Investing in the Future: Overlooked Technologies with Promising Potential
What are the most underappreciated technologies of today?
Which areas of tech development are not receiving the attention and investment they deserve, despite their significant potential?
Which are the smaller technologies and innovations that are preparing themselves to make big waves?
These are the questions we posed to a panel of leading tech and business executives, seeking to uncover the hidden gems of the technology landscape.
In this post, we share their responses, revealing a diverse range of insights and perspectives and their insights offer a compelling look at the under-the-radar innovations that could shape the future.
Read on!
Small Language Models and Autonomous Mobile Robots
At Tech Advisors, we see firsthand how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of business. While AI gets a lot of attention, smaller and more focused AI solutions often go unnoticed.
Small language models (SLMs) are a great example. Unlike large AI models trained on vast amounts of data, SLMs focus on specific, confined information. Businesses can train them on internal documents, policies, or customer support data, making them more precise and efficient for unique needs.
I’ve seen companies struggle to make large AI models work for their operations, only to find that a tailored SLM delivers better results with fewer resources.
Another underappreciated area is autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and co-bots.
These aren’t the futuristic, sci-fi robots people imagine but practical tools that improve efficiency in warehouses, factories, and even hospitals. They handle repetitive tasks like quality inspections and machine maintenance, freeing employees to focus on work that requires human judgment.
One of our clients, a manufacturing firm, saw major gains when they introduced AMRs to assist with parts delivery. Instead of spending hours moving materials, workers could concentrate on precision assembly, improving both productivity and job satisfaction.
Businesses should start looking beyond the biggest AI trends and consider what will truly make a difference in their daily operations. Investing in technology that solves specific problems—whether that’s a small language model for customer support or a co-bot for routine tasks—can deliver faster and more meaningful improvements.
The key is to think strategically about what tools will enhance efficiency without adding unnecessary complexity. In our experience, the right mix of targeted AI and automation makes the biggest impact, without the hype.
Empowerment of the Human Workforce With Supportive Tech
One underappreciated area of tech development that I believe deserves more attention is technology designed to enhance, rather than replace, the human workforce.
Too often, tech is developed with the sole aim of cutting costs by automating jobs entirely, prioritizing profit over people. While automation has its place, it can come at the expense of the human creativity, empathy, and critical thinking that make organizations truly thrive.
At Carepatron, we have focused on building AI and automation tools that do not aim to replace healthcare professionals but instead support them. For example, automating repetitive admin tasks frees up clinicians to spend more time with their patients. This approach amplifies human potential rather than erasing it.
The tech industry needs more investment in solutions that empower workers, tools that reduce stress, improve workflows, and help people do their jobs better.
By focusing on augmenting the human experience rather than sidelining it for the sake of profit, we can create technology that fosters innovation while supporting the people who drive it.
It is a more sustainable and ethical way to approach development and one that deserves far more attention.
Jamie Frew
CEO, Carepatron
AI-Augmented Editing Assistants Transforming Video Production
Video editing is one of the most time-consuming parts of production, requiring hours of sorting footage, syncing audio, and making precise cuts.
AI-augmented editing assistants are an underappreciated technology that could completely transform this process, yet they don’t get nearly the attention they deserve.
AI-powered tools are already beginning to automate tedious editing tasks, from auto-selecting the best takes based on facial expressions and audio clarity to intelligently suggesting B-roll that matches the scene’s tone.
Features like automated dialog syncing, instant color grading recommendations, and AI-driven shot composition analysis could significantly speed up post-production workflows, allowing editors to focus on creative storytelling rather than repetitive technical tasks.
One of the biggest challenges in modern video production is the demand for multiple formats, clients want their content delivered in landscape, portrait, and square formats to fit various social platforms.
Manually reformatting every edit for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and beyond is incredibly tedious and time-consuming for editors.
AI assistants could automate smart reframing, adjust compositions dynamically, and even optimize cuts for different aspect ratios, ensuring that videos look polished across all platforms with minimal manual intervention.
For a production company like ours, this is game-changing. AI editing assistants don’t replace human creativity but enhance efficiency, making tight turnarounds far more manageable without sacrificing quality.
As AI continues to advance, these tools could bridge the gap between technical precision and creative intuition, making professional-grade editing faster and more accessible to filmmakers, content creators, and brands alike.
It’s an area that deserves far more investment and development.
Ryan Stone
Founder & Creative Director, Lambda Video Production Company
Game Mechanics to Enhance the Learning Experience
One of the most underappreciated areas of tech development would definitely be in the education or edtech sector, more specifically learning platforms designed for student engagement and motivation for middle and high school students.
Just think if some of the learning platforms and lessons were as engaging as some of these games like NBA 2K25, the effects it would have in increasing more independent learning.
While AI and adaptive learning get most of the attention, the psychology behind student motivation and learning based on their interest is often overlooked. Students, especially in secondary education, thrive when learning feels interactive, rewarding, and relevant.
At Kash-In Learning, we’ve seen firsthand how integrating game mechanics—points, challenges, and rewards—into academic progress dramatically increases student participation and performance.
As a teacher, we need more investment in platforms that tap into what actually drives students to learn, not just measure what they know.
