The Great AI Takeover? Let's verify 2020's bold predictions

‍Public and private investment in developing digital technologies, including artificial intelligence , is on the rise globally. In 2020, in one of our articles, we outlined several initiatives aimed at implementing AI in various areas by 2022. Today, several years later, let’s revisit these predictions, showing relevant advancements in AI technology.

1. Autonomous vehicles – AI in public transport

In Qatar, 45 autonomous electric vehicles were planned to be introduced in the capital, Doha, by 2022. Let's see if it came true.

This move aligns with Qatar's push for electric vehicles and its commitment to host the first-ever carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup as part of its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Following talks between the Qatari government and Volkswagen, the Volkswagen Group opened its regional headquarters in Doha in March 2022. In June 2022, it was reported that over 700 electric buses were operating in the country. By 2030, the government will gradually convert public transport buses and school buses to electric ones.

In 2023, Qatar announced a five-year national strategy for autonomous vehicles (AVs). The strategy will concern regulations for AVs, technical specifications, the safety of electric cars, and intelligent, “ecologically conscious” transport.

💡 In February 2024, the Doha community was invited to a demonstration week of the autonomous electric bus – E-Bus. The bus is powered by clean electricity and has onboard sensors, high-resolution cameras, lasers, and ultrasonic radars, all controlled by the AI ​​system.

In June 2022, it was reported that over 700 electric buses were operating in Qatar

2. Hospitals supported by AI systems

The Japanese government outlined a plan in 2018 with goals for 2022, including investing over $100 million in creating ten hospitals equipped with AI-based technologies. How far have AI hospitals come in this country?

Japan has successfully developed a robust AI-powered hospital system, focusing on AI innovations in diagnostics. It allows people to have access to high-quality healthcare anywhere in the country. In December 2022, Japan announced plans to speed up the approval process for AI diagnostic imaging equipment and loosen regulations on AI medical software.

AI systems in Japanese hospitals now record information obtained by a doctor during an interview and update patient records in real-time.

AI hospital care included:

• AI-based patient questionnaires;
• digital management of hospital beds;
• robotic dispensing and delivery of medicines;
• axial computed tomography;
• AI-powered robot dogs;
• bed sensors that measure breathing and heart rate.

At the same time, the Japanese government launched its “Society 5.0” plan, a vision of a future in which AI is implemented to solve social problems, provide support for an ageing society and offset the impact of a shrinking workforce. According to this plan, AI is not only a tool for improving productivity but also an essential part of the social infrastructure.

💡 A further goal of AI hospitals is to use technology to eliminate disparities in patients' access to diagnostics. Examples include using AI to quickly diagnose cancer or identify bacteria that cause blood poisoning (AI can do this in 10 seconds). Recently, Japanese medical researchers have also created an AI system that can predict the development of Alzheimer's disease with 94% accuracy.

Japan currently has a robust hospital system powered by artificial intelligence, with plans for further development

3. New jobs – human cooperation with artificial intelligence

Concerns have been repeatedly expressed throughout history about the impact of new technologies, including AI, on the workplace. Despite this, in 2018, a report by the World Economic Forum predicted that 58 million new jobs will be created by 2022 due to the development of AI, and many of them will be modifications of existing ones.

A Gartner report showed that by 2022, 1 in 5 employees will work with artificial intelligence technology. Further forecasts basically coincide with those from a few years ago. AI helps increase operational efficiency, enables faster decisions and introduces innovations in products and services. However, there are also concerns about social issues.

The January 2023 meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos brought a moment of déjà vu: an IMF report stated that AI will impact 40% of jobs worldwide. Less lucky ones face risk of lower salaries and job cuts. Some jobs will disappear completely. However, adopting AI could also lead to a net increase in employment in specific industries, especially those requiring higher levels of education and skills.

It has also been noted that the benefits of AI may be distributed unevenly, with some groups of people and regions experiencing more significant layoffs than others.

In turn, the “Future of Jobs Report 2023” shows that 23% of jobs will change over the next five years, increasing by 10.2% and decreasing by 12.3%. The 803 companies surveyed project the creation of 69 million new jobs and the elimination of 83 million of the 673 million positions, a net decrease of 14 million, or 2% of current employment.

Additionally, the report identifies professions that will become critical pillars of the future economy: data analysts, specialists in AI, green transformation, cybersecurity, and programmers.

Driven by AI influence, companies plan to create 69 million new jobs while eliminating 83 million

4. AI processing on your smartphone

Just five years ago, only some smartphone functions, such as facial recognition or personal assistant, were based on AI and were processed in the cloud or on processors in the phone. However, it was estimated that by 2022, 75% of smartphones will have a system dedicated to AI.

Since then, companies such as Apple, Huawei, and Qualcomm have introduced smartphones equipped with dedicated AI hardware, which has improved image recognition, as well as voice recognition, and language processing while relieving the main processors of AI processing.

The evolution of AI processors has made it possible to handle advanced tasks such as real-time language translation, augmented reality and personalised virtual assistants. Modern smartphones integrate AI capabilities with other components, e.g. camera systems, enabling the use of intelligent scene recognition, improved image stabilisation and advanced photo editing. This integration goes beyond the camera and affects other areas such as battery management, system optimisation and security.

GenAI capabilities are expected to be widely integrated into smartphones by the end of 2024, from real-time translation into multiple languages to summarising voice notes to improving the way cameras collect and process light for photos and videos. “We expect over 1 billion smartphones with GenAI technology to be shipped between 2024 and 2027,” says R. Bendre of Counterpoint Research.

