Real-Life Santa : The Visionaries Behind 2024’s Top Innovative Technologies

Introduction

As we wrap up the year, let’s take a look at some of the amazing innovative technologies in 2024 that have made significant impacts in society. This year was a remarkable one as every day there were new inventions in fields such as quantum computing, wearable health monitor technology and so much more.

While every success story that exists in the tech world is a result of great innovation, there is a real-life Santa out there who lived to bring out these technologies to reality. Though these technologies may not have been invented in 2024, but they took a huge leap this year. These new technologies have impacted human life immensely, from Google to Tesla automobiles and all other inventions in between.

Here are some of the most innovative technologies of 2024. It is the time to plunge into the innovations of the year and get acquainted with the individuals who contributed so much to shape our world.

Generative AI

Generative AI is defined as a highly innovative technology which can create texts, drawings, images, and videos similar to human masterpieces. This is based on Ian Goodfellow’s idea of Generative Adversarial Networks, more obviously referred to as GANs which he invented in 2014 shifting AI into a new dimension of developing realistic systems. GPT from OpenAI and Bard from Google are examples of modern models that have become a kind of innovation driver of various industries and ways of working and creating. The generative AI market is projected to grow at an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46.47% from 2024 to 2030, resulting in a market volume of USD 356.10 billion by 2030. Here are some of inventions that took the technology forward in 2024:

• Microsoft Copilot

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has spearheaded the development of Copilot AI, integrating powerful AI capabilities into Microsoft Office products. Using Copilot, individuals can compose emails, create DATA analysis, and perform many other activities with the help of artificial intelligence.

This new AI technology is integrated with the Microsoft Office apps where the PowerPoint slides and Microsoft outlook will be run by the AI to create presentations, write emails, or even analyze data.

• Google’s Gemini AI

Gemini AI was launched by Google in 2023, as an advanced generative AI model for solving complex equations, creativity, and efficiency. Thus, operating at the synergy of conversational Bard with multimodal actions, Gemini AI performs text creation, code generation, and dataset analysis.

The primary founders of Gemini AI are Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, and Demis Hassabis, CEO and Co-Founder of Google DeepMind, and their team. In line with Google’s profound knowledge in machine learning and AI, the CEO Sundar Pichai constantly highlights on the improvements in technology that make life easier

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is taking charge in shaping the direction of business. From manufacturing to fleet management in the supply chain, or from smart farming to precision agriculture in agritech, IoT is easing our lives in every possible way. Similarly, in the year 2024, IoT created a lot of noise in the healthcare industry through its various products. IoT is changing healthcare through advanced integration of AI and telemedicine to make healthcare more patient-centric and to streamline medical systems. The market of IoT in healthcare was almost USD 133.72 billion in 2023, it is expected to be USD 668.98 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 19.61% from 2024 to 2032. Here are 2 products that revolutionized health tech in 2024:

• Peloton Bike+

Peter Stern, the CEO of Peloton, led the efforts in evolving the connected fitness space with the new Bike+. With upgraded features and seamless integration with Peloton’s vast content library, Bike+ continues to redefine the home fitness experience. This is a home fitness equipment that would enable you do your cardio workout in the comfort of your house.

New features of the Bike+ include the cycling convenience that comes with an auto-adjusting wheel resistance, a revolving larger touch-display and workout options etc. The Peloton Bike+ integrates IoT to enhance the fitness experience by connecting to the internet for streaming live and on-demand workout classes. The app has 6.3 million members on its platform and 3 million subscribers connected through its fitness membership

• Oura Ring

Harpreet Rai, former CEO, and Tom Hale, current CEO of Oura Health, played key roles in developing this revolutionary health tracking device. The Oura Ring offers unmatched insight into sleep, activity, and overall health, helping wearers optimize their lifestyle for better well-being.

Hence, this new smart ring technology is not just a health tracker but also a health advisor to people. Its features include tracking of body temperature and sleep patterns and cycles give detailed information about one’s wellbeing through the usage of IoT. This makes it very different from wearables and gives you all these benefits without the added size and weight.

Sustainable Technology

Sustainable technology focuses on reducing environmental impact and promoting energy efficiency, with electric vehicles (EVs) playing a key role. EV are powered by electric motors, that help to battle climate change and decrease carbon emissions. Currently, Tesla under Elon Musk’s leadership has been at the forefront in pushing the development of EVs. The sales of electric vehicles are estimated to grow steadily at the rate of 6.63% from 2024 to 2029 and is estimated to reach USD 1,084.0 billion by 2029. Below mentioned are the two electric vehicles that took the sustainable technology to next level:

• Tesla Cybertruck

Elon Musk, CEO and Product Architect of Tesla, is the mastermind behind the Cybertruck. Tesla’s bold entry into the electric pickup truck market is a game-changer in both design and technology.

Cybertruck’s design and other characteristics such as power output and capacity over 14000 lbs. add to its distinction in the EV segment Through Cybertruck, Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.

• Rivian R1T Electric Pickup

RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO of Rivian Automotive, Inc., has led the company’s efforts to produce the R1T, an electric pickup truck that combines rugged durability with eco-friendly technology. Rivian’s innovation is making waves in EV space, providing consumers with a zero-emissions alternative to traditional trucks without compromising on performance or utility.

The R1T is the fusion of off-road prowess and efficiency from all-electric technology. It includes features such as, integrated gear tunnels, better off-road facilities, and environmental performance – this truck is an ideal transportation for people who want to travel and explore the world without creating a lot of pollution.

Quantum Computing

Quantum computing can be described as a disruptive technology because it employs the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems differently than traditional technologies. The idea of using quantum computing is still at its infant stage. The major contributor to the field is Hartmut Neven at Google who is constantly pushing the capabilities of the quantum systems claiming to unlock potential that will revolutionize industries at a global level.

• Google “Willow” Quantum Chip

Hartmut Neven, Founder and Lead, Google’s Quantum AI, has played a vital role in advancing quantum computing. With “Willow,” Google has taken a major step towards utilizing the power of quantum mechanics for practical, real-world applications.

Willow, one of the biggest innovative technologies, is a quantum chip which can perform a computation in under 5 minutes that would take one of the fastest supercomputers in today’s world around 10 septillion years which is more than the age of the universe. As per the statement by Hartmut, when he founded the Quantum AI team in 2012, his vision was to build a large-scale quantum computer that could harness the power of quantum mechanics.

• IBM’s Quantum Condor Processor

The tech giant IBM unveiled another quantum processor called “Condor” which comes with a 127-qubit design that can support large-scale qubit topology while still facilitating error reconciliation. This development puts IBM halfway towards building a fault-tolerant quantum computer that could solve problems far beyond the conventional architecture computation.

Dr. Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research is responsible for leading IBM’s quantum computing efforts, including the development of the “Condor” processor.

Conclusion

These innovative technologies that have taken a boom in 2024 are a result of excellent thinking from some of the most genius minds in the industry. Every invention has vivid proof of commitment to the best by these real-life Santas. Looking into the year 2025, the advancements in technology will only get bigger and better in terms of revolutionizing life and work as we know it. From making our mundane lives better or giving us opportunities when none existed before, these technologies tell us that the gifting of science is the greatest gift of all.