Frontier technology (think AI, IoT, blockchain, green tech) is reshaping industries and redefining growth.
- Dr. Lisa Palmer
- Sep 14
- 1 min read
The internet economy grew by trillions in two decades. Al is outpacing it.
Frontier technology (think AI, IoT, blockchain, green tech) is reshaping industries and redefining growth.
The frontier tech market is projected to soar from $2.5T in 2023 to $16.4T by 2033.
AI leads the charge. Its share jumps from 7% to 29%, generating $4.8T in value and becoming the largest frontier tech segment.
To put this in perspective, this surge is even bigger than the smartphone’s rise from luxury to necessity and bigger than the internet’s leap from under $300B to many trillions.
The biggest value from AI investments often comes from the “boring” use cases: supply chain optimization, claims automation, inventory management. These deliver measurable impact at scale.
But there are massive opportunities, the work that I love, where AI’s impact is still mostly unexplored: creating all new business models and revenue streams. Things like digital products, hyper-personalized services, and innovations that we are only beginning to imagine.
The market shifts tell the story:
• AI: 7% → 29% market share
• IoT: 36% → 19%, losing its lead
• Blockchain: near zero → 14%
• EVs & Solar PV: shrinking share, though still growing in absolute value
Are you applying AI for efficiency, for growth? You need both!
Source: UNCTAD, Technology and Innovation Report 2025