A look into 2024: the most significant year of this decade?
As we step into 2024, it’s clear that this year is a game-changer. From politics to tech, it’s packed with events that’ll shape our world. Let’s break down what makes 2024 stand out and maybe even claim the title of the most important year of the decade.
Over 40 National Elections: 2024 is set to be an exceptionally busy election year, with seven of the top ten most populous countries heading to the polls. This democratic surge underscores the global commitment to shaping political destinies through electoral processes. Here are some dates to keep in mind:
January: Bangladesh (7th) and Taiwan (13th)
February: Finland (28th) and Mali (4th)
March: Portugal (10th), Russia (17th), and Ukraine (31st), which may not happen, depending on the development of the war.
June: Mexico (2nd) and the European Parliament (6th-9th)
October: Lithuania (13th) and Georgia (TBA);
November: Romania (TBA) and the United States (5th)
United Kingdom General Election (December 17): Depending on circumstances, the UK Parliament elected in 2019 might be dissolved, paving the way for the next general election by January 28, 2025.
- BRICS Expansion (January 1): Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are set to join BRICS, reflecting a strategic realignment in global geopolitics.
- Republic of Artsakh Dissolution (January 1): The formal dissolution marks a notable development in the geopolitical landscape, with potential implications for regional stability.
Cultural and Sporting Events:
- Apple Vision Pro Release (February): Apple introduces its first Apple Vision Pro in the United States, ushering in a new era of technological innovation in the virtual reality domain.
- Winter Youth Olympics (January 19 — February 2);
- Eurovision Song Contest (May 7–11);
- 2024 UEFA European Football Championship (June 14 — July 14);
- Summer Olympics in Paris (July 26 — August 11);
Other notable events:
As we approach 2024, AI’s trajectory points towards groundbreaking advancements, transforming industries, and opening new horizons. The integration of AI into various facets of society presents opportunities for professionals to lead and shape the future of this technological revolution.
- Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Adobe Firefly, and Google Bard are transforming creative arts.
- ChatGPT evolves with custom versions for specific purposes, integrating web searching and image generation.
- Adobe Firefly revolutionizes visual arts, providing cutting-edge tools for digital artists and designers.
- Google Bard enhances conversational AI, making interactions more engaging and intuitive.
- AI algorithms contribute to creativity in music and visual arts.
Guns N’ Roses will release their first studio album in sixteen years, and their first together with guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan in thirty-one years.
Some movies we are looking forward to seeing next year are Joker: Folie à Deux, Deadpool 3, Kung Fu Panda 4, and Dune: Part Two.
- In November, Artemis II, the second mission of the Artemis program and the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since 1972 is planned to launch.
Meanwhile, India’s ISRO will also see several missions including Ganganyaan-1 which will be the country’s first manned spaceflight program, Mangalyaan-2 that seeks to study Mars, and Shukrayaan-1 which seeks to find out about Venus.
As we look ahead to 2024, this convergence of political, technological, cultural, and space-related milestones positions the year as a pivotal chapter in our collective journey. It is a canvas upon which the tapestry of our future unfolds, inviting us to witness and participate in the shaping of the years to come.
