interface with just their gaze and subtle gestures.
- No need for controllers—users interacted naturally by pointing, tapping, and swiping in the air.
Spatial Audio Integration
- Personalized audio experiences were made possible with spatial audio, which mapped sound to the virtual environment. This feature enhanced immersion in virtual meetings, movies, and AR applications.
Mixed Reality Mode
- A Digital Crown enabled seamless toggling between AR and VR modes, letting users control the level of immersion.
- Users could overlay apps and virtual objects onto their physical space while maintaining awareness of their surroundings.
Productivity and Collaboration
- Vision Pro supported multiple virtual screens for multitasking, making it ideal for professionals.
- Integrated with Apple’s ecosystem, it allowed users to access Mac desktops, FaceTime, and iCloud in an immersive environment.

Use Cases

Entertainment: Watching 3D movies, immersive gaming, and interactive storytelling.
Workspaces: Virtual monitors for professionals, collaboration via immersive FaceTime, and design tools for creatives.
Health and Fitness: Guided workouts with holographic trainers and immersive wellness experiences.

Meta’s Orion: Social-Centric Immersion

Meta doubled down on its vision of the metaverse with the release of Orion, a mixed-reality device designed to connect users in immersive social and professional environments. Orion emphasized accessibility and deep integration with Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Horizon Workrooms.

Key Features

High-Performance Hardware
- Equipped with a lightweight design, Orion utilized cutting-edge pancake optics for a slim profile.
- A powerful Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor ensured smooth operation for both AR and VR applications.
Full-Color Passthrough AR
- Unlike earlier Meta devices, Orion provided high-resolution color passthrough for AR experiences, enabling users to interact with their surroundings while engaging with virtual overlays.
Meta Avatars 2.0
- Enhanced avatars with realistic facial expressions, powered by AI-driven emotion recognition and improved sensors, made interactions more engaging and lifelike.
Controller-Free Interaction
- Orion adopted hand-tracking technology, but users could also opt for lightweight haptic controllers for tasks requiring precision, such as gaming or creative work.
Metaverse Integration
- Orion served as a gateway to Meta’s metaverse, enabling users to socialize, work, and shop in fully immersive environments.

Use Cases

Social Engagement: Hosting virtual meetups, parties, and shared experiences in Horizon Worlds.
Gaming: Advanced multiplayer VR games with interactive social elements.
Remote Work: Virtual offices and collaborative spaces designed for real-time interaction and productivity.
E-Commerce: Virtual stores where users could browse, try, and purchase items using AR overlays.

3. Advanced Robotics and Automation

The year 2024 marked a significant leap in advanced robotics and automation, with humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus making remarkable strides in performing industrial tasks. These robots bridged the gap between human dexterity and machine precision, driving efficiency and innovation across various industries.

Tesla’s Optimus: Leading the Humanoid Revolution

Tesla’s Optimus (also referred to as Tesla Bot) evolved from a prototype to a highly functional robotic assistant in 2024. Designed for versatility and cost-efficiency, Optimus was a humanoid robot tailored for industrial and general-purpose automation tasks.

Industrial Applications of Optimus

Manufacturing and Assembly Lines
- Optimus excelled in repetitive tasks such as assembling parts, welding, and packaging.
- Its adaptability allowed it to seamlessly transition between different tasks without reprogramming.
Warehousing and Logistics
- Optimus was deployed in warehouses for inventory management, order picking, and pallet stacking.
- With its ability to lift objects up to 20 kilograms, it reduced the need for human labor in physically demanding tasks.
Construction
- Optimus performed precision-oriented tasks like laying bricks, measuring dimensions, or holding tools for workers.
- It was also utilized for hazardous operations, reducing risks for human workers.
Healthcare and Elderly Care
- While primarily industrial, Optimus prototypes were explored for non-industrial tasks, such as assisting in caregiving by moving patients or delivering supplies in hospitals.
Agriculture
- Optimus contributed to precision agriculture by planting, harvesting, and inspecting crops, addressing labor shortages in the agricultural sector.

