Technology has been a driving force behind human progress, improving the way we live, work, and do business. From the earliest computers to the development of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, the evolution of technology has shaped entire industries,  revolutionised business operations, and improved everyday lives.  

In this article, we’ll take a broad look at technology and its impact on our lives and careers - the key moments that have shaped modern IT over the last few decades followed by a dive into the future of tech.  

Decades of improvement: from cassettes to smartphones 

Many people in the IT world today may not remember the early days when personal computers were simple machines. I recall a Romanian-made chip computer from the late 1980’s, named CIP, similar to the Sinclair, which had only 64 kilobytes of RAM and 2 kilobytes of ROM and which required a cassette tape and a TV to operate. No operating system, no storage, just a bootloader. That seems almost unimaginable compared to the technology we have today. 

Fast forward to the early 2000s, the landscape shifted drastically. The start of Web 2.0, powered by the launch of Facebook in 2004, YouTube in 2005, and Twitter (now X) in 2006, changed how people communicate and consume information. These platforms turned social interaction into a global, real-time experience, fundamentally changing digital communication and inventing social media. 

A few years later, the release of the iPhone in 2007 marked another important moment in IT history. It combined a mobile phone, an iPod, and an internet communicator into a single device, creating the modern smartphone. This changed not only the customer experience but also contributed to the creation of mobile app development and new business channels. 

The evolution of architecture from monoliths to serverless 

As applications became more complex, so did the architecture needed to build and run them. Monolithic systems became difficult to scale and maintain, leading to the rise of service-oriented architecture (SOA).

This modular approach allowed for more flexibility, eventually giving way to microservices and serverless architectures. These upgrades shifted much of the operational burden away from developers, allowing them to focus on code and business logic, driving operational efficiency in new directions. Big Data and the Rise of AI Big data and analytics have seen rapid advancement due to the exponential growth in data generated from digital platforms, IoT devices, and online interactions, which has necessitated more sophisticated data processing technologies.

Google’s MapReduce and Apache Hadoop allowed companies to handle massive amounts of information. At the same time, the rise of NoSQL databases like Cassandra and MongoDB provided scalable alternatives to traditional databases. The proliferation of big data and the processing capabilities afforded by cloud technologies have significantly propelled advancements in AI and machine learning In 2015, Google’s TensorFlow and Amazon’s machine learning capabilities opened the door for wider adoption of AI technologies. With the success of AlphaGo in 2016 and OpenAI’s release of GPT-2 in 2019, artificial intelligence captured the world's attention. AI continued to evolve rapidly, and with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, the world saw a significant improvement in natural language processing capabilities. 

Preparing for the Future 

Looking ahead, several key technologies will shape the next decade: 

• Artificial Intelligence: AI will continue to improve how industries work, from Finance, Retail, Manufacturing to IT Industry. We could imagine, AI colleagues assisting in meetings, providing real-time insights, or efficiently handling customer complaints, becoming the new pair programming partner and reducing manual work and repetitive tasks for people, playing an important role in task automation. 

• Augmented and Mixed Reality: Products like Apple’s Vision Pro are blurring the line between physical and digital worlds, transforming the way we interact with digital content. Augmented reality (AR) could change everything from digital shopping experience to remote collaboration to enabling more intuitive educational experience. 

• Decentralised Internet (Web 3.0): The next leap in Internet evolution is about decentralised internet promising users to regain control over their data through the use of blockchain technology. This evolution will mark a significant breakthrough in how trust, privacy, and user agency will be handled online, shifting power dynamics back towards individual users and away from centralised authorities.  

Key Takeaways for the Future  

The following points are essential for the progress and growth of industry experts, business leaders, and technology enthusiasts. 

• Prepare for a multitasking overload: The combination of AI, cloud computing, and virtual meetings means that multitasking could become the new norm for developers and businesses. 

• Research AI technologies: As AI becomes integrated into more applications, understanding how to collaborate with and utilise AI effectively will be essential. 

• Continuous learning: Technology changes constantly, so it’s essential to keep updating the skillsets.  

• Anticipate Ethical Dilemmas: With technology growing smarter, so will the complexity of its implications. Both engineers and businesses will need to navigate the murky waters of ethics in AI, data privacy, and beyond. And remember: just because you can build something doesn’t always mean you should! 

Technology has taken us on an insightful journey, from cassette tapes to Artificial Intelligence, and the future holds even more potential. As we move forward, staying informed, learning, and adapting to the new norms will be the keys to thriving in the digital world.  

Discover more about the future of IT and key takeaway for the future from Gabriel's speech at the 3rd edition of the Accesa Tech Conference: