Having seen the introduction of the world’s first AI-enabled smartphones and the rise of functions such as intelligent voice assistants, 2017 was a year that saw great leaps in technology that continue to facilitate our daily lives. As we strive into the new year, PhotoBite picks the brains of Chinese mobile heavyweight, Huawei, to reveal the trends that will shape our tech habits throughout 2018 and beyond

Huawei has been [and continues to] work with some of Europe’s leading entrepreneurs, operating in industries as varied as fashion to farming, all of which use cutting-edge technologies and devices. Be it browsing social media channels using a contact lens, or working with artificial intelligence [AI] to help to achieve life ambitions, the constant evolution of digital innovation is set to continue to make the impossible, more possible in 2018. Read on for a snapshot of some of our predictions.

As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded into our daily lives, we’re committed as a business to remaining at the forefront of AI innovation using the technology to give people a smarter, faster, more intuitive user experience. We believe technology should empower individuals and help them unlock their potential. We have worked with talented individuals across Europe to identify the key technology trends of tomorrow and they have highlighted how intelligent, more ‘human’ technology is the future. With our AI capabilities and Chipset-Device-Cloud Open AI Eco strategy, including the creation of the world’s first AI enabled smartphone we intend to remain ahead of the curve and ensure that all our users have a technology experience that enhances their lives.

Smart is dead: Intelligent mobile phones are the way forward

Peter Gauden is the Global Senior Product Marketing Manager at Huawei and believes the future of smartphones lies in their proactivity
“AI is helping to make our smartphones an even closer companion, accurately predicting what we want to do and when, delivering exactly the right information and experiences at the right time. Huawei has already created the first generation of truly intelligent smartphones which in turn will help provide an opportunity for developers to find new and innovative uses for its processing capabilities. As we continue to understand what AI can do it will become less reactive and more proactive making our lives easier than ever before.”

Andrew Garrihy, CMO, Huawei Western Europe’s Consumer Business Group, told PhotoBite: “Thanks to the advancements in technology the way people are using their phone is changing. At Huawei, we are committed to bringing AI experiences to life, to empowering our customers and enhancing their smartphone experiences. Over the next 12 months and beyond we’re excited to see how these technologies will evolve to effectively make lives better and to help people fulfil their dreams.”

AI: The next fashion frontier

Monica Calicchio, the founder of the tech-first fashion brand, TailorItaly; an online platform that lets people customise traditionally crafted Italian Fashion to make it their own. Monica believes that emerging technologies will give rise to the most personalised shopping experience ever

The introduction of e-commerce changed the way consumers purchased forever. Now, thanks to AI, VR and AR, online shopping is changing again. We’ll see the big fashion brands integrate VR and AR technology into the online shopping experience, allowing customers to try on outfits anywhere and everywhere – all they’ll need is a smartphone. AI will also massively disrupt both in-store and online customer interactions. By collecting and learning from customer data, AI will make personalised recommendations to each individual customer, tailoring outfits according to a range of criteria including body shape, style and personal preference. Consumers are already demanding these AI-enabled experiences, with mobile-apps recommending new bands to listen to or new restaurants to try; fashion is the next frontier. In return, consumers will receive a seamless shopping experience that adapts to their lifestyle, just like their tech does.

Advanced tech meets nature

Timothée Boitouzet, Founder and CEO of the CleanTech start-up, WOODOO, whose client portfolio spans across a range of sectors including luxury, automotive and construction industries. Timothée predicts that consumer demand for ethically resourced materials is the next trend to follow the clean-eating wave

In an increasingly resource-constrained world, it’s vital that we turn to emerging technologies in order to utilise the natural materials we do have effectively, and put them to work in the next wave of devices set for 2018 and beyond. There have already been exciting developments in how we teach old materials, such as wood, to cope with tomorrow’s challenges and in how we industrialise these materials, something we’ll be raising funding for next year. In 2018, we will see an increase of CleanTech brands entering the market that seek to better understand how to use our natural resources ethically and ensure they’re equipped for the technology-age, while larger tech brands will invest a great deal in R&D projects that look to tackle the same issues. But this won’t just be an imperative for brands, consumers will expect clean, natural resources too. Just like the wave of clean, organic eating that came before it, clean technologies will become the next consumer trend.

The new relationship between man and machine

Oliver Bronner, Founder of Berlin-based brand consultancy, Hy.am, believes that humans and their AI-enabled devices could learn more from one another than ever before

In 2018, I believe mankind and machine will reach a symbiotic relationship courtesy of Artificial Intelligence. Through the continued usage of our devices, for instance, AI will be able to absorb details of our day to day lives – from the news we read, the music we listen to and the content we watch and take these key learnings in order to provide a more personalised experience. As AI continues to become integral to our lives, the technology will not only advise us on news feeds, playlists and TV shows, the things that we enjoy, it will have a say on the things that matter, leading us on a path of self-betterment, whether that’s kicking a bad habit, or fulfilling a life ambition.

Social media goes 4D

Steve Bartlett, founder and CEO of influencer marketing consultancy, Social Chain, predicts that social media experiences will become so immersive, they’ll seem lifelike

Social media will move from being one-dimensional to an entirely immersive experience that users can engage with beyond a ‘like’ or ‘retweet’. 360degree content will grow, enabling consumers to share content for people to explore at their own will. Social feeds will be overlaid onto reality, whether that’s through AR-enabled apps such as Snapchat and Instagram, VR headsets, or even via a contact lens. Audio is finding its place with the younger generation and we predict this will continue to increase making the relationship we have with social a lot more conversational, with voice-assistants manning our social pages at our request. Consumers will have the most seamless experiences possible, which engages multiple senses, so much so that social media won’t really feel like media anymore, but a reality.

IoT: The smart way to eat

Erez Galonska, CEO and Co-Founder of the vertical farming start-up, InFarm, predicts that smart technologies will transform how food is brought to the table

In 2018, the Internet of Things will revolutionise the way we produce and consume our food. The technology is already present in the agriculture industry, with smart sensors connecting farms, cows and crops to ensure that production is more efficient. The next step sees humans becoming connected to the food supply chain, with our wearables and smartphones detecting the food we’re consuming, and intuitively recognising the nutrients we’re lacking. Our devices will then relay this information to farmers and grocery stores in order to deliver nutrient-rich produce that is personalised to our individual needs, lifestyles and tastes directly to our door-steps. Thanks to urban farming technology like INFARM’s, we can grow these crops much closer to home, meaning that exotic and nutrient-dense crops don’t need to be shipped across the globe, or leave a damaging ethical and environmental footprint behind. In fact, in years to come, our food could even be grown to match the exact specifications of our individual dietary needs. We would not only be able to virtually eliminate food waste but also use the full potential of vitamins in our foods to prevent, treat, and cure common ailments. Food will once again become our medicine!

Learn more about Huawei’s hero AI phone, the Mate 10 Pro HEREYou can read more Huawei posts here