AI, X and the Metaverse - The Big Tech Stories of 2024

Artificial intelligence dominated the tech world in 2023, and 2024 looks set to see further advances in AI that will shape our lives. From Google's latest AI model Gemini to the excitement around ChatGPT, the race for AI supremacy is still on. While OpenAI stumbled last November, going through three CEOs in days, other open-source models are on the horizon. AI will continue to be at the center of the tech landscape this year.

The battle between X and Threads will intensify following the EU's investigation into X for alleged data privacy and misinformation violations. The EU could potentially ban X, dealing a blow to Elon Musk. Meanwhile, big tech mergers will face regulatory scrutiny, with some deals potentially unwinding. However, Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard will move forward following approval.

Cybercrime and cyberattacks will continue to be major threats in 2024. Though there have been few major incidents recently, the ongoing British Library outage shows the impact of ransomware. More high-profile cyberattacks are likely this year.

The metaverse may make a comeback in 2024 with the release of Apple's Vision Pro headset. If it does for virtual and augmented reality what the iPhone did for smartphones, the metaverse could finally take off after struggling in 2022 and 2023.

While 2023 was chaotic for tech journalists, 2024 is shaping up to be another pivotal year. From AI to X, cybercrime to the metaverse, the tech stories that will dominate headlines are those that directly impact people's lives.