We see a lot of advancement in the technology now, compared to what it was some years ago. Many companies are focusing on physical products, smart devices, smart cars, space explorations and lot other innovative and research activities. The more the technology progresses the demand for better design is always on the parallel road.
In the software industry, the buzzwords for the year are ML, Ai, VR and Data Science. Companies are focusing on interfaces which are smart and does the best for end users but the design also should walk hand in hand with the technology to keep users satisfied.
The biggest trends of UX for 2018 are designing interfaces for applications which work on Ai, ML and also craft experiences for virtual reality. If you are able to work on projects which deal with ML and Ai, the chances of you exploring the possibilities and challenges are more.