current
Rapid Technological Progress
Despite investment downturn, technological progress continues rapidly, particularly in health, computing, and batteries.
Timeframe
near-term
Impact areas
Detailed Analysis
While funding for innovation has decreased, technological advancements remain a bright spot. The GII 2024 highlights continued rapid progress in key areas, including genome sequencing, computing power, and electric battery technology. These advancements hold significant promise for improving human health, driving economic growth, and addressing global challenges. The report notes, "Technological progress remained strong in 2023, particularly in health-related fields such as genome sequencing, as well as computing power and electric batteries." However, the report also acknowledges a slower pace of progress in green technologies, particularly in reducing the energy consumption of supercomputers and lowering the cost of renewable energy. This lag in green innovation underscores the need for greater investment and focus on sustainable technologies to mitigate climate change and promote environmental sustainability.
Context Signals
Moore's Law continues to hold true, with transistor count increasing by over 150% between 2021 and 2023.
Electric battery prices hit a record low of $139/kWh in 2023.
Efficiency of top 50 green supercomputers increased by 14% between 2022 and 2023, below the decade's average of 30%.
Edge
Advancements in genome sequencing could lead to personalized medicine and more effective disease treatments.
Increased computing power will further accelerate the development and application of artificial intelligence across various sectors.
The falling cost of electric batteries will make electric vehicles more accessible, driving the transition to sustainable transportation.
