Next Business Exhibitions, organisers of the DES - Digital Enterprise Show, has identified key AI trends based on insights from international experts across 41 countries.
Held in Malaga, Spain, the eighth edition of DES focused on generative AI's role in business competitiveness and social impact. Here are the top 10 AI trends for 2024:
- AI as a Disruptive Force: AI has surpassed other technologies, marking a new era of innovation. Generative AI is now integrated across industries, enhancing business activities and operations, particularly in banking, IT, and professional services. This trend is expected to expand further in the coming year.
- Addressing AI Data Gaps: The summit emphasised the need to correct biases in AI data to represent diverse ethnic, gender, demographic, and group diversities. Zondwa Mandela highlighted "data colonialism" in Africa, advocating for equitable data access and AI solutions for the continent, which will represent 25% of the global population by 2050.
- Ethics and Regulation in AI: Investment in generative AI is projected to reach $151.1 billion by 2027. As AI evolves, it sometimes conflicts with human rights and exhibits biases. DES2024 underscored the need for AI legislation to ensure privacy, data security, and ethical technology use, a stance pioneered by the European Union. Experts called for international cooperation to protect citizens' rights.
- Human Talent and New Professions: AI's growth underscores the importance of human talent in implementing and utilising AI for content development. Rather than replacing jobs, AI is expected to enhance them, particularly those requiring specific AI skills, which have seen a 25% increase in remuneration.
- AI Perfection and Risks: AI's advancement brings challenges such as privacy issues, job impacts, copyright infringement, reduced creativity, and misinformation. DES2024 revealed that 40% of consumers worry about AI's threat to confidentiality and the spread of deep fakes, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like children and teenagers.
- Tailored AI Solutions: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to AI integration. Each organisation must find suitable models and tools to enhance business operations. By 2025, the ecosystem of AI solution developers is expected to grow, with no-code AI developer tools simplifying application and website creation in various sectors.
- Integration with Other Technologies: AI's integration with other technologies, like the Cloud and Blockchain, is generating significant opportunities. Global spending on cloud infrastructure rose by 21% year-on-year. AI and Blockchain are transforming banking, enhancing transaction security, and reducing costs by up to 30%. Healthcare also benefits from AI integration, with market growth projected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2025.
- Need for Cybersecurity Regulation in Europe: Cyber-attacks have surged, prompting calls for a common European defence strategy. DES2024 proposed creating a European cybersecurity body to safeguard the EU-27, ensuring data protection and online security against cyber threats.
- Measuring ESG for Company Value: ESG criteria are vital for regulatory and investment progress. Data analytics technologies are crucial for measuring ESG performance, impacting company valuation and stakeholder engagement. Reports show that ESG certifications improve risk management and environmental and social performance.
- Málaga as a Tech Hub: Málaga continues to lead in technological innovation, attracting investment and talent. The city is becoming a digital solutions hub, akin to California's Silicon Valley, with major tech companies establishing operations there. This trend is exemplified by the establishment of global technology companies and research institutes in Málaga.
The next edition of DES will take place from 10-12 June 2025.
