The Shift in Tech Enthusiasm
On January 9, 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, marking a peak in public excitement for technology. The device, which consolidated multiple functions into one, was viewed as a step towards a better future, echoing Gene Roddenberry's optimistic vision for technology.
This initial enthusiasm has reportedly diminished, evolving into a more apprehensive stance towards new technological developments. This shift aligns more closely with Philip K. Dick's dystopian outlook, where technology amplifies societal problems rather than solving them.
Sources of Past Excitement
Early tech products, like the original iPhone, gained popularity by addressing common daily inconveniences. The iPhone replaced the need for separate devices such as notepads, cameras, laptops, MP3 players, GPS devices, flashlights, and alarm clocks, providing significant utility.
Decline in Consumer Interest
Heather Sliwinski, founder of Changemaker Communications, notes that current technology releases are characterized by "incremental updates" rather than significant breakthroughs. Features such as slightly improved cameras or minor AI additions fail to generate substantial consumer excitement or justify high costs.
This trend can be explained by the economic concept of diminishing marginal utility, where the additional satisfaction derived from each new version of a product decreases over time.
The Burdens of Modern Tech
Contemporary tech products often impose new demands on users, including downloading additional apps, creating new accounts, and managing subscriptions. Sliwinski describes this as a source of consumer exhaustion, turning users into "middle managers" of their own lives due to the time and effort required for device synchronization and maintenance.
Philip K. Dick's concept of "kipple," or useless accumulating objects, is cited to describe both physical tech clutter and virtual clutter like numerous apps required for daily tasks, contributing to a sense of being trapped by technology.
AI Indifference and Apprehension
Kaveh Vahdat of RiseOpp observes that consumers have grown wary of corporations manufacturing excitement around minor features. This indifference is particularly pronounced concerning Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a notable absence of widespread consumer enthusiasm for current AI applications, despite their pervasive integration into products.
Beyond indifference, consumers have expressed growing apprehension about AI's potential negative impacts, including concerns about job displacement, effects on mental health, and broader societal implications. Critics suggest that tech companies, rather than making lives easier, are increasingly focused on designing products to encourage addiction.
Future Outlook
Some experts, like Sliwinski, anticipate that another significant technological "step change" akin to the original iPhone could be 10 to 20 years away. The article suggests that the current period of "enshittification"—where economic systems struggle to adapt to technological advancements—may be a phase leading towards a future where technology eventually creates abundance, as envisioned in Roddenberry's Star Trek universe.