Five Tech Stories from 2023 that are Shaping the 2024 Industry Landscape

From the relentless rise of artificial intelligence to the global job landscape, and the persistent echoes of the post-pandemic economy, 2023 in tech was the beginning of an unfolding of a new era for the industry. Below, we share a review of the most significant trends and stories that left a mark on this last year, and which will most certainly shape our digital future in 2024 and beyond.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Shaping the Future Amidst Corporate Intrigue

In the wake of ChatGPT's record-breaking growth and the subsequent corporate intrigue at OpenAI, AI remained a focal point throughout the year. Despite widespread enthusiasm for its potential benefits, only 22% of organizations aggressively pursued AI integration. The gap between consumer tech and enterprise applications highlighted the challenges organizations face in incorporating AI into their complex tech strategies.

Generative AI funding went hyperbolic in 2023.

However, OpenAI's epic $10 billion round may distort most graphs disproportionately.

Any idea what 2024 will look like? pic.twitter.com/SU7rE17FKw

— Jesse Middleton (@srcasm) December 22, 2023

Still, The Economist predicts that generative AI will become mainstream in 2024. Initially benefiting software developers with tools like GitHub Copilot in 2021, 2022 witnessed broader consumer accessibility through tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E 2, enabling instant creation of text and images. In 2023, tech giants experienced a surge in investor interest after the public launch of ChatGPT, reflected in a substantial rise in their share prices, attributed to their roles in providing AI models or the infrastructure supporting them.

Next year, the focus might shift to non-tech companies poised to embrace generative AI for cost reduction and enhanced productivity. Following a year of experimentation, many companies — from large firms to small start-ups — are now shifting to AI for tasks like document drafting and market analysis. The surge in AI product launches, increased investment, and growing talent availability contribute to this impending adoption wave. Smaller, agile companies are expected to lead in early adoption, while data-centric sectors like healthcare and finance have an advantage due to their robust data management, crucial for safe and effective AI integration.

2. Social Media Evolution: Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover and the Challenge of Scale

Elon Musk's foray into Twitter (in October 2022) sent seismic waves through the social media landscape, transforming the platform's dynamics in a remarkably short span. His unorthodox approach and penchant for disrupting industries swiftly reshaped Twitter's trajectory and left a gaping hole in the social/online media landscape for finding hot takes, varied perspectives, and unfiltered news.

“Musk hasn’t managed to make a single meaningful improvement to the platform and is no closer to his vision of an ‘everything app,’ than he was a year ago,” says Insider Intelligence analyst Jasmine Enberg. “Instead, X has driven away users, and advertisers, and now it has lost its primary value proposition in the social media world: Being a central hub for news.”

This overview by The Verge provides a comprehensive overview of the chaos of Musk’s Twitter ascent.

Then Threads, by Meta, launched in July — further subdividing the social media landscape. Threads embrace the concept of "close friends," mirroring the idea of Twitter's close-knit communities but within a more visual and private framework. It aims to streamline and encourage real-time sharing among a smaller circle, enabling users to share their current status, location, and activities seamlessly. In a way, Threads tried to capture the essence of Twitter's intimate conversations and real-time updates but within a more visually oriented, friend-centric, and private setting, distinct from Twitter's public and often more extensive interactions.

That said, it only launched in the EU earlier this month and is struggling to keep users active following its blockbuster launch. Insider Intelligence suggests that Threads will have far fewer monthly active users than Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok by the end of this year, but it may still have a chance to close the gap with X in 2024.

3. Tech Jobs: Navigating Layoffs, Demand for Skills, and a Changing Landscape

The tech industry weathered a tumultuous wave of layoffs this year — even into Q4 — affecting over 100,000 employees across major companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. The year unfolded with a constant stream of layoffs, leaving employees reeling and reshaping the job landscape within Silicon Valley and beyond. That said, the industry as a whole projected a 3 percent job growth, especially in fields like software engineering, cybersecurity, and database management. Layoffs, attributed to prior overexpansion and excessive spending due to the tech boom during the pandemic, opened up recruitment opportunities for smaller and non-tech companies entering the digital arena.

