Why I’m Convinced Technology Is About to Change Everything (Again)
As I sit here on the metro, glancing around at my fellow commuters, I cannot help but notice that most of them are completely engrossed in their mobile screens. Some are watching videos, others are endlessly scrolling through feeds, and, of course, I could not resist pulling out my own device to capture the thoughts bouncing around in my head.
Technology is changing our lives faster than we ever imagined. Remember when we used to flip through the morning newspaper or settle down for live TV? Those rituals feel almost quaint now, replaced by the simple act of reaching for our phones. Sure, TV and newspapers are still around, but they are not the essentials they once were.
Back when the internet was just finding its footing, technology began to reshape how we consumed media. I still remember the clunky set of Encyclopedia Britannica in our school library and how I treasured my CD-ROM version in the ’90s. But now, with Wikipedia and countless other sources at our fingertips, those old volumes seem like relics from another era.
Tech giants like Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA built the infrastructure, while Apple, Nokia, and Samsung put that power into our hands. With billions of digital screens now in use, Google has organized the world’s information, and Meta—with a little help from TikTok—has unleashed an avalanche of user-generated content. We are all part of this global village now.
Historically, when a technology reaches its peak, it often pivots, transforming itself to stay relevant and avoid obsolescence. Just look at how eBooks and word processors disrupted traditional printing or how 3D printers and sublimation technology have revolutionized industries once dominated by painters and sign-makers.
Now, it feels like we are on the brink of another pivot. The so-called FAANGs — Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google — have seen their stock values drop significantly in the past couple of years. Where this will lead is anyone’s guess, but one thing is for sure: a change is coming.
Artificial intelligence is already starting to reshape how we do things, analyzing data at speeds that were once unimaginable. E-commerce platforms, sitting on mountains of customer data, are beginning to predict what you will buy before you even know you want it. Just look at Amazon — they are more than just an online store. They are delivering products the next day, streaming music, running an OTT platform, and even offering eBooks — all bundled neatly under a single annual subscription.
Food delivery apps are connecting a network of restaurants and home chefs, turning them into little communities. Health and wellness brands are selling IoT health trackers, gathering detailed customer data that allows them to branch out into sportswear, healthy foods, and accessories. Slowly but surely, these e-commerce giants are building their own walled gardens. As these dominant players continue to grow, leveraging AI to their advantage, they will gain more power to shape and monopolize entire industries.
The change is already underway. It is only a matter of time before technology completes its pivot, transforming the market — and our lives — in ways we cannot yet fully grasp.
