Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, blockchain and big data are changing how governments and businesses work, and Lok Sewa now asks about them in computer and general knowledge papers. This note explains each technology in simple words, gives the key terms, inventors and dates, and links them to Nepal, including the National Artificial Intelligence Policy approved in 2025.
1. What are emerging technologies?
Emerging technologies are new technologies that are growing fast and are expected to change society and the economy in the coming years. Together they drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), in which the physical, digital and biological worlds are joined through smart, connected machines. Important examples are artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, big data, 5G, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, drones and 3D printing. Nepal’s Digital Nepal Framework (2019) aims to use such technologies to develop the country.
2. Artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is the ability of a computer or machine to do tasks that normally need human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, understanding language, recognising pictures and making decisions.
- Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test in 1950 to judge whether a machine can think like a human.
- The term artificial intelligence was coined by John McCarthy for the Dartmouth conference of 1956; he is called the father of AI.
- In 1997 IBM’s computer Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov.
- ChatGPT, a chatbot made by OpenAI, was released on 30 November 2022 and made generative AI popular. Generative AI creates new text, images, sound or code. Chatbots like this are built on large language models (LLMs).
| Type of AI | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Narrow (weak) AI | Does one specific job, such as face unlock, spam filtering or voice assistants. All AI in use today is of this type. |
| General (strong) AI | Would think and learn any task like a human; not yet achieved |
| Super AI | Would be smarter than humans in every field; only an idea so far |
Branches of AI: machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing (NLP) (understanding human language, as in translation and chatbots), computer vision (understanding images and video), robotics and expert systems (programs that give advice like a human expert).
Nepal: the Government of Nepal approved the National Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2082 on 11 August 2025 (Shrawan 26, 2082) to promote the safe, ethical and productive use of AI. Risks of AI include bias, misuse of personal data, deepfakes (fake videos or voices) and job losses.
3. Machine learning and deep learning
Machine learning (ML) is a part of AI in which computers learn patterns from data and improve with experience instead of being programmed for every step. Deep learning is a part of machine learning that uses artificial neural networks with many layers, inspired by the human brain. So: deep learning is inside machine learning, and machine learning is inside AI.
| Type of machine learning | How it learns | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Supervised learning | From labelled data (input with the correct answer) | Spam or not spam email, predicting house prices |
| Unsupervised learning | Finds groups and patterns in unlabelled data | Grouping customers by buying habits |
| Reinforcement learning | Learns by trial and error using rewards and penalties | Game-playing programs, self-driving cars, robots |
4. Cloud computing
Cloud computing means using computing services such as storage, servers, databases and software over the internet on demand, instead of keeping them on your own computer. Users usually pay only for what they use. Big providers are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.
| Service model | What is provided | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) | Virtual servers, storage and networks; the user manages the operating system and software | Amazon EC2, Azure Virtual Machines |
| PaaS (Platform as a Service) | A ready platform to build and run applications | Google App Engine, Heroku |
| SaaS (Software as a Service) | Complete software used through a web browser | Gmail, Google Docs, Microsoft 365, Dropbox |
- Public cloud: shared by many users and run by a provider.
- Private cloud: used by one organisation only, for more control and security.
- Hybrid cloud: a mix of public and private cloud.
- Community cloud: shared by organisations with common needs.
- Advantages: low starting cost, access from anywhere, easy to increase capacity (scalability), automatic backup. Disadvantages: needs internet, data privacy and security concerns.
- In Nepal, the Government Integrated Data Centre (GIDC), run by the National Information Technology Centre, hosts many government websites and systems.
5. Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things is a network of everyday physical objects fitted with sensors, software and connectivity so they can collect and share data over the internet and be controlled remotely. The term was first used by Kevin Ashton in 1999.
- Smart home: smart bulbs, smart TVs, CCTV and door locks controlled by phone.
- Wearables: smart watches and fitness bands that track steps and heart rate.
- Smart agriculture: soil moisture sensors that switch irrigation on automatically.
- Smart city: smart traffic lights, smart parking, smart electricity meters.
- Health care: remote monitoring of patients.
- Technologies used: sensors, RFID, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile networks and 5G. A major concern is security, because weakly protected devices can be hacked.
6. Blockchain and cryptocurrency
A blockchain is a distributed, decentralised digital ledger that records transactions in blocks. Each block is linked to the previous one by a cryptographic hash, forming a chain. Copies are kept on many computers (nodes), so records are transparent and almost impossible to change later (immutable), and no single central authority controls them.
- Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, was described in a 2008 white paper by an unknown person or group using the name Satoshi Nakamoto; the network started in January 2009.
- Ethereum (2015) introduced smart contracts: programs on a blockchain that run automatically when conditions are met.
- Other uses: supply chain tracking, land records, digital identity, certificates and voting systems.
- Cryptocurrency mining uses powerful computers to verify transactions and add new blocks.
- Nepal: Nepal Rastra Bank has declared trading, mining and investing in cryptocurrency illegal in Nepal.
7. Big data and data science
Big data means data sets so large, fast and varied that ordinary software cannot store or analyse them easily. It comes from social media, mobile phones, sensors, online shopping and government records. Big data is often explained by the 5 Vs:
| V | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Volume | Very large amount of data |
| Velocity | Data is produced and must be processed very fast |
| Variety | Many forms: text, images, video, sensor readings |
| Veracity | Accuracy and trustworthiness of the data |
| Value | Useful knowledge that can be gained from the data |
Tools such as Hadoop and Spark store and process big data across many computers. Data mining finds hidden patterns in data, and data analytics turns data into decisions. Big data and AI work together: AI models learn from big data.
8. Other emerging technologies
| Technology | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Augmented reality (AR) | Adds digital images or information on top of the real world, seen through a phone or glasses (for example Pokemon Go) |
| Virtual reality (VR) | A fully computer-made 3D world experienced through a headset |
| 5G | Fifth-generation mobile network with very high speed and very low delay; supports IoT and smart cities |
| Robotics | Machines that carry out tasks automatically, often guided by AI |
| Drone (UAV) | Unmanned aerial vehicle used for mapping, delivery, rescue and survey |
| 3D printing | Makes objects layer by layer from a digital design (additive manufacturing) |
| Quantum computing | Uses qubits, which can be 0 and 1 at the same time, to solve certain problems much faster |
| Edge computing | Processes data near where it is produced, instead of in a distant cloud, for faster response |
📌 Key points to remember
- Emerging technologies drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0).
- John McCarthy coined the term AI in 1956; Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test in 1950.
- Deep learning is part of machine learning, which is part of AI; ML can be supervised, unsupervised or reinforcement.
- ChatGPT (OpenAI) was released on 30 November 2022; Nepal approved its National AI Policy 2082 on 11 August 2025.
- Cloud service models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS (Gmail is SaaS). Deployment: public, private, hybrid, community.
- IoT connects everyday objects with sensors to the internet; the term was coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999.
- Blockchain is a decentralised, distributed and immutable ledger; Bitcoin by Satoshi Nakamoto (2008 paper, 2009 network).
- Nepal Rastra Bank has declared cryptocurrency transactions illegal in Nepal.
- Big data 5 Vs: Volume, Velocity, Variety, Veracity, Value. AR adds to the real world; VR creates a fully virtual world.
Test yourself: Emerging Technologies
50 questions on What are emerging technologies?, Internet of Things (IoT) and Other emerging technologies. Each attempt picks 25 at random.