Ways tech will shape your life in 2018

Is the outlook for technology in 2018 exciting — or slightly terrifying? Flip a coin, you would be right either way.

As I look into my crystal ball at what new technologies are most likely to shape our lives in the next 12 months, I see science-fiction dreams coming to life: glasses that mix reality and imagination, an electric car in my driveway and gadgets that charge without plugs.

But coming out of a year where most Americans were hacked and Silicon Valley got scolded by Congress, there’s plenty to worry about. How many ways will artificial intelligence make decisions without us? And how long should we remain panicked about cybersecurity lapses?

Tech’s not just about shiny new gadgets anymore. I put together a list of technologies to look out for in 2018, for better and worse.

Tesla moves the car forward

Whether you’re an Elon Musk skeptic or believer, it’s hard to deny the Tesla Model 3 has generated iPhone-level buzz about electric cars. Since this “affordable luxury” $35,000-and-up sedan was unveiled in 2016, roughly 450,000 people have preordered one. Though significant manufacturing issues keep pushing back its delivery timeline, there is a good chance you will see some on the road in 2018. Tesla is forcing all car companies to act more like consumer tech companies.

HomePod gets Apple talking

First introduced in summer 2017 and then delayed, the $350 HomePod is Apple’s first talking speaker. For people who buy Apple everything, the HomePod has the potential to tie together music, the TV and the smart home in a way that the iPhone alone hasn’t. But there are huge doubts: Apple missed two holiday seasons that ushered competing Amazon Echo and Google Home products into many homes.

Augmented reality is going places

Pokémon Go introduced the world to augmented reality, a fancy term for mixing the real world with digital information. In the year ahead, we’ll test whether that idea is more than a gimmick. Thanks to new AR-enabling tech in smartphones, the camera can be a search engine, interior design tool or teacher.

Wireless charging gets jolt

Soon you might be able to leave the house without a rat’s nest of power cords. The tech to charge gadgets without plugs has been a nonstarter for years because an important brand was missing: Apple. But the iPhone maker just added wireless charging to the X and 8, putting its stamp of approval on a charging standard called Qi. Now coffee shops, furniture makers and car companies might be more confident about building wireless charging pads into everyday things.

Digital subscriptions as new norm

In 2018, paying for online video, music, games and news subscriptions will feel as normal as a $4 latte. Deloitte predicts that by the end of the year, 50 percent of adults in developed countries will have at least two online-only media subscriptions. Expect Apple to redouble its subscription video efforts and big battles over streaming rights for sports.

Political ads get more devious

You thought the 2016 election was bonkers? In the 2018 midterm elections, there will be even more tech to data-mine the lives of American voters. Instead of just demographics, ads could use “psychometrics,” gleaned from how we use social networks and other data, to target us based on mindsets and personalities.

Cybersecurity menace grows

In 2018, hacking risks are likely to only increase, and cyber sleuths say possible targets include connected gadgets and U.S. election systems. Businesses will be on the hunt for new ways to verify identities in a world where Equifax data is out in the wild. And you will find a lot more apps and websites requiring extra steps to log in, such as “two-factor” systems that require a special code.

Dongles stick around

Dongle is the icky term for an adapter we need to connect things to phones and computers. It’s part of gadget life that isn’t going away soon. Dongles were supposed to be a temporary bridge to the future for gadgets like the MacBook Pro, which removed the traditional wide USB port. But since 2016, the smaller USB “type C” plug Apple and others began using on laptops hasn’t become common for accessories.

Artificial intelligence judges you

Much of the conversation about AI to date has been hype. But in a million ways, the tech is seeping into our lives, and for every happy use of AI, there seems to be a creepy one. It’s making decisions about what we watch and read. How might AI be used to judge our voices, faces, emotions or whether we’re worth hiring?