Technology and innovation: our 5 top stories from 2023

December 20, 2023 by World Economic Forum 1 Comment

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum.

Author: Joe Myers, Writer, Forum Agenda

It has been a transformative year in the fields of technology and innovation, from the rise of artificial intelligence to the metaverse.
Here, we look back at some of the extraordinary moments and pioneering breakthroughs that have reshaped the landscape over the past 12 months.
Read on for some of the most popular stories of the year from the World Economic Forum’s blog, Agenda.

When it comes to technology, the innovation that probably comes to mind for 2023 would be artificial intelligence (AI).

From regulation and governance to its impact on the world of work, there’s no doubt that AI has dominated a lot of tech thinking this year – but it’s not alone.

As we head towards 2024, here’s a look back at some of our most popular Agenda pieces on technology from 2023.

AI and jobs

Generative AI’s impact on the world of work, the skills we’ll need for the future, and the potential disruption to jobs has been a hot topic this year.

At the World Economic Forum, our Future of Jobs Report 2023 looked at the trends shaping the future of work – including artificial intelligence. The report explored the jobs that it’s set to create – and the ones we might lose as a result.

These are the jobs most likely to be lost – and created – because of AI

Fastest growing vs fastest declining jobs — AI and machine-learning specialist roles are growing fast. Image: World Economic Forum

Top 10 emerging technologies

Physical and digital technologies are set to shape our world in the future, and our Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2023 report explores the tech – and sectors – set to transform how we live.

From sustainable aviation fuel to spatiotemporal omics and sustainable computing, these are the technologies that everyone from policymakers to police officers should be aware of.

These are the top 10 emerging technologies of 2023: Here’s how they can impact the world

Governing artificial intelligence

A key part of the conversation around artificial intelligence has been the need for governance.

Numerous countries have been looking at regulations around AI and how to make sure it’s used responsibly. The Forum also hosted an AI Governance Summit in November, alongside the launch of a series of governance recommendations earlier in the year.

You can find out more about the work being done on regulations by reading our explainer on EU efforts from June.

The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, explained

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4r4jZvDLLjcErnmYAxHJ2H

Demystifying the metaverse

While the metaverse perhaps hasn’t been as hot a topic as last year, there’s no doubt that it remains a technology to watch.

In July, we explored the potential of the metaverse to rebuild trust that has been lost in the internet. Building in societal, ethical and human factors, and improving global governance, has the potential to ensure these new technologies have a positive impact on our lives.

Could the metaverse be more trustworthy than our current internet?

Tech that’s transforming industries

We welcomed another 100 tech firms to our Technology Pioneers community this year. From carbon capture to new technologies to separate hydrogen from water, these innovators are helping tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Read all about the latest cohort, and how they’re using tech for good, in our piece from the launch in June.

Meet the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers of 2023

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About the author Sadia Khalid is a Scientist-Physician (MBBS, MD) at Tallinn University of Technology. She is driven by a commitment to advance public health and scientific understanding. With research interests spanning molecular medicine, infectious diseases, bacteriology, hepatology, and gastroenterology, she aims to contribute meaningful, evidence-based insights that support health, safety, and community awareness.

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