The 15 Tech and Manufacturing Stories That Defined 2018
From record-breaking milestones, to trade wars, to tech innovations, 2018 was certainly an interesting year.
Each year brings its own unique challenges, stories, and breakthroughs in both technology and manufacturing. That being said, it’s hard to say how 2019 could possibly top the year that was 2018, but I’m sure it will find a way.
Looking back, these are the 15 stories that defined 2018. It was a year of thrilling highs and immense lows. Let’s take a look back before we usher in the new year.
#1 — The Modern Space Race
A new space race sparked competition in 2018 between private startups funded by billionaires. While organizations like Space X made many waves in 2018, it was the rise of other startups like Rocket Lab and Blue Origin that showcased how the private sector could reinvigorate the pursuit of space travel.
These private companies all marched closer to planning their own manned space flights this past year. Here’s hoping we finally manage to break low Earth orbit in 2019.
#2 — Apple Reaches $1 Trillion
In August of 2018, Apple became the first $1 trillion publicly traded company. For this massive brand, news like this was inevitable, but it’s still an exciting milestone.
To put things in perspective, this amount is equal to 5 percent of the total gross domestic product of the US in 2018.
#3 — Trade Wars
In an effort to combat intellectual property theft and encourage domestic manufacturing, the Trump Administration levied tariffs on a massive number of imports in 2018.
This led to the start of a trade war between the US and China that shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Earlier in the year, an additional $200 billion in tariffs were planned for January 1st, 2019, but this deadline has since been pushed back to March 1st.
#4 — The Battle For Net Neutrality
The internet as we know it could be at stake. That was the argument for people to rally against the repeal of Net Neutrality. This concept, that all internet traffic should be treated equally, was repealed in June of 2018.
The battle was lost, but the war wages on. Supporters have begun to file lawsuits to reinstate the original laws, while states explore the possibility of passing their own specific laws surrounding the issue.
#5 — Alibaba vs Tencent
For those familiar with China’s digital economy, Alibaba and Tencent are household names. These massive corporations have long had a budding rivalry, but remained largely out of each other’s spaces.
This began to change in 2018 as the two entities entered into similar spaces. With the top spot in China’s digital economy at stake, this is one rivalry to watch in 2019.
#6 — Data Breaches
Cybersecurity once again stole the headlines in 2018 as data breaches struck some of the world’s most notable brands. Companies like Facebook, Google, Marriott, Quora, and Macy’s all suffered from cracks in their digital armor.
The Marriott breach alone resulted in the exposure of an estimated 500 million customer’s personal data.
#7 — Growth in Electronics Manufacturing
Technology has proliferated into almost every aspect of our daily lives. This has led to a period of growth for the electronics manufacturing industry.
In August of 2018, production and output reached an all-time high, according to the Institute for Supply Management.
#8 — Waymo hits an Autonomous Milestone
Waymo, a self-driving car from Alphabet, passed 10 million miles of autonomous driving in 2018. The company also began offering rides in the driverless automobile in Phoenix, Arizona.
There are plans to expand commercial offerings in 2019, which could result in Waymo being the first mainstream service that offers rides without a driver. Of course, they have competition as well. Kroger, for example, is deploying driverless vehicles of their own to deliver groceries in the same city.
#9 — Fortnite Brings Battle Royale to The Masses
What began as a little-known game about fighting waves of enemies and building bases turned into a gaming phenomenon in 2018. While that original mode still exists, the addition of a free-to-play battle royale mode is what launched this title into the limelight.
The concept is simple: survive in a match with 100 players until you are the last one standing. Other games have also used this same concept, but none have enjoyed the exposure that Fortnite had in 2018. With over 200 million players worldwide as of November 2018, this title won’t fade into history anytime soon.
#10 — The Bitcoin Bubble Pops
Cryptocurrency took a major hit in 2018 as major crashes drove the value of Bitcoin down to $4,000. Forecasts are showing that it could go as low as $2,500 in early 2019.
All of this has shaken people’s faith in cryptocurrency, with some predicting that it will crash again in the near future, despite some recovery.
#11 — Scooters Make Headlines
Bird and Lime, two electric scooter startups, fought in a fierce rivalry throughout 2018. Bird, who are based out of Santa Monica, became the fastest startup in history to reach unicorn status.
They achieved a $2 billion valuation in less than a year.
#12– Laying the Groundwork for 5G
Many of the major cellular networks began laying the foundation for 5G technology in 2018. Sprint also announced they plan to release a 5G phone in 2019, while AT&T has already launched 5G in over 400 markets.
The applications for 5G are more widespread than previous generations. With the inclusion of sub-6GHz, mmWave, and NB-IoT, this launch will be a completely different beast than the introduction of 4G.
#13 — Hololens Brings AR Tech to The Military
While augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR respectively) have still been finding their place in the world, Microsoft’s Hololens scored a major victory for team AR in 2018.
The prototype headset won the bid for a $480 million military contract. The headset will be used to enhance combat training for US soldiers.
#14 — Cyber Monday Smashes Sales Records
Cyber Monday, a holiday created to encourage online shopping, has officially done its job better than any other sales holiday. According to data from Adobe Analytics, the 2018 sales day hit $7.9 billion.
This is not only a 19.7 percent increase year-over-year, but it also makes this it the largest online shopping event in US history.
#15 — Google’s AI Becomes a Little Too Lifelike
For every step forward in Artificial Intelligence, there are those who caution against our pursuit of this technology. They consist of philosophers, scientists, and fans of science fiction. Google’s Duplex AI sparked their ire in 2018.
The digital assistant showcased the ability to make phone calls on behalf of a person. It can schedule appointments or book reservations for you, all while sounding exactly like a human. It sounds cool, in theory, but the uproar came from those who could see this being used for more nefarious purposes.
Welcome to 2019
What a year this was! Many of these stories are ongoing, so expect them to make waves in 2019 as well. One thing is certain: 2019 should be an interesting year!
