Year In Review: 2022 Technology Trends

As we close the books on another year, it's always interesting to look back and reflect on the major trends that shaped the tech industry. From the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning to the rise of AR virtual try-on, 2022 was a year of significant change and progress. In this year-in-review article, we will take a look at some of the most noteworthy tech trends of the past year and how they have impacted the industry and our daily lives. Whether you are a tech enthusiast or simply someone who wants to stay up-to-date with the latest developments, this article is for you.

The cumulative structure of science and technology almost reduces the impact of the developments that are experienced day by day. We are less surprised by big developments now than we used to be because we have the opportunity to observe the crawling steps or the prototypes developed before. While the element of surprise may be less present, the excitement and curiosity of being able to follow and understand the latest developments are always there.

1- AR Virtual Try-on

Probably ten years ago, getting a virtual try-on experience through a simple phone camera was just an idea that was the subject of movies. We used to think that it would be very difficult to make it available to everyone. That's the beauty of AR technology, now anyone with a smart device with a camera can experience the convenience of a virtual try-on experience.

We can explain the fact that brands adopted this technology and put it among the technology trends of 2022 with a desire to get closer to their customers and create better online experiences for them. The retail sector needed a major transformation, especially with the pandemic and the rise of Gen-Z consumers. Gen-Z made their demands more felt to the brands. At this point, brands needed only one move: Getting closer! Virtual try-on technology is a perfect fit for the needs of both brands and customers.

The spread of virtual try-on technology, which can be integrated into many industries from fashion to cosmetics, from shoes to luxury accessories, may be one of the most important bricks of online shopping in 2022. The reasons such as the nature of online shopping being open to risk, customers' avoidance of connecting with products and brands that they could not physically contact, and low satisfaction rates challenged the brands financially. Virtual try-on technology reduces product return rates and builds a strong bond of trust between the brand and the consumer since the buyers can have a better idea of the products before actually purchasing them.

What’s more, if we include the concepts of metaverse and Web3 in the equation, it creates a new channel for shopping by touching the field we call digital clothing. We no longer have to be held captive at the borders of reality, and the problems that came with shipping companies can be buried in history. It's 2023, who waits for a physical clothing item at home to try it for the first time?

2- Generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a type of AI that is able to generate new content, such as text, images, and 3D models, based on a set of input data. This type of AI has seen a rise in popularity this year due to its ability to create unique and high-quality content at a much faster rate than humans. 

One common use case for generative AI is in the field of content creation. For example, a generative AI model could be used to generate stunning images or social media posts. We can say that it is an excellent helper, as in the example of visual content production.

We can benefit from the qualities of Generative AI not only in visual but also in textual areas. Technologies like GPT-3 and ChatGPT give us new capabilities in the way we use the internet. Most of us have used such platforms for entertainment purposes. However, if we consider ChatGPT as a strong competitor of Google, we can understand that we need to think more broadly. In the end, it shouldn't be surprising that a search engine that offers you countless results is considered more useless than an artificial intelligence tool that compiles and presents these countless results in seconds.

At artlabs, we highly leverage Generative AI and enable our artlabs studio users to create 3D models from image sets or even prompts. You can join the private waitlist for artlabs studio using this link.

3- Virtual worlds

If you are not living under a rock, you have probably heard of “the metaverse” by now but we wanted to approach it in a slightly broader context. Virtual worlds that imitate the real world with a rich data flow are based on different “reality” technologies such as AR, VR, and MR. We can say that we have been talking about virtual worlds much more often, especially with the digital ownership concept solidifying its place and the inclusion of Blockchain in the gaming industry.

Maybe our desire to be immortal or leave something behind added to this hype. Being in a different world with a new avatar look can give us the satisfaction of starting over from time to time. Moreover, sailing for other experiences without being attached to real-world dynamics is a transformation that modern people, who are so occupied with daily tasks, would like to experience. Being retired and settling in a seaside town is now too old-fashioned, we can create a completely different reality for ourselves in the corner of a distant metaverse.

As we mentioned in the previous articles, the best part of these trends is that they are available to all of us. After all, how sustainable can a new reality environment be, if everyone is not included, only appealing to a minority? Hardware such as AR glasses and VR headsets will become available to everyone very soon. What's next?

Is your brand ready for 2023?

Wouldn't you like to be a part of all these inspirational trends? At artlabs, we are dedicated to helping businesses and individuals stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. If you're interested in starting the process of digitizing your products and making your business ready for 2023 with AR and virtual try-on experiences, we encourage you to contact our team today.
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