Foldable smartphones, mixed reality headsets, and AI-powered assistants have dominated tech news in 2024. Behind this media noise, some developments deserve special attention because they are fundamentally changing how we use our devices, how companies develop their products, and how Europe regulates the digital space.
AI Act: the European regulation redefining the AI market
This is probably the most significant event of the year for the tech sector. The European Regulation on Artificial Intelligence, known as the AI Act, came into effect in the summer of 2024. It is the world’s first legal framework specifically dedicated to AI.
You may have noticed that some chatbots now display a warning like “you are interacting with an artificial intelligence”? This is not a marketing choice. The AI Act imposes transparency obligations for AI-generated content, whether it is text, images, or videos.
The regulation classifies AI uses by risk level. Some practices are outright banned:
- Social scoring of citizens, similar to systems already deployed in other countries
- Targeted behavioral manipulation exploiting vulnerabilities (age, disability, economic situation)
- Real-time biometric identification in public spaces, except for very tightly regulated exceptions
For so-called “high-risk” systems (automated recruitment, credit scoring, assisted medical diagnosis), companies will need to meet detailed requirements. The implementation will be gradual between 2025 and 2027, but smartphone manufacturers and software publishers are already incorporating these constraints into their roadmaps.
Find all tech content on Sarkostique to follow these topics over the months.
Generative artificial intelligence: what really changes in daily life
Generative AI is not a 2024 novelty. What has changed this year is its direct integration into consumer devices. Samsung and Apple have embedded text generation and summarization functions directly into their smartphones, without relying on the cloud for certain tasks.
Why this choice? Running an AI model locally on the phone reduces latency, better protects personal data, and even works without a connection. Recent mobile chips have powerful neural processing units (NPUs) capable of running compact models.
AI is no longer limited to text generation. Automatic photo editing tools, real-time meeting transcription, instant voice translation: these functions existed online, and now they work locally on a pocket device.
Concrete limitations to keep in mind
Embedded models are still far less powerful than their server equivalents. A summary generated on a smartphone may omit nuances or invent details. Checking the outputs of a local AI remains necessary, especially for professional use.
The AI Act mentioned above also applies to these embedded functions. A manufacturer integrating an AI assistant into their phone will have to meet the same transparency obligations as an online chatbot publisher.
Smartphones and connected objects: notable hardware trends
On the hardware side, 2024 confirms two trends. The first: foldable screens are becoming mainstream. Samsung has dominated this segment for several generations, but other manufacturers are now offering models at more accessible prices. The folding format particularly appeals to users who want a large screen without bulk.
The second trend concerns the Internet of Things (IoT). Connected home devices are gradually adopting the Matter protocol, an open standard designed to ensure interoperability between brands. Before Matter, a sensor from one brand could be incompatible with the voice assistant of another. This standard simplifies installation and reduces dependence on a single ecosystem.
What this means for a purchase in 2024
Before choosing a connected object, check for the “Matter compatible” label on the packaging or product sheet. It’s a reliable indicator of whether the device will work with your existing setup, regardless of the brand of your speaker or smart home hub.
- Light bulbs, plugs, and thermostats compatible with Matter can be controlled from any assistant (Google Home, Alexa, HomeKit)
- Firmware updates via Matter are managed centrally, improving security
- The protocol operates locally on the Wi-Fi or Thread network, reducing dependence on the cloud
Sustainable technologies and the environmental impact of digital
The topic is progressing slowly but is increasingly shaping purchasing decisions and corporate strategies. Green cloud computing is becoming a measurable selling point, not just a slogan. Major cloud providers are now publishing carbon dashboards that allow client companies to track the footprint of their hosted services.
On the consumer side, the trend toward refurbishment continues to grow. Refurbished smartphones account for a growing share of sales in France, driven by significantly lower prices than new ones and increasing environmental awareness.
The rise of generative AI poses a new problem: training and inference of large models consume enormous amounts of energy. Executing a query on a language model requires far more resources than a typical web search. This energy cost is rarely highlighted by publishers, but it is already impacting the electricity bills of data centers.
The year 2024 did not produce any spectacular technological breakthroughs. It laid regulatory foundations with the AI Act, anchored AI in consumer hardware, and made connected objects a bit more compatible with each other. The AI Act will fully come into effect by 2027, and the software architecture choices made this year will determine the compliance of products in the European market.