Other Players in Humanoid Robotics in 2024

Boston Dynamics’ Atlas

Known for its agility and athleticism, Atlas became a staple for research and advanced task simulation.
In 2024, it showcased more complex tasks such as tool usage, construction work, and rescue operations in disaster scenarios.

Agility Robotics’ Digit

Focused on logistics, Digit excelled in warehouse automation and package delivery. Its lightweight design and balance allowed it to operate in shared spaces with humans.

Xiaomi CyberOne

Aimed at consumer and light industrial use, CyberOne acted as a personal assistant and showcased capabilities in customer service, such as providing information or carrying out concierge tasks.

4. Satellite Internet Expansion

In 2024, satellite internet services saw unprecedented growth, driven by the rapid advancements and expansion of SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. These initiatives played a transformative role in bridging the digital divide, delivering high-speed internet to remote and underserved regions worldwide.

SpaceX’s Starlink: Scaling Beyond Boundaries

Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, solidified its position as a leader in satellite internet by expanding its constellation to over 7,500 active satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). This increased capacity enabled Starlink to offer broader coverage, faster speeds, and improved reliability.

Key Developments in 2024

Global Coverage Expansion
- Starlink achieved near-global availability, including challenging regions such as the Arctic, Antarctic, and dense rainforests.
- It introduced regional-specific plans tailored for remote areas, such as tribal reservations and isolated islands.
Enhanced Performance
- Upgraded satellites with laser inter-satellite links improved data transfer efficiency, reducing latency to as low as 20ms in many regions.
- Peak download speeds exceeded 1 Gbps, making it competitive with fiber-optic networks.
Affordable Pricing
- New tiered pricing plans catered to both individual households and businesses, including affordable packages for emerging markets.
- Partnerships with governments and NGOs subsidized equipment for rural communities.
Mobility Applications
- Starlink for RVs, boats, and aircraft became more mainstream, providing seamless internet connectivity for travelers, maritime industries, and airlines.
- Integration with autonomous vehicles supported real-time navigation and communication.
Disaster Relief Efforts
- Starlink became the go-to solution for emergency internet services during natural disasters, offering instant connectivity to affected areas.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper: The New Challenger

Amazon’s Project Kuiper gained momentum in 2024, positioning itself as a strong competitor to Starlink. With its launch of over 3,200 satellites, Kuiper began providing high-speed internet to underserved regions, leveraging Amazon’s vast logistics and cloud infrastructure.

Key Milestones in 2024

Initial Deployment and Coverage
- Kuiper launched its first operational constellation, focusing on North America, Europe, and parts of Africa and Asia.
- With advanced phased-array antennas, it delivered stable connections even in densely populated or remote areas.
Cost-Effective Ground Terminals
- Kuiper introduced innovative, compact, and lightweight user terminals costing under $400, making it accessible to more customers.
- The self-installation capability of these terminals further reduced barriers to adoption.
Integration with Amazon Services
- Kuiper offered seamless integration with AWS (Amazon Web Services), enabling businesses to leverage cloud computing with satellite internet.
- Amazon Prime members received bundled internet packages, creating a unique value proposition for consumers.
Focus on Emerging Markets
- Kuiper prioritized connecting schools, hospitals, and rural communities in developing nations, working with local governments to tailor solutions.
- Its satellites supported education and telemedicine initiatives, transforming public service delivery.
Scalability and Redundancy
- Kuiper’s design ensured scalability for future satellites and redundancy for uninterrupted service during satellite failures.

5. Text into Video

The year 2024 witnessed groundbreaking advancements in text-to-video generation, with ChatGPT’s Sora and Google’s Veo 2 leading the charge. These AI-powered tools transformed the way content creators, educators, marketers, and businesses produced high-quality videos, making the process faster, more accessible, and more versatile.

ChatGPT’s Sora: Revolutionizing Narrative Visuals

Sora, an advanced text-to-video platform developed by OpenAI, emerged as a powerful tool for generating dynamic and visually compelling videos directly from textual prompts.

