Forrester reveals 2024 tech trends in AI & quantum

Forrester has released a report detailing the top 10 infrastructure technology trends anticipated for 2024, highlighting significant shifts in AI, sustainability, and quantum computing.

As technology infrastructure continues to evolve, it is increasingly serving specific business applications and use cases. A renewed focus on AI infrastructure is prompting differentiation, moving beyond the perception of such technologies as merely a commodity stack. This shift accompanies a growing emphasis on sustainability and the potential of infrastructure to serve as a business differentiator.

Forrester's report identifies several key trends, including an increase in sustainability data collection, which is now more accessible. Major technology vendors are developing solutions for sustainability measurement and management, which aids in decarbonisation efforts. Cloud companies, as some of the largest buyers of renewable energy globally, contribute to these efforts by offsetting customer carbon footprints.

One of the challenges noted in the report is the scarcity of AI infrastructure, which hampers generative AI adoption. The accelerated demand for AI applications in business is placing pressure on the availability of AI-specific infrastructure, such as GPUs, accelerators, and power capacity. This bottleneck is creating significant pent-up demand within the industry.

The proliferation of AI PCs is expected to become widespread by 2030. According to a Forrester survey, full-scale adoption will not occur until then, despite AI hardware becoming a standard in devices by that time. Forrester predicts that AI PC adoption will increase in 2025, particularly as Windows 10 reaches the end of its life cycle, with pilot use cases anticipated for developers, data scientists, and creatives, who require compute-intensive capabilities.

Quantum computing is highlighted as another area of focus, as it begins to shift from theoretical research to practical value. Overcoming concerns such as error correction, connectivity, control, and scaling represents progress towards utilising quantum computing to deliver faster solutions for complex problems, with significant value likely to emerge within the next decade.

The rise of distributed cloud is also noted, driven by the demand for more differentiated and custom applications. With traditional cloud versus edge paradigms proving insufficient for the next generation of cloud-native distributed applications, hyperscalers and specialised providers are intensifying efforts in this area.

As businesses head into 2025, technology infrastructure will undergo substantial transformation in response to the changing needs for remote connectivity, AI-driven insights, and enhanced security measures such as Zero Trust protection. To meet sky-high expectations from AI technology, companies must prioritise the resilience of their technology infrastructures.