IEEE Computer Society Grades its 2018 Technology Predictions: Scores a B

Following are the IEEE-CS predictions, grades, and analyses:

1.

Deep learning: A-

Undoubtedly, deep learning (DL) made huge strides toward broad adoption during the past year. The only reason it did not get an A is the extensive nature of DL that leads it to be used for everything and anything. We are confident that this will be filtered out next year and DL will become ubiquitous in the very near future.

2.

Digital currencies: C-

The promise of the wide adoption of digital currencies has not seen fruition, primarily due to the volatility of the cryptocurrency markets. 

3.

Blockchain: A

There are extended opportunities for use of blockchain technologies independent of its initially popular use for digital currencies. This resulted in a high mark for our predictions.

4.

Industrial IoT: A+

Industrial IoT scored a B+ last year due to insufficient adoption. Its adoption surpassed expectations this year, and was therefore the highest rated. It was ultimately the usefulness of the approach that swayed us in its ranking. This is also the technology where there is the most agreement among those who made the prediction (standard deviation was zero).

5.

Robotics: B+

Robotics continued to have increased adoption, fueled by the adoption of accelerators and DL. However, it still has not reached its full potential, even though it continues to have a bright future.

6.

Assisted transportation: A-

Adoption of assisted transportation (or fully autonomous vehicles) has continued at a steady pace. In addition, electrical vehicles in constrained environments (airports, factories, etc.) have increasing autonomous deployment.

7.

Augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR): B-

We expected a higher degree of AR and VR, beyond limited gadgets. It appears that its time has not quite come. We were too early in predicting its adoption.

8.

Ethics, laws, and policies for privacy, security, and liability: C+

Even though the use of AI is emerging and ethics have been addressed sporadically, more general approaches to policies, privacy, security, and liability have not yet been addressed at the required scope.

9.

Accelerators and 3D: A

AI and DL have forcefully driven the economy of accelerator use for a broad range of applications. This is true for traditional companies as well as a plethora of startups focusing on new accelerator hardware and software.

10.

Cybersecurity and AI: C

The time for cybersecurity to benefit from AI (and vice versa) has not quite come. We are still confident that the two technologies will mutually benefit each other, but our prognosis was overly optimistic.