Key Features and Innovations

Natural Language to Visual Conversion
- Sora could interpret detailed prompts to create scene-by-scene videos with accurate visual representations of objects, environments, characters, and actions.
- It supported multimodal prompts, allowing users to combine text, images, and audio descriptions for richer outputs.
Customizable Styles and Genres
- Users could select from a variety of artistic styles, including photorealism, animation, and cinematic effects.
- Genre-based customization enabled the creation of videos tailored for storytelling, education, marketing, or entertainment.
Real-Time Collaboration
- Sora’s platform integrated collaborative editing features, enabling teams to co-create and refine videos in real time.
- Users could edit specific scenes or adjust elements like lighting, color grading, and sound effects seamlessly.
Voiceover and Subtitles
- Sora automatically generated voiceovers using advanced synthetic voices with natural intonations and emotional tones.
- It included multilingual subtitle generation, making videos accessible to global audiences.
API for Developers
- Sora’s API allowed integration with other platforms, such as e-learning systems, gaming engines, and marketing tools, for automated video production.

Google’s Veo 2: Pioneering Versatile Video Creation

Google’s Veo 2 built on its predecessor, bringing unmatched precision and versatility to text-to-video generation. Designed for both professionals and casual users, Veo 2 focused on delivering high-quality content effortlessly.

Key Features and Innovations

Scene Understanding and AI Rendering
- Veo 2 utilized Google’s DeepMind Vision Transformer to analyze text prompts and render hyper-realistic scenes with intricate details.
- It supported advanced physics simulations for realistic movements and environmental interactions.
Pre-Trained Visual Libraries
- With access to Google’s expansive visual datasets, Veo 2 offered an extensive library of pre-rendered assets for characters, props, and environments.
- Users could modify these assets or create entirely new ones through text prompts.
Dynamic Storyboarding
- Veo 2 provided an AI-driven storyboard feature that generated video outlines before rendering the final version, giving users a preview of scene sequences and transitions.
Multi-Perspective Rendering
- The platform enabled videos to be generated from multiple angles and perspectives, useful for sports analysis, architectural walkthroughs, and cinematic storytelling.
Enhanced Integration with Google Ecosystem
- Veo 2 seamlessly connected with tools like YouTube, Google Drive, and Google Workspace, making it easy to create, share, and collaborate on videos.
- It also optimized videos for SEO and social media platforms using Google’s analytics.

6. Healthcare Technology Advancements

The year 2024 saw significant advancements in healthcare technology, with wearable devices like the Apple Watch and the newly introduced Galaxy Ring incorporating cutting-edge medical-grade sensors. These devices not only tracked fitness metrics but also provided continuous health monitoring, empowering individuals to take proactive steps in managing their well-being.

Apple Watch in 2024: A Medical Powerhouse

The Apple Watch further cemented its position as a leader in the wearable health tech space with advanced features tailored for both personal health tracking and clinical-grade diagnostics.

Key Features and Innovations

Sleep Apnea Detection
- Using advanced photoplethysmography (PPG) and SpO₂ sensors, the Apple Watch monitored oxygen saturation levels and detected irregular breathing patterns during sleep.
- It alerted users of potential sleep apnea episodes and synced data with healthcare providers for analysis.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
- Through a non-invasive glucose monitoring sensor using optical spectroscopy, the Apple Watch tracked blood glucose levels.
- It became a game-changer for individuals with diabetes, eliminating the need for finger-prick tests.
Advanced Heart Rate and Rhythm Monitoring
- The watch could detect abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation (AFib) and notify users in real-time.
- New ECG features allowed longer recordings, providing more comprehensive data for physicians.
Blood Pressure Tracking
- While not replacing traditional cuffs, the Apple Watch used pulse wave analysis for preliminary blood pressure readings, helping users identify hypertension risks.
Personalized Health Insights
- Using AI, the device analyzed patterns in health data to provide tailored recommendations for exercise, diet, and stress management.
Emergency and Fall Detection Enhancements
- Improved algorithms detected subtle falls and crashes, automatically contacting emergency services with precise location data.

Galaxy Ring: Compact, Comprehensive Health Monitoring

Samsung entered the ring with its Galaxy Ring, a sleek wearable designed for unobtrusive and accurate health tracking.