Cloud Backup and Disaster Recovery
In a time where cyberattacks and IT outrages are escalating in frequency and cost, businesses remain shockingly unprepared for data loss and downtime.
In 2024 alone, data breaches cost U.S. companies $9.36 million on average, while the CrowdStrike outage cost an estimated $1B globally.
Yet, many organizations still underestimate (and therefore underappreciated) the importance of cloud backup and disaster recovery.
With businesses facing up to 24 days of downtime after an attack and recovering only 57% of their compromised data, resilient backup and recovery solutions should be top priority—not an afterthought.
Automated, cloud-based backup and failover solutions can reduce recovery time, limit financial losses, and ensure business continuity in crisis.
The real question isn’t if disaster will strike, but whether your business is prepared to recover when it does.
Stefan Voss
VP of product at Cove Data Protection
Forward Facing Sonar for Fishing
With more people than ever going fishing in the U.S. (a record 57.7 million in 2023), many are turning to highly advanced forward-facing sonar (FFS) technology from companies like Garmin and Humminbird to increase their chances of catching a fish.
FFS allows anglers to see fish, bait and underwater environments in real-time. This can help them identify fish behavior, cast more accurately and increase their chances of catching a fish – which is where Berkley comes into play.
Berkley’s new baits are specifically designed to help anglers to effectively locate, track, and entice fish, leveraging the capabilities of FFS systems.
For example, new technologies like the FORWARD line uses proprietary technology that, when paired with sonar, puts bait in the most accurate spot to trick fish into committing. This technology has some pretty promising implications, and is forever changing fishing as we know it.
Katie Waite
PR Director, Berkley Fishing
Real Estate Tokenization
I see real estate tokenization as an emerging trend with significant potential, yet it remains under-discussed despite its promise.
Companies like Elevated Returns, RealT, and SolidBlock have already shown that tokenizing real estate is not just feasible, but highly beneficial.
However, there are still some significant obstacles to widespread adoption. For one, most tokens can only be traded on the platforms where they were issued, limiting liquidity.
That’s starting to change, though.
Major players like Swift, Chainlink, and Citi are developing cross-network platforms that will allow tokenized assets to be traded across different marketplaces.
Another thing standing in the way is regulations.
Right now, in the US, real estate tokens are classified as securities, meaning strict SEC rules limit who can invest.
However, many of my clients in the investment sector believe that regulatory changes are on the horizon, and once more flexible rules are in place, the demand will likely skyrocket.
Vadzim Belski
Principal Architect, ScienceSoft
AI Driven Brand Voice Replication
I’ve noticed that many people/companies don’t fully recognize the value of AI-driven brand voice replication.
More than just churning out content; it will make sure that a company’s unique style and voice are consistent across all platforms.
Many AI tools can generate text, sure, but they usually miss the mark when it comes to capturing a brand’s true essence. This leaves businesses with the extra work of changing the AI-generated content to make sure it really reflects their identity.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the future development in AI marketing, specifically adaptive brand modeling.
Imagine an AI that not only learns a brand’s specific voice adjusts it to different situations while keeping it consistent. This breakthrough would enable companies to send personalized, high-quality messages on a large scale while keeping their authenticity intact.
By investing in this technology, I’m confident we’ll improve customer relationships, build trust, and improve engagement in a way that feels real and unforced.
Josh Bluman
Co-Founder, Hoppy Copy
Unit and Automation Testing
One of the fundamental pieces of the Software Development Life cycle is usually missed or it is not getting the same attention as the rest: unit and automation testing. This piece is often overlooked due to aggressive development timelines and other factors.
Automated testing is important and can save much-needed manual testing time. Test cases are created by automated testers using various available testing tools in the market today.
Another useful tool is developer Unit Test creation during coding of the initial application. This also usually takes a back seat to application creation.
The last line of defense and the most popular choice is manual testing by human QA professionals.
Application delivery is very complex.
Today’s applications are more modular than their predecessors making it even more important to utilize all the modern testing tools and techniques, in addition to human QA testing, to deliver best-in-class applications.
Jason Varzarevsky
EVP, Product Development – CMI Media Group
Unit and Automation Testing
3D printing technology holds untapped potential beyond prototyping and small-scale manufacturing applications. It enables rapid production of complex parts, reducing supply chain dependencies globally.
In healthcare, 3D printing customizes implants and prosthetics with precision effortlessly. However, businesses underestimate its cost-effectiveness for large-scale production purposes unjustly.
Investing in advanced materials and 3D printing techniques improves operational flexibility significantly. It reduces waste, lowers production costs, and shortens time-to-market timelines effectively.
The technology’s versatility supports innovation across industries, from fashion to aerospace seamlessly.
Embracing 3D printing unlocks new possibilities for sustainable, on-demand manufacturing processes.
On behalf of the Techronicler community of readers, we thank these leaders and experts for taking the time to share valuable insights that stem from years of experience and in-depth expertise in their respective niches.
If you wish to showcase your experience and expertise, participate in industry-leading discussions, and add visibility and impact to your personal brand and business, get in touch with the Techronicler team to feature in our fast-growing publication.
