In this Silicon Roundtable we bring together industry visionaries, thought leaders, and experts to delve into the exciting landscape of technology and anticipate the trends that will shape the year ahead.
In this exclusive roundtable discussion, we gather insights from influential voices in the tech sphere, exploring the transformative technologies, ground-breaking developments, and paradigm shifts set to redefine our digital reality in 2024. From artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to quantum computing and sustainable tech, our panelists provide a comprehensive overview of the pivotal trends that will impact businesses, societies, and individuals alike.
Mark Wilson is the Technology and Innovation Director at Node4.
“Technologies like AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and advancements in cloud technologies will be game changers in 2024, as economic concerns are prompting businesses to optimise technology use for cost-effectiveness and strategic decision-making. Adopting cloud technologies offers scalability, flexibility, and cost savings; using HPC solutions enables faster and more accurate analysis of large datasets, whilst using AI tools to automate tasks will enhance productivity and can provide data-driven insights into market trends and customer preferences.
“The growth of these technologies and the benefits to be reaped, are also driving the need for innovation in the industry. The ability to process large amounts of data at high speed is essential for complex applications such as scientific research, engineering design, or financial modelling. Many CIOs will be laser-focused on integrating AI in their strategy by investing in AI hardware and software as well as AI skills, such as data scientists or engineers, and governance through policies or ethics. That’s a big investment and so, for other CIOs, 2024 will be about “watching and waiting” to see what happens before they fully invest in their own tactical AI developments. In the meantime, they may choose to rent a graphics processing unit as a service or consume compute and storage from hyperscalers, like Microsoft, where their investment is more flexible.”
Rob Shaw, SVP and GM EMEA at Fluent Commerce.
"We’re going to see a huge drive in personalised customer experiences in 2024. Today’s retailers will utilise technology like AI to learn much more about consumer behaviour, likes and dislikes, informing predictive recommendations. Retailers are already spending on enhancing online experiences, making the most of channels such as social media to advertise products and services. The focus now will be how to utilise these platforms to get more ‘eyes on’, making more people want to shop with the brand."
“The number of channels retailers use will continue to expand over the next year, leading to deeper omnichannel integration. To take full advantage, supply chain optimisation will be key, especially when thinking about demand forecasting. Nobody wants to waste budget advertising items that are no longer in stock and consumers don’t want to chase unavailable deals. By taking a more inventory-aware approach to advertising, retailers can have a more comprehensive view of inventory across all channels, making it easier to set alerts to stop an online ad if a company runs out of stock. This will set them up for positive shopping experiences in the year ahead and improve long-term customer loyalty.”
Martin Riley, Director of Managed Security Services at Bridewell.
“Looking ahead to 2024, we can see how emerging technology tools, sophisticated attack methods and the eruption of AI are transforming how criminals organise and operate, but also how legitimate organisations can defend themselves. To strengthen their security posture at a time of great change, organisations must avoid dependence on technology as the sole answer. They must acquire greater visibility and threat intelligence and develop their processes and technologies to ensure they are leveraging sophisticated threat-informed managed detection and response (MDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) capabilities.
“As the UK’s critical infrastructure stands on high alert, cyber security firm Bridewell, spotlights the critical trends and emerging dangers cyber teams must watch out for in 2024. Our report, ‘Cyber Security: What to Expect in 2024”, is informed by insights collected through continuous monitoring from our 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) and input from our dedicated consultants and cyber experts.”
Richard Starnes, Chief Information Security Officer, Six Degrees.
“As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, its use in cyber security and the wider IT estate will become more prevalent. AI will be employed increasingly for threat detection and response, enabling organisations to identify and mitigate cyber threats more efficiently. This will also help address the shortfall in available cybersecurity talent currently available.
“With the continued migration to cloud services, we will see a greater emphasis on cloud security. Organisations will invest more in securing cloud environments, addressing vulnerabilities related to data storage, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations. This will also increase the premium on cloud security skills.
“Insider threats will become a more pressing concern in 2024 as the economy contracts. Organisations will adopt more rigorous strategies to monitor and mitigate risks posed by employees and other insiders, including enhanced access controls and behaviour analysis to detect potential malicious activities.”