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What are tech leaders talking about in 2022? Key takeaways from Dublin Tech Summit

Beata Zubaka, Business Manager in Sigma IT Poland
Dublin Tech Summit 2022

Visiting the Dublin Tech Summit in person was like a wave of fresh air (and it’s not only because mid-summer Dublin is 15 degrees Celsius hot!). Events like this are a source of inspiration and a place to meet industry’s pioneers. I could identify the trends by looking at the agenda and key topics, but surely the real-life experience brings much more context. Among many keynotes and fireside chats, I especially enjoyed tuning in live to what Cassie Kozyrkov (Google), Michelle Romanow (ClearCo), Michelle You (Supercritical), Prashanth Chandrasekar (StackOverflow), and David Singleton (Stripe) had to say. I have also chatted with the startup founders of The Big Idea, Chiru, Startup Magazine, and many more to realize once more how impactful and needed are companies that promote sustainability, innovation, technological education, and social change. Below are my takeaways from the Dublin Tech Summit.

The highlights and takeaways

Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing is still growing in importance

Cloud Infrastructure and Security are what tech companies put high on the priority list this year. In Sigma IT Poland, we see this trend in increased demand of our clients for these specialists. It’s no wonder – security breaches are very costly, data and services move to the cloud, and hybrid and remote work introduce even more challenges to keep businesses resilient to cyberattacks. Add the explosion of IoT devices, eCommerce platforms, and the increased need for virtual private networks (VPNs), and this trend becomes obvious. I liked the pitch by David Singleton, CTO of Stripe, about user-first engineering, preparing robust infostructure for scaling, building multiple feedback channels, and embracing remote work as a standard.

Company data strategy and responsible AI

Whereas these are no new keywords in the tech world, the talks shift more to understanding the future potential, responsible AI, mindful data mining and storage, and optimizing company data strategy. I was very excited to attend a fireside chat with Cassie Kozyrkov, Chief Decision Scientist at Google, about optimizing for success in Data-Driven Organizations. She argued we should all look at data as a piece of reality, a memory, often not even proven to be a correct one. Data-driven organizations should be skilled at decision-making, have people who check data quality, and clearly define why they need data, what data they should collect, and what the desired output is. That made me think about how many companies make sufficient investments in their data strategy, and how many are only putting the keywords out there to make the products look more innovative.

People development and remote work

I guess it was one of the first lessons learned at the very beginning of my career – people are the most valuable asset of any company. It has been true 10 years ago, and it is still true today. I’ve seen many startups, SaaS products, and enterprise solutions in HR, Recruitment, Retention, Employee Experience, and Satisfaction at Dublin Tech Summit. Particularly loud was the statement of Prashanth Chandrasekar, CEO of StackOverflow: “I can tell you with a lot of confidence that remote and hybrid work is the future. This is a one-way train; it’s left the station.”

Web3 and Internet Transformation

There has been a lot of talk about Web3 recently, so it couldn’t be left out of the agenda. Along with topics Metaverse, Blockchain, NFT, De-Fi, and Crypto, there have been several stage chats with Venture Capitalists and Investors about their interest in putting money in Web3. Some companies like Unity see the future of gaming in the Metaverse. Other founders, despite what’s going on in the crypto market now, see it as a well-expected process and another reminder that crypto is volatile.

Sustainability at scale

From sustainable energy and sustainable fashion, thru sustainable company scaling, all the way to carbon capture technology – all of these have had a place on the stage at the DTS, and I wish sustainability had even more exposure and volume at an event like this.

MIT Technology Review: 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2022

It’s been delightful to see the list of 10 breakthrough technologies for 2022 presented by Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau. You can read up more here, and I couldn’t resist putting up the list here, too, as it shows where the tech world is heading in the long run.
Their annual list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies highlights the technological advances that will have the biggest impact. Some of the innovations from the list are already implemented while others are in-process innovations that may see the world in the coming years. I like to look at these technologies as means of changing the world into a better place for all beings.

  1. The End of Password
  2. Covid Variant Tracking
  3. A long-lasting Grid Battery
  4. AI for Protein Folding
  5. Malaria Vaccine
  6. Proof of Stake
  7. A Pill for Covid
  8. Practical Fusion Reactors
  9. Synthetic Data for AI
  10. Carbon Removal Factory
  11. Aging clocks *(special position voted by the community)

Dublin as a Tech Hub of Europe

In the end, events like this are a great opportunity to explore new places. Dublin was on my list for a long time for its fame as (one of the) tech hubs (s) of Europe. Major tech companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Intel, IBM, SAP, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, HubSpot, and PayPal have their presence in Ireland, and almost 1,000 more tech companies are based there, ranging from the global superpowers to seed-stage start-ups. At the same time, DTS is one of the world’s top B2B tech events with more than 8,000 attendees and 50 countries represented. To me, Dublin felt very vibrant and international, having both modern touch of business and a more traditional Temple Bar district with all the pubs and historical heritage. I loved every moment there, and I’m grateful to my company for the opportunity to be there.

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