💡 The already launched Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphones are equipped with generative AI tools using more robust on-device processing and cloud servers. Such features are powered by Galaxy AI, which runs on the Google Gemini and Imagen 2 platforms.

Apple, Huawei, and Qualcomm have introduced smartphones equipped with AI for tasks like image or voice recognition

5. AI as a reason for the development of the oil and gas industry

The oil and gas sector has long used AI tools to make real-time decisions based on constantly updated information, analyse equipment conditions, report activities, plan production, and control quality. It enables maximum efficiency with reduced operating costs. Has the forecast that the global oil and gas market will grow to USD 2.85 billion by 2022 come true?

According to Precedence Research from 2023, the value of AI in the oil and gas market was valued at USD 5.13 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach USD 18.94 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 13.96% in 2023-2032.

The global oil and gas sector increasingly uses AI to digitalise its operations, significantly simplifying the industry's optimisation process.

The Zion Market Research report published in 2022 shows that the global demand for the oil and gas cloud application market, valued in 2019 at approximately USD 4,949.2 million, will generate revenues of approximately USD 12,402.2 million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of roughly 14.1% in 2020–2026. Moreover, the report traces current global trends in this area in the field of AI technology. It shows that in 2024 alone, the market size will reach USD 2.98 billion.

In 2022, the value of AI in the oil and gas market was estimated at USD 5.13 billion, and expected to reach USD 18.94 billion by 2032

6. Implementation of AI in hospital operating rooms

The Frost & Sullivan report indicated that by 2022, 35–45% of American hospitals would integrate operating theatres with artificial intelligence and virtual reality systems.

In 2023, North America held a dominant position in the OR integration systems market, capturing over 38% share and maintaining a market value of $0.7 billion annually. The USA is currently the main area for developing and integrating AI in this market and boasts a high use rate of cutting-edge medical technologies.

AI systems play a crucial role in optimising surgical workflows, ensuring better communication between surgical teams and improving patient safety. According to the American Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, the number of minimally invasive procedures has increased by 30% in 5 years, thanks to the implementation of increasingly sophisticated AI tools, including surgical robots, to increase precision and efficiency.

In January 2024, Globe Newswire reported that the market size of AI-based surgical robots, valued at USD 7.2 billion in 2022, will reach USD 34.9 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 17.2%.

A study conducted by the American Hospital Association indicates that implementing AI in operating rooms reduces operating time by up to 20% and significantly improves treatment outcomes. And the integration of surgical devices, imaging systems, communication tools and electronic health records (EHRs) increases real-time access to crucial information, leading to informed decision-making during surgical procedures.

In 2023, North America held a 38% market share in AI-integrated operating room systems

7. A university completely focused on the field of artificial intelligence

Has the American university MIT achieved the total focus on artificial intelligence planned by 2022?

After several years, MIT is a leader in AI research and offers various artificial intelligence and machine learning programs. The Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) brings together over 1.2 thousand people in over 900 projects, including AI, NLP, machine learning, computer imaging, cryptography, computer networks and robotics.

According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, MIT is the best university in the world to study data analytics and artificial intelligence, leading in the extended 2024 subject rankings.

MIT offers an online professional certificate in machine learning and artificial intelligence for professionals with a bachelor's degree and years of experience in computer science. It aims to prepare business leaders for an AI-powered future. Certification requires completing at least 16 days of qualifying courses within 36 months, at least one of which is in Machine Learning for Big Data and Text Processing.

MIT is a leader in AI research and offers various courses in artificial intelligence and machine learning

8. Our homes will become “smart”

The prediction that 63 million American homes would be classified as “smart” by 2022 has proven to be completely accurate.

The popularity of smart home devices is growing at a high rate – as of 2023, it is approximately 63.43 million homes. It equates to almost half (45%) of all homes in the US. 7 out of 10 home buyers are actively looking for a smart home, and 78% of home buyers would be willing to pay more for a smart home. The value of the smart home market in the US in 2022 was $31.5 billion.

According to Statista:

• the global smart home market was valued at USD 80.45 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to over USD 500 billion by 2032;
• the U.S. accounts for approximately USD 31.45 billion or 39% of the global smart home market;
• the average income per smart home in the US is USD 546.50;
• by 2027, more than two-thirds, or 68.6%, of U.S. homes are expected to be equipped with smart devices.

💡 Smart home devices can be divided into several categories, such as consumer electronics, security devices, air conditioning, lighting, energy, and water control. In the security devices category, the most popular products in the US include smart cameras and doorbells, locks, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Climate control devices include smart thermostats that lower electricity bills and humidity sensors. In lighting control, including smart roller blinds and shutters, it is popular to remotely adjust the brightness, colour and lighting schedule according to your preferences. Energy and water control focuses on managing your home's energy and water use through smart appliances, including refrigerators, ovens and washing machines.

In 2023, approximately 63.43 million American homes were "smart" – nearly half (45%) of all homes in the USA

Summary

AI is used in many fields and changes the economic landscape in a revolutionary way. The COVID-19 pandemic did not hinder this, although it slowed down some of the predictions, as in the case of autonomous vehicles in Qatar, and exceeded some, as in the oil and gas market. Generally, the rapid technological leap in many sectors, especially between 2022 and 2023, has accelerated most processes.

Further development of machine learning and robotics has enabled the creation of generative AI systems. By 2030, GenAI is expected to automate up to 70% of business activities in most industries and professions, increasing efficiency while reducing costs.

Societies and business leaders must learn to cope with the AI development challenge. There is a need to adjust businesses to the ongoing changes to enhance way of working and gain a competitive advantage.

If you want your company to lead the AI revolution, contact our specialists to explore possible implementations: Write to us.