The Next Big Things in Tech 2024: the technologies that are shaping the future

In today's fast-paced world, almost every sector of the economy is reinventing itself with the latest advances in technology. As the pace of innovation accelerates, companies large and small are seeking innovative approaches in areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and automation to create smarter, more sustainable solutions. However, among thousands of launches this year, a select group of technologies stand out for their ingenuity.

In 2024, a panel of 19 editors and writers from Fast Company of the USA selected 138 honorees from the Next Big Things in Tech. Winners span 28 categories, including AI and data, space and telecommunications, and healthcare.

We looked for innovations that not only showed immediate promise, but had the potential to create lasting change. From corporate giants to ambitious startups, each organization honored demonstrated impressive progress.

Whether it's using AI to improve disaster response efforts, creating a wearable, easy-to-use exoskeleton for hiking, or making supply chains more ethical, each of these products, services, and technological advances reflects fresh thinking that inspires us.

Some honorees may only be coming to market, but each has reached significant milestones with the potential to make an impact. This may be the first time you've heard of some of these brands – but it certainly won't be the last.

ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY

The prizes Next Big Things in Techfrom the Fast Companycelebrated the technological advances that are changing the way we work and live. This year's awards include 138 honors for innovations that affect everything from transportation and telecommunications to agriculture.

To reach this list of winners, from a group of 1,400 candidates, many hours of work are required analyzing applications, examining projects and deciding which achievements are among the best. Here's a look at how our little editorial army makes it happen.

Each application was evaluated based on factors such as:

– Relevance: What is the urgent problem that technology solves?

– Inventiveness: How new is the technology?

– Progress and potential: How was the technology proven? Does it have long-term viability and scalability?

– Impact: What kind of impact (from economic to cultural) could technology have in the next five years?

Each winner is chosen after several rounds of evaluation and conversations between judges about their performance on the above criteria, a process that lasts months.

“With the Next Big Things in Techour goal is to honor projects based not only on what they have already achieved, but also what they are about to achieve,” says Harry McCracken, technology editor at Fast Company. “Whether they are still in the lab or already on the market, they are tangibly driving progress across multiple industries.”

SELECTED COMPANIES

Abbott
For facilitating glucose monitoring

Adalat AI
For simplifying the court transcription process

Adobe
For bringing transparency to AI-generated content

Aethir
For redistributing computing resources to improve efficiency

AiDash
For using AI to make energy grids safer

aiHello
For “translating” jargon-filled documents

Algorized
For detecting humans in danger

AlphaSense
For making market intelligence even smarter

Amazon
For perfect predictions that change Thursday Night Football forever

Antithesis
For eliminating bugs completely

Anumana
For detecting diseases earlier

Aquant
For keeping up to date with the maintenance of complex equipment

Arbor
For turning plants into energy

Arc
For electrifying boats wakeboard

ArcBest
For helping robots and humans work together safely

Arkadium
For offering video game creators a new channel to reach gamers

aShareX
For democratizing luxury auctions

Astor & Sanders
For bringing unemployment insurance into the 21st century

Aurelia Institute
For creating the building blocks for living in space

Aurora
For enabling trucks to drive themselves

badge
For putting advanced encryption within public reach

Bellwether
For applying AI to respond to extreme weather events

Blackbird.AI
For creating a weapon against online misinformation

Cerebra Systems
For putting the “super” in supercomputer

Certify Health
For accelerating deadlines

CH4 Global
For facilitating the cultivation of seaweed to combat cow burping

ClearTouch
For facilitating the implementation of technology in the classroom

Climeworks
For taking direct air capture to the next level

Codeium
For using AI to make developers' lives easier

Color Health
For supporting cancer care

Coursera
For using AI to translate courses into 21 languages

Databricks
For putting powerful AI models where the data is

DermaSensor
For making skin cancer detection faster and easier

Discord
For gamifying game advertising

Disguise
For involving us in new experiences

Dope.security
For protecting organizations’ internal systems

Drone Express
For enabling safe autonomous deliveries

Duckbill
For providing a personal assistant that can help solve everyday problems

Dynex
For democratizing access to quantum computing

EdgeQ
For compressing cell towers into a package the size of a quarter

Electra
For making iron production cleaner

Electronic Arts
For solving the most complicated problem in video games

Elegoo
For accelerating 3D printing

Embr Labs
For stopping hot flashes before they start

Enko Chem
For intelligently combating food insecurity

Epic Cleantec
By recycling sewage on site

Epicore Biosystems
For helping workers stay safely hydrated

Filecoin
For democratizing control of web data

First Due
For making the lives of firefighters and professionals who respond to emergencies easier

