Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers and Technology Leaders surveyed globally on key technology trends, priorities and predictions for 2023 and beyond
IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today released the results of “The Impact of Technology in 2023 and Beyond: IEEE Global Survey,” a new survey of global technology leaders from the U.S. United Kingdom, China, India and Brazil. The survey, which included 350 chief technology officers, chief information officers and CIOs, covers the most important technologies in 2023 and future technology trends. To learn more about research and the impact of technology in 2023 and beyond, visit
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A more connected, sustainable and virtual world
Which areas of technology will be among the five most important in 2023? Global technology leaders surveyed say cloud computing (40%), 5G (38%), the metaverse (37%), electric vehicles (EV) (35%) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) (33%) will be the five most important areas of technology in the coming year.
The largest industry sectors that will be most affected by technology in 2023 are:
- (40%) telecommunications
- (39%) automotive and transport
- (33%) energy
- (33%) banking and financial services
Currently in its nascent stages, the metaverse can be described as an immersive digital network of 3D interactive worlds. Polled global technologists said that the following innovations will be very important in advancing the development of the metaverse in 2023:
- (71%) 5G and ubiquitous connectivity
- (58%) virtual reality (VR) headsets.
- (58%) augmented reality (AR) glasses.
Technologies that promote sustainability are becoming increasingly important. A strong majority (94%) of respondents agree that they have prioritized sustainability goals for 2023 and beyond, and that all technologies their company implements must be energy efficient and help reduce their carbon footprint.
Metaverse-related technologies are also expected to be implemented in a variety of ways: 91% of respondents agree that to bring employees together for corporate learning in offices, conferences and hybrid meetings, their company is actively adopting Metaverse technology strategies in 2023 d. In addition, more than three-quarters (76%) of global technologists say that 26%-75% of interactions with colleagues, customers and management in their company will take place virtually in 2023.
AI, robotics, IIoT and digital twins
AI has become ubiquitous. So it’s no surprise that 98% of survey respondents agree that in 2023 and beyond, autonomous, collaborative software and AI-enabled mobile robots will automate processes and tasks, including data analysis, allowing humans to be more effective and efficient. Furthermore, when
asked what percentage of jobs in the entire global economy will be augmented by AI-driven software in 2023, 24% of technologists surveyed said 1-25%; 40% of respondents say 26-50%; and 27% of respondents said 51-75%. In relation to IIoT, which optimizes intelligent industrial machines, sensors, processors and the real-time data they generate, 98% of respondents say they use digital twin technology and virtual simulations in 2023 to more efficiently design, develop and safely testing product prototypes and manufacturing processes will be important, including 68% who say it will be very important.
Electric cars, 5G and 6G
Because of its fast and high data throughput, 5G will impact vehicle connectivity and automation in 2023, 97% of respondents agree.
Respondents also said that 5G will benefit the most in these areas next year:
- (56%) distance learning and education
- (54%) telemedicine, including remote surgery, transmission of health records
- (51%) entertainment, sports and live event broadcasting
- (49%) personal and professional daily communications
- (29%) transport and traffic control
- (25%) production/installation
- (23%) carbon footprint reduction and energy efficiency
A large majority (95%) of global technologists agree that space satellites for remote mobile connectivity will change the game in 2023 because they enable 5G connections to devices anywhere, 24/7, leapfrogging terrestrial infrastructure. Nearly nine in 10 of global technologists (88%) agree that 6G will be largely a work in progress in 2023, but that in half a decade 6G will be standardized.
Cyber security concerns are growing
The cybersecurity concerns most likely to be in the top three for tech leaders in 2023 – which have risen from levels of concern in 2022 – are issues related to:
- (51%) cloud vulnerability (up from 35% in 2022)
- (46%) the mobile and hybrid workforce, including employees using their own devices (up from 39% in 2022)
- (43%) data center vulnerability (up from 27% in 2022)