As tech companies pivot toward recovery in 2024, businesses vying for top talent must employ strategic approaches to compete for skilled workers. Companies and industries beyond tech are also learning how tech skills can be utilized in more creative ways, potentially extending the breadth of opportunity for laid-off workers.

Still, the layoffs represent a maturation phase for the tech industry, signaling a shift away from rapid growth and toward diversification and global expansion. This transition comes as the industry reassesses customer acquisition strategies in a landscape where many individuals have already adopted tech services.

4. Post-Pandemic Economy: Fundraising at the Bottom of the Market

In March, the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse sent shockwaves through the tech and financial sectors, marking a significant event tied to the economic challenges of the year. SVB, a prominent institution in funding and supporting tech startups, faced a series of crises, including a liquidity crunch and exposure to risky investments. As a result, its downfall impacted the tech ecosystem and underscored the fragility of the financial infrastructure supporting the industry. The collapse exacerbated the already strained economic situation in 2023, amplifying concerns about the stability of funding sources for tech startups and highlighting vulnerabilities in the financial mechanisms underpinning the tech industry. The fallout from SVB's collapse reverberated beyond financial losses, shaking investor confidence and triggering a more cautious approach to funding, further contributing to the challenges faced by tech companies seeking capital in an already tumultuous economic climate of 2023.

With SVB’s collapse as a backdrop, tech startup fundraising continued to face a tough time, reminiscent of the 2008 financial crisis. With a drastic drop in capital raised, companies had three potential paths: persist with fundraising despite tougher competition and lower valuations, explore alternative funding sources cautiously, or minimize reliance on external funding by cutting costs and boosting revenue.

For venture capitalists, reduced liquidity meant more cautious investments, but it also offered opportunities for selective, attractive deals. Throughout this challenging phase, the lesson was clear: the power of storytelling in fundraising is paramount. Crafting a compelling equity story becomes even more critical in times of crisis. Amidst uncertainty, resilience, adaptability, and a strong narrative will be key in 2024 for tech companies and investors navigating this recession.

Check out this thread, where John Li, founder and CEO of Vimcal, outlines (in detail) his fundraising journey throughout 2023.

It took 11 months and 181 investor meetings to raise @Vimcal's last round

Fundraising at the bottom of the market... really sucked

Here are 5 crucial things to know if you're raising in 2024:

— John Li (@jaylbird11) December 14, 2023

5. The CHIPS Act: Governments Taking a More Active Role in Regulating Technology**

The CHIPS Act, formally known as the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act, is a significant piece of legislation aimed at bolstering semiconductor manufacturing within the United States. It focuses on reducing the nation's reliance on foreign-made chips by providing financial incentives and funding for domestic semiconductor production. The Act is crucial due to the global chip shortage, which has impacted various industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, and healthcare.

Interestingly, TikTok and other tech companies find themselves entangled in the semiconductor supply chain due to their reliance on these chips for their platforms and devices. As TikTok (a Chinese company) is increasingly being used as a proxy for U.S. national security concerns, the CHIPS Act becomes even more relevant as one of the avenues in which the government is getting more involved in blocking (or highly regulating) the use of global technologies.

The state’s involvement reflects growing concerns over national security, privacy, and economic competitiveness. Governments are recognizing the pivotal role technology plays in various facets of society and the economy. As a result, they're becoming more involved in the accessibility and security of critical technologies. Additionally, issues surrounding data privacy, content moderation, and market competition have prompted regulatory scrutiny and intervention, leading to increased oversight and regulation of technology companies to safeguard public interests and maintain fair market practices. The intertwining of technology with daily life has spurred governments worldwide to actively shape and regulate the tech landscape to align with their policy goals and protect their citizens' interests.

---

For more expert insights into the tech industry and how to build your tech career, find a mentor with Merit: