AI Horizon Scanning -- White Paper p3395, IEEE-SA. Part III: Technology Watch: a selection of key developments, emerging technologies, and industry trends in Artificial Intelligence

TL;DR

This white paper provides an overview of recent developments, emerging trends, and risks in AI technology, emphasizing the importance of standards and safeguards amidst rapid growth and societal impact.

Contribution

It offers an objective snapshot of current AI advancements, trends, and risks, informing standards development for safe and beneficial AI deployment.

Findings

Rapid growth of generative AI technologies post-Chat-GPT

Emerging risks and societal implications identified

Progress in AI hardware, software, and robotics analyzed

Abstract

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are in a phase of unprecedented rapid development following the landmark release of Chat-GPT, which brought the phenomenon to wide public attention. As the deployment of AI products rises geometrically, considerable attention is being given to the threats and opportunities that AI technologies offer, and to the need for regulatory and standards initiatives to ensure that use of the technology aligns with societal needs and generates broad benefits while mitigating risks and threats. This manuscript is the third of a series of White Papers informing the development of IEEE-SA's p3995 {\it `Standard for the Implementation of Safeguards, Controls, and Preventive Techniques for Artificial Intelligence Models'} \cite{P3395}, Chair Marina Cort\^{e}s. This part focuses on assessing calmly and objectively, as far as is possible, the current state of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology development and identifying predominant trends, prospects, and ensuing risks. It necessarily forms a snapshot of the current instant of a rapidly-evolving landscape, with new products and innovations emerging continuously. While our main focus is on software and hardware developments and their corporate context, we also briefly review progress on robotics within the AI context and describe some implications of the substantial and growing AI energy demand.