Key Features and Innovations

Compact Medical-Grade Sensors
- Despite its size, the Galaxy Ring included sensors for heart rate, SpO₂, skin temperature, and bioelectrical impedance.
- It was ideal for users seeking minimalistic wearables without compromising functionality.
Sleep Apnea Detection
- The Galaxy Ring excelled in monitoring sleep cycles and identifying apnea events using advanced respiratory sensors and AI-driven algorithms.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
- Like the Apple Watch, it utilized non-invasive glucose sensing, providing real-time updates and alerts for users managing diabetes.
Stress and Mood Tracking
- The ring measured heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance to assess stress levels and emotional well-being.
- It offered mindfulness exercises tailored to the user’s current stress state.
Long Battery Life
- Designed with efficiency in mind, the Galaxy Ring provided up to 7 days of continuous use, reducing the need for frequent charging.
Seamless Ecosystem Integration
- The ring synced effortlessly with Samsung’s health ecosystem, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, providing a holistic view of health data.

7. Space Exploration

In 2024, space exploration entered an exciting and transformative phase, with NASA and SpaceX at the forefront of efforts to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there. The Artemis program, led by NASA and supported by private industry, aims to make significant strides toward these ambitious goals. By the end of the 2020s, NASA envisions lunar bases as a key component of humanity’s long-term space exploration strategy, and 2024 will be a pivotal year in achieving this vision.

The Artemis Program: NASA’s Vision for Lunar Exploration

The Artemis program is a comprehensive and ambitious effort by NASA to return humans to the Moon, with the ultimate goal of establishing a sustainable, long-term human presence. The program’s broader vision includes using the Moon as a stepping stone for future exploration of Mars and beyond. As of 2024, the Artemis program is in full swing, and NASA has made significant progress toward its goals.

The program is structured around a series of missions that will evolve over time:

Artemis I (2022) – This was an uncrewed test flight of NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, which successfully orbited the Moon before returning to Earth. The mission proved the readiness of NASA’s new hardware for deep-space missions.
Artemis II (2024) – In 2024, Artemis II will be the first crewed mission of the program. The mission will send astronauts on a flight around the Moon and return them to Earth, serving as a critical test for crewed operations in deep space. During Artemis II, NASA will evaluate spacecraft systems, life support technologies, and astronaut health in space. The mission will also demonstrate the feasibility of long-duration space travel.
Artemis III (2025) – This will be the first crewed mission to land on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Artemis III will land astronauts near the lunar South Pole, a region rich in resources like water ice, which could be used for fuel and life support. The astronauts will conduct scientific experiments, explore the lunar surface, and help lay the groundwork for future exploration and settlement.

The eventual goal of the Artemis program is not only to land humans on the Moon but to build a sustainable presence there, creating infrastructure for long-term habitation and scientific exploration. This would include the construction of a lunar base and the Lunar Gateway, an orbiting space station that will facilitate crewed missions to the Moon and other destinations in the solar system.

SpaceX’s Role: Transforming Lunar Access with Starship

One of the key players in the Artemis program is SpaceX, the private space exploration company founded by Elon Musk. SpaceX has played a critical role in the program by developing new technologies that complement NASA’s goals. In particular, SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft has been selected as the Human Landing System (HLS) for the Artemis missions.

Starship: A Revolutionary Lunar Lander

Starship is a fully reusable spacecraft that has been designed for deep-space missions, including crewed missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. In partnership with NASA, SpaceX is adapting Starship to function as the lunar lander for the Artemis program. Starship will transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon and back, playing a crucial role in the success of Artemis III and future lunar missions.

Key features of Starship include:

Massive Payload Capacity: Starship’s ability to carry more than 100 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) makes it a highly efficient option for transporting both crew and cargo to the Moon.
Reusability: Starship’s fully reusable design significantly reduces the cost per mission. Both the Starship vehicle and the Super Heavy booster are designed to be reused multiple times, enabling more frequent missions and faster deployment.
Refueling in Space: Starship is designed to be refueled in orbit, allowing for longer journeys and the ability to transport heavier payloads. This capability is particularly important for deep-space missions, including missions to the Moon and Mars.
Crew and Cargo Capacity: Starship is designed to carry large numbers of astronauts (up to 100 passengers) and cargo, making it an ideal candidate for sustaining human exploration of the Moon and future missions to Mars.

