THE FUTURE OF TECH

From self-driving cars to space travel, we answer five questions about where technology is heading

- Chris Stokel-Walker

Every day, it seems, a new tech term pops up, leaving us non-techies asking questions in what sounds like a foreign language. "What is an NFT?" for example. And "Where, exactly, is the metaverse?" If you're confused, you're not alone.

While it might feel as if technology is speeding up, it follows a predictable formula called Moore's Law, which has correctly predicted the pace of human advancements in technology for nearly six decades. Moore's Law suggests that the number of transistors on a computer chip will double about every two years. This is a reliable indicator of how much and how quickly technology will change.

And while Moore's Law has held true for all this time, it hasn't stopped other key trends in tech from accelerating far faster than computer chips can keep pace.

From a new space race pitting billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos against each other to big advancements in the artificial intelligence, or AI, that powers robots and self-driving cars, we will answer some crucial questions to clue you in to the future of tech.

QUESTION NO.1

WHEN WILL I HAVE A SELF-DRIVING CAR?

LIKE THE JETPACKs science-fiction writers have promised us since the 1920s, the vision of a self-driving car that whisks us to work while we read the news has proven to be more problematic in practice than in theory.

So-called advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) features are available in some vehicles, such as Tesla's electric cars, but they're not what would be considered self-driving.

Tesla's autopilot tool can help you stay in your lane while driving on the highway, but it's graded only a Level 2 on the five-stage system of automation developed by SAE International, a driving standards organisation. Level 5 would be a full self-driving experience with hands off the steering wheel. We aren't there yet.