Flawless
For helping Hollywood crack the language code

Flex
For facilitating accounting for healthcare expenses

Flock Safety
For using drones in public safety

FreePower
For illuminating cell phone charging points

Fulcrum GT
For providing in-house legal teams with a new set of administrative tools

Gecko Robotics
For making a smarter assessment of infrastructure

Genesis Digital Assets
For developing greener bitcoin mining

Glaukos
For helping you easily schedule a glaucoma treatment routine

Headspace
For creating a way high-tech to calm down

HeyGen
For making video production less complicated

HiddenLayer
For ensuring the security of AI programs against cyber attacks

Honor
For making other foldable phones jealous

Houzz
For providing project lifecycle management in one place

Hydrostor
By converting surplus energy from the grid into compressed air

Impulse
Why “Apple-stay” the induction cooker

Intercom
For putting AI to work in customer service

Ironclad
For using AI to make contracts easier to negotiate and understand

Junction education
For creating an AI chatbot that helps college students study

k-ID
For offering privacy and security to young players

Kaleidescape
For bringing high-quality movie viewing experiences to homes and theaters

Kelvin
For hacking the humble radiator

Kineon
For bringing red light therapy to the public

Kudos
For developing a wallet that keeps your finances in control

Lemonlight
For reducing the time you spend in Final Cut

Lenovo
For being able to develop lighter laptops

Logitech
For offering the best quality for video meetings

Luminary
For creating motion sensors that don't attract attention

Machina Labs
For making a robot do the work of a blacksmith

Makersite
For bringing greater environmental awareness to product design

Mycocycle
For decomposing construction waste

Nanotronics Imaging
For building a better chip factory

Neurable
For making brainwave monitoring look cool

Niantic
For facilitating the digitalization of our world

NileBuilt
For eliminating the use of wood in the construction of houses

Niobium Microsystems
For helping close a key gap in computing performance

Nixtla
For turning data into smarter predictions

Not Impossible Labs
For helping us feel the music

Oleria
For creating a more unified security framework

Ollie
For applying AI insights to care for pet feces

OurX
For using data to inform curly hair care

Pairwise
For “tweaking” plant DNA to make crops more resilient

Pangea Biomed

For improving the accuracy of cancer treatments

PepsiCo

For helping farmers adapt to climate change

Perfusio

For offering doctors another way to “see” inside the body

PGA Tour and Work & Co

For bringing a new dimension to golf

PhysicsX

For offering engineers and scientists the means to test their designs

Pipedream Labs

For making deliveries using underground routes (and facilitating the process)

Project Liberty

For the push for greater transparency on social media

Proscia

For making cancer diagnosis easier and faster

PxE Holographic Imaging

To add depth to digital images

Qualcomm

For processor progress – from phones to laptops

QuantalX

For advancing the diagnosis of brain diseases

Quantinuum

For making quantum computing more reliable

RentRedi

For empowering renters and making life easier for landlords

Runway

For innovating in AI-created videos

Samsung

For helping people have a peaceful sleep

Sana AI

For applying AI to unstructured data

SandboxAQ

For protecting GPS systems

Seeen

For making the video commerce more efficient and fluid

Sift

For making data observation easier

Skip and Arc'teryx

For encouraging mobility through walking

Somnee

For encouraging the brain to rest

Sorenson

For improving communication for the hearing impaired

Spotnana

For developing travel technology from scratch

Stax Engineering

For making navigation a more sustainable business

Taara

For accelerating data into a beam of light

The Walt Disney Company

For making us feel like superheroes

The Wendy's Company

For implementing service in drive-through via AI

Terviva

For helping “super trees” produce new ingredients

TipHaus

For giving workers quick and easy access to tips

To the Market

For making supply chains more ethical, sustainable and transparent

Truepic

For being able to prove which photos are real

Unisys

For leveraging quantum computing to optimize shipping and logistics

Verbit

For capturing all the nuances

Volvo Cars

For protecting vulnerable drivers

Whisker Labs

For monitoring the electricity grid

Xpanceo

For bringing a new focus to eyeglass and contact lenses

You.com

For making large language models (LLMs) more reliable

Waymo

For making autonomous car racing available to the public

WSC Sports

For using AI to encourage fan engagement

Zip

For facilitating purchasing processes

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fast Company Brasil Editorial. find out more

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