Google’s top 10 trending tech queries for 2023

Innovation

The term Artificial Intelligence became a part of the mainstream global lexicon a year ago, and Aussies have been googling up a tech storm ever since.
The Google logo is projected onto a person's face
Google provided the top 10 tech trends to Forbes Australia exclusively. What is assistive technology? How has technology changed over time? And, when was the internet invented? (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

10. What is assistive technology?

The World Health Organisation definition: Assistive technology enables and promotes inclusion and participation, especially of persons with disability, aging populations, and people with non-communicable diseases.

9. How has technology changed over time?

Well, a lot! The World Economic Forum provides a breakdown of Tech Transformation Across Centuries here.

8. When was the internet invented?

MIT published the ‘Past and Future History of the Internet‘ written by well-respected computer scientists. That research discloses that “the first recorded description of the social interactions that could be enabled through networking was a series of memos written August 1962 by J.C.R. Licklider of MIT, discussing his “Galactic Network” concept.”

Vint Cerf is a co-creator of the TCP/IP infrastructure that the internet is built upon. US-based Cerf is now Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Webby Awards)

7. When was digital technology invented?

1937, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. It published a Technology Timeline which discloses that:

“Iowa State mathematician and physicist John Atanasoff designed the first electronic digital computer. It would use binary numbers (base 2, in which all numbers are expressed with the digits 0 and 1), and its data would be stored in capacitors.”

6. Is data annotation tech legit?

Australian company Appen contracts data annotators to work on its AI projects. Appen defines the term as follows:

Data annotation is the categorization and labelling of data for AI applications. Training data must be properly categorized and annotated for a specific use case. With high-quality, human-powered data annotation, companies can build and improve AI implementations.”

As for whether it is legit, let us know your experiences with data annotation. We want to know too.

5. What is computer science?

The Oxford Dictionary defines computer science as “the study of computers and how they can be used.”

The University of California Berkeley, a global leader in the study of computer science, has a more applied definition.

“We construe computer science broadly to include the theory of computation, the design and analysis of algorithms, the architecture and logic design of computers, programming languages, compilers, operating systems, scientific computation, computer graphics, databases, artificial intelligence and natural language processing.”

Is technology good or bad? Aussies had questions about the ethics of technology in 2023.

4. Why is technology bad?

This search term assumes that technology is bad, and asks why. Research published by the University of Oxford in 2021 suggests that overall, digital technology engagement may not have an adverse effect on the mental health of adolescents.

This UCLA study states that technology can be good and bad. It lists the negative consequences as follows:

“Potential harmful effects of extensive screen time and technology use include heightened attention-deficit symptoms, impaired emotional and social intelligence, technology addiction, social isolation, impaired brain development, and disrupted sleep.”

3. What is a tech pack?

While this search question includes the word tech, the term is actually referenced in fashion.

According to Makers Row, a tech pack is:

“An informative sheet that designers create to communicate with a manufacturer all the necessary components needed to construct a product. Typically designers will include measurements, materials, colors, trim, hardware, grading, labels, tags, etc. Any crucial aspect of your design needs to be described in your tech pack.”

2. What is computational thinking?

The second-highest trending tech search this year relates to thinking of a different kind.

A 2017 research paper published by Macquarie University and UTS professors includes the following definition:

“Computational thinking has been defined as ‘The process of recognising aspects of computation in the world that surrounds us, and applying tools and techniques from Computer Science to understand and reason about both natural and artificial systems.”

The awareness of AI increased exponentially in 2023. The most searched tech term this year was ‘What is AI technology?’

1. What is AI technology?

Stanford Professor John McCarthy defines Artificial Intelligence as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs. It is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable.”

Google has a different definition. The company that brought us this Top 10 list, explains AI in the following way:

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technologies that enable computers to perform a variety of advanced functions, including the ability to see, understand and translate spoken and written languageanalyze data, make recommendations, and more. AI is the backbone of innovation in modern computing, unlocking value for individuals and businesses.”

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All search term data provided by Google Australia. Trending Searches: What was hot in 2023? The “trending” queries are the searches that had the highest spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2023 as compared to 2022.

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