SpaceX’s Starship, as part of the Artemis program, will help establish the infrastructure necessary for NASA’s long-term lunar ambitions, including the creation of a lunar base.

8. Urban Air Mobility

In 2024, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has moved from science fiction to a tangible, rapidly advancing reality. Flying taxis, a hallmark of UAM, are no longer just a futuristic concept—they are being tested in urban environments by several cutting-edge companies, most notably Lilium, along with other companies like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Vertical Aerospace. These companies are driving the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which promise to revolutionize urban transportation by providing fast, sustainable, and efficient air travel within cities.

Key Players in Urban Air Mobility

Several companies are leading the way in developing flying taxis, each with their own unique designs and approaches. In 2024, Lilium is one of the most prominent names in the UAM industry, but other companies like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Vertical Aerospace are also advancing rapidly. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key players:

Lilium

Lilium is a German aviation startup known for its Lilium Jet, an all-electric aircraft designed for urban air mobility. The Lilium Jet features 16 electric engines arranged on its wings, enabling vertical takeoff and landing. The aircraft is designed for speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph), with a range of around 300 kilometers (186 miles)—making it ideal for medium-distance flights within urban areas or between nearby cities.

Lilium has focused on creating a highly scalable fleet of flying taxis, with its aircraft capable of carrying up to five passengers. The company has already completed successful test flights and is working with regulators, cities, and infrastructure developers to bring its aircraft into commercial operation. In 2024, Lilium is conducting live demonstrations and tests in select urban locations, signaling that the company is on track to operate flying taxi services in the near future.

Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation, a U.S.-based company, is one of the most well-funded and highly anticipated players in the flying taxi space. Joby’s eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry four passengers and has a range of 150 miles on a single charge. Unlike the Lilium Jet, which has a fixed-wing design, Joby’s aircraft has tilt-rotors that allow it to take off and land vertically but transition to forward flight, improving its efficiency and speed.

In 2024, Joby has completed multiple successful test flights and is awaiting FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification to begin commercial operations. Joby has partnered with major companies like Uber to integrate its flying taxis into a broader urban transportation network.

Archer Aviation

Archer Aviation is another U.S.-based company focused on developing electric air taxis. Its aircraft, known as the Midnight, is designed to carry 4 passengers and has a range of 100 miles. Archer’s design is notable for its low-noise operation, a crucial factor for integrating flying taxis into busy urban environments without disturbing residents.

Archer’s focus is on establishing a network of vertiports in major cities, facilitating quick and easy access to flying taxis. The company has announced plans for commercial operations by 2025.

Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a UK-based company working on an eVTOL aircraft called the VA-X4, which is designed to carry 4 passengers and has a range of 100 miles. The company has secured several significant partnerships, including with American Airlines and Rolls-Royce, to bring its aircraft to market. Vertical Aerospace aims to begin testing and certifying its aircraft in 2024 and plans to have commercial operations in the early 2020s.

9. Advancements in Semiconductor Technology

In 2024, the semiconductor industry experienced a significant leap forward with the introduction of 3nm (nanometer) process nodes by three of the world’s most prominent chipmakers: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Samsung Electronics, and Intel. These chips are revolutionizing multiple industries, including artificial intelligence (AI), mobile devices, gaming, and high-performance computing (HPC), by drastically improving computational speed, energy efficiency, and overall performance.

Key Players and Their 3nm Chips in 2024

1. TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company)

TSMC is the global leader in semiconductor manufacturing and has been at the forefront of process node advancements. In 2024, TSMC unveiled its N3 (3nm) process, which represents a massive leap over its previous 5nm node (N5). TSMC’s 3nm process includes several key innovations that enhance the performance and efficiency of its chips.

