Automation was a key factor in 2022 as many companies sought to bring automated technology to the forefront, investing millions in the sector.
Key Details
- 2022 was a year full of automation advancements, including robots, drones, and self-driving cars, and the technological advances don’t look to be stopping anytime soon.
- The global information technology (IT) spending for 2022 was around $4.43 trillion in 2022, with an expectation of $4.66 trillion for 2023.
- Many companies raced to bring cutting-edge technology in 2022, and many succeeded in making the year full of automated advancements.
Why it’s news
Innovation flowed in the years following the pandemic, with machinery constantly debuting to help improve daily activities.
Automation became essential and was a driving force for technology in 2022, with many companies directing time and spending toward automation. The last year saw some extreme tech advancements.
Artificial intelligence (AI) was a very large advancement in 2022. AI generators created lots of buzz in the tech sector as new innovations were made that could answer questions, give statements like a human, and create real art in a matter of seconds.
A particular AI innovation that took over the internet was ChatGPT. The chatbot can intelligently answer questions, write essays, and even perform complex tasks like writing a whole movie script.
Retailers also began to jump on the automation trend last year.
Retail giant Amazon created two new robotic innovations announced last year—an autonomous drone and a robotic arm. The company introduced drones that could deliver packages to customers in a short amount of time and cut back on delivery drivers needed.
The company also created a robotic arm called the Sparrow that can grab millions of items of different sizes and textures and sort them into the correct bins at its different warehouse locations.
Along with that, Amazon has also created automation tools to flood houses worldwide. The company introduced a line of smart home devices compatible with its Alexa voice assistant.
The electronics include automated lights, robotic vacuums, smart plugs, and a home-watching robot. The devices are all “smart technology” that can be turned on by a touch of a button on the phone and then run independently, creating a fully smart home.
Many other retailers have also stepped into automation, bringing more self-checkout options to storefronts.
Many retail chains have begun leaving cashiers in the past and having customers use the technology on their own. Most of the self-checkout systems come equipped with weigh stations and cameras that watch over and track customer transactions.
One of the biggest automation tools is taking the front seat of 2022—autonomous vehicles. Many automakers raced to create self-driving cars in 2022, some becoming successful while others not.
Many large automakers, including Ford, Volkswagen, and other startups, created self-driving cars. Some vehicles still had to be monitored by a driver, while others hit the roads completely unattended.
The last year was huge for automation as many companies devoted extreme amounts of time and money to create cutting-edge technology, and looking to the recent Consumer Electronics Show 2023 will bring even more advancements to the table.