The Best Technology Stories of 2015
There have been a lot of great stories on technology this year that track hot topics like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, self-driving cars, cybercrime, and the like. Each of these topics among others are covered in great depth in the stories that follow, which are my take on the top technology stories of 2015.
On June 11, 2015, Bloomberg BusinessWeek dedicated an entire issue to the topic of coding and its importance. This 38,000 word masterpiece was the most bought issue up to that point, and the online version has interactive elements so that the reader can actually code while reading the piece. Author Paul Ford is both a writer and a coder, but he has a special gift for making a seemingly esoteric topic accessible.
To hear the author and Bloomberg Businessweek editor Josh Tyrangiel talk about the article, watch this great interview by Charlie Rose.
The AI Revolution
Part I: The Road to Superintelligence
Part II Our Immortality or Extinction
by Tim Urban in Wait But Why, January 22, 2015 and January 27, 2015, respectively
Artificial Intelligence is among the most written about topics today. Perhaps no one has written as cogently about the topic in the past year than Tim Urban on the long-form article site that he started called Wait but Why. Urban employs lucid storytelling and humor to provide the most comprehensive account of what Artificial Intelligence is and why it is so important.
- Part I (left) takes readers on a journey from Artificial Narrow Intelligence through Artificial General Intelligence.
- Part II (right) explores the mind numbing implications of Artificial Super Intelligence, an level the majority of experts believe we will achieve this century.
In this article posted on Medium, Turck notes that the development of autonomous fleets will bring about a massive socio-economic revolution not seen since the industrial revolution. With a comprehensive exploration of the arguments for and against autonomous vehicles, this 10,000 word ‘opus’ is perfect primer for those looking to understand the basics of the future of mobility.
Mitch Turck writes about autonomous vehicles and the future of mobility. He publishes a monthly “State of Autonomy” recap of news, predictions, and media coverage around autonomous vehicles, and also publishes original pieces focusing on different aspects of future mobility to his blog.
New York Times Enterprise Reporter Lorne Manly writes about the virtual reality revolution that is upon us. Though headsets are just beginning to hit the market, by 2025, the market for VR hardware is expected to reach $62 billion. See how it will change everything from entertainment to medicine to communication to journalism. This is just the beginning.
The Untold Story of Silk Road’s Rise — And Fall
Part I
Part II
by Joshuah Bearman and Tomer Hanuka in WIRED, April and May 2015 editions respectively
Joshuah Bearman and Tomer Hanuka wrote a fascinating two-part story about the rise of the Dread Pirate Roberts, the head of the Silk Road, a global drug bazaar. The man behind the operation was a former eagle scout turned murderer. The story of the operation to bring him down is as fascinating as the story of his rise.
Amazon Dominated Nearly Everything This Year
by Alex Shephard in the New Republic | December 21, 2015
After a rough 2014, Amazon’s commercial domination is now underway in earnest. Amazon Web Services is turning into a hugely profitable business, Amazon Prime is expanding, and their recent foray into original programming has resulted in five Emmys. After posting two quarters of record profits, the New Republic’s culture news editor Alex Shephard reports that Amazon is out to optimize every aspect of our lives.
Dyson may be known for high-end appliances such as cordless vacuum cleaners and blade-less fans, but they are quickly transforming into a cutting-edge technology company. With $2.5 million funneled into R&D every single week, the company has a special team dedicated to identifying the most promising prototypes–from robotics to batteries to lighting and vacuum cleaners. With its eyes towards the future, Matthew Shaer reports for Fast Company on how Dyson has organized around a central philosophy and core strengths, and has the ambition to become a “full blown tech company.”
Ian Parker of the New Yorker profiles Jony Ive, Apple AAPL +0.93%’s Chief Design Officer. It is said that since Steve Jobs’ passing, Ive is the most influential person at the company. Parker posits that Ive, himself, has become Apple’s greatest product.
There has been much written about the explosive growth of the so-called unicorns, venture funded companies that have grown to valuations in excess of $1 billion. One might be lulled into thinking that technology start-ups are safer bets today. We are seeing a number of them lose their luster in recent weeks. Mike Isaac and Katie Benner of the New York Times offer a perspective from LivingSocial. The second best known of the daily deal companies (after Groupon), the company reached a valuation of $4.5 billion in late 2011. Then it all went wrong.
Peter High is President of Metis Strategy, a business and IT advisory firm. His latest book, Implementing World Class IT Strategy, has just been released by Wiley Press/Jossey-Bass. He is also the author of World Class IT: Why Businesses Succeed When IT Triumphs. Peter moderates the Forum on World Class IT podcast series. Follow him on Twitter@WorldClassIT.
Metis Strategy is a business and technology strategy and management consulting firm headquartered in the Washington DC metro area. For more information, about the work that we do, visit Metis Strategy.com or email us at information@metisstrategy.com
Special thanks to Metis Strategy Associate Brandon Metzger for his assistance with this article.
*This article was originally published on Forbes.com