N3 Process Features:
- Higher Density: TSMC’s N3 technology allows for higher transistor density compared to its 5nm chips, resulting in a more compact and efficient design that can deliver more computational power per square millimeter of chip area.
- Improved Performance and Efficiency: TSMC’s N3 chips promise up to 15% higher performance and 30% improved power efficiency compared to its 5nm nodes. This increase in energy efficiency is crucial for AI applications, mobile devices, and consumer electronics that need to balance performance with battery life.
- Use Cases: TSMC’s 3nm chips are powering a wide range of applications, from high-performance computing (HPC) and AI systems to smartphones and gaming consoles.
Adoption by Leading Companies: TSMC’s 3nm chips are expected to power a variety of cutting-edge devices. Leading companies, including Apple (for iPhones and MacBooks), Qualcomm (for mobile processors), and NVIDIA (for GPUs), are leveraging TSMC’s advanced 3nm technology to drive innovation in mobile computing, gaming, and AI acceleration.

2. Samsung Electronics

Samsung, another major player in the semiconductor industry, has made significant strides with its 3nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) technology, which uses a new transistor architecture to further improve performance, density, and power efficiency over the traditional FinFET (Fin Field-Effect Transistor) architecture used in earlier nodes.

Samsung’s 3nm Process:
- GAA Transistor Technology: Samsung’s 3nm chips use GAA transistors, which allow for better control over current flow and reduce leakage, improving energy efficiency even further than traditional FinFET designs. This is particularly important for AI workloads, where power consumption is critical, and for mobile devices, which need to balance high performance with low power draw to extend battery life.
- Performance and Efficiency Gains: Samsung’s 3nm GAA chips offer a 20% improvement in performance and 40% better energy efficiency compared to their previous 5nm chips.
- Applications: Samsung is focusing its 3nm chips on a variety of high-demand markets, including mobile devices, AI processors, 5G base stations, and automotive systems. The chips will be used in smartphones, tablets, and AI data centers, where they will contribute to faster processing times and enhanced power savings.
Use Cases: In 2024, Samsung is collaborating with major industry players like Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and Samsung’s own Exynos processors to bring 3nm chips to mobile devices and gaming systems, pushing the envelope for performance in consumer electronics.

3. Intel

Intel, traditionally known for designing its own chips and manufacturing them in-house, is also making significant advancements with its Intel 3nm chips, which are expected to be a game-changer for AI, cloud computing, and consumer devices.

Intel’s 3nm Process:
- Power and Performance: Intel’s Intel 3.0 process aims for a 20% increase in performance and up to 30% better energy efficiency than previous generations of chips. Intel is focusing on improving multi-threaded performance, which is essential for AI workloads and high-end gaming PCs.
- 3D Stacking and Packaging: In addition to shrinking the process node, Intel is utilizing 3D stacking and advanced packaging techniques to increase chip density and interconnectivity, making these chips well-suited for the most demanding applications, such as AI inference and cloud computing.
- Focusing on AI and Gaming: Intel’s 3nm chips are positioned to drive breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and high-performance gaming. With an emphasis on integrating AI accelerators within their chips, Intel’s upcoming products will cater to both consumer and enterprise markets, providing faster processing speeds and reduced latency.
AI and High-Performance Computing: Intel’s 3nm chips are set to power AI servers in data centers, accelerating tasks like machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and AI inference. For gaming, Intel’s 3nm processors, combined with high-end graphics cards, will offer a superior gaming experience with more realistic graphics, faster load times, and higher frame rates.

10. Breakthrough in Quantum Computing

In 2024, quantum computing has moved from theoretical promise to tangible reality, with major breakthroughs from leading tech giants like Google and IBM signaling that we are on the brink of a new era in computational power. Both companies have achieved key milestones in quantum supremacy, a term used to describe the point at which a quantum computer can solve certain types of problems faster than the most powerful classical supercomputers.

Quantum computing, harnessing the unique properties of quantum mechanics such as superposition and entanglement, has the potential to revolutionize fields ranging from cryptography and artificial intelligence (AI) to material science and drug discovery. The advances made by Google and IBM in 2024 are not only significant from a technical standpoint but also represent key steps toward the commercialization and widespread use of quantum computing.

Google’s Milestone in Quantum Computing: Sycamore 2.0 and Beyond

In 2024, Google achieved a groundbreaking milestone in quantum computing with the successful demonstration of their Sycamore 2.0 quantum processor, which significantly outperformed the most powerful classical supercomputers for a specific problem. This follows their landmark achievement in 2019, when Google’s Sycamore quantum processor famously solved a complex problem in 200 seconds that would take 10,000 years for a classical supercomputer to solve.

The key milestones in 2024 include:

1. Sycamore 2.0: Achieving Practical Quantum Supremacy

New Quantum Algorithms: Google’s researchers developed new quantum algorithms that allowed the Sycamore 2.0 processor to solve computational tasks more effectively than its predecessor. One of the standout demonstrations in 2024 was the simulation of quantum systems that are too complex for classical computers to handle, particularly in areas like quantum chemistry and material science.
Problem Solving Speed: Sycamore 2.0 completed certain types of calculations—such as quantum error correction—in a fraction of the time it would take even the most advanced classical supercomputers. These calculations are foundational for advancing quantum computing towards fault-tolerant systems, which is one of the primary challenges in quantum computing.
Applications in Chemistry and Drug Discovery: Sycamore 2.0’s increased computational speed has broad implications for quantum chemistry, potentially enabling breakthroughs in drug discovery, material design, and energy storage. These areas rely heavily on simulating complex quantum systems that classical computers struggle with.

2. Quantum Error Correction and Scalability

Improved Error Rates: One of the main challenges in quantum computing has been the high error rates in quantum computations, stemming from quantum decoherence and other noise. Google made significant strides in developing quantum error correction techniques, which enable more stable and reliable computations on larger scales. This is essential for scaling up quantum computers to the point where they can solve practical, real-world problems reliably.
Scalability of Quantum Systems: With Sycamore 2.0, Google also demonstrated increased scalability in its quantum systems. The ability to integrate more qubits while maintaining quantum coherence and reducing error rates is crucial for moving from small, specialized quantum devices to large, general-purpose quantum computers that can tackle a wide variety of applications.

IBM’s Advancements in Quantum Computing: Condor and Eagle Processors

IBM has long been a pioneer in quantum computing, and in 2024, they too made substantial progress toward quantum supremacy. IBM’s achievements are marked by Condor, their 133-qubit quantum processor, and the further refinement of the Eagle processor (which already surpassed 100 qubits in 2022). These advancements build on their existing IBM Quantum Experience cloud platform, allowing users to run quantum algorithms on IBM’s quantum computers remotely.

1. Condor Quantum Processor

133 Qubits and Beyond: IBM’s Condor processor, launched in 2024, is the first to feature 133 qubits, marking a major leap in terms of both qubit count and error correction. While this is still a far cry from the million qubits that would be necessary for true, general-purpose quantum computing, it represents a step toward achieving reliable and scalable quantum computation.
Superconducting Qubits: Condor utilizes superconducting qubits, which are the most widely used type of qubit in quantum computing. Superconducting qubits are stable, scalable, and well-suited for a range of quantum applications, including AI, cryptography, and optimization problems.
Quantum Supremacy in Optimization: In 2024, IBM demonstrated quantum supremacy by solving highly complex combinatorial optimization problems faster than any classical supercomputer could. Optimization problems are essential in fields like logistics, financial modeling, and supply chain management, where finding the most efficient solutions is computationally intense.

2. Quantum Application Development and Ecosystem

Quantum Software and Algorithms: Along with advancements in hardware, IBM made significant progress in quantum software development. Through their Qiskit framework, IBM has created a robust ecosystem for quantum software, enabling businesses and research institutions to develop quantum algorithms. These algorithms can be used to solve problems in AI, machine learning, drug discovery, and material science.
Quantum Cloud Access: IBM also pushed the boundaries of quantum accessibility in 2024 by expanding access to their quantum computers through the IBM Quantum Network. This allows researchers, developers, and businesses to leverage IBM’s quantum systems via the cloud, making quantum computing more accessible to a global audience.