Top Tech Stories and Trends of 2024: A Year in Review

Reflecting on the Tech Landscape of 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a year packed with transformative events and groundbreaking advancements in the tech world. It seems like each quarter brought with it significant changes, ranging from the launch of Apple's Vision Pro to growing concerns about monopolistic practices in Silicon Valley. The role of artificial intelligence (AI) has only amplified alongside a contentious U.S. election and the rising influence of tech moguls like Elon Musk. With another slew of gadgets attempting and often failing to overshadow our ever-present smartphones, this year has been anything but mundane.

A Look Back at 2024 Tech Highlights

In this reflective episode of The Vergecast, we invited several staffers to weigh in on the most pivotal moments of 2024 and their personal highlights from the year. Each contributor shared insights about both technological innovations and cultural phenomena that shaped their experiences this year.

The Stories That Defined the Year

• Jay Peters: Story of the year: Google declared a monopoly New thing of the year: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Non-tech thing of the year: XOXO Field Notes notebooks
• Jake Kastrenakes: Story of the year: The widespread implications of AI New thing of the year: The Wiim Ultra amp Non-tech thing of the year: Chronoloy
• Justine Calma: Story of the year: The U.S. election and the resurgence of nuclear power New thing of the year: Nurse Unseen Non-tech thing of the year: Sugarcane
• Vjeran Pavic: Story of the year: The Apple Vision Pro launch New thing of the year: The Fujifilm X100VI and the Kino app Non-tech thing of the year: Mountain Gazette
• Kylie Robison: Story of the year: "Billionaire Crybabies" New thing of the year: Stardew Valley Non-tech thing of the year: Curated playlists
• Barbara Krasnoff: Story of the year: The U.S. election's influence New thing of the year: The Elgato Stream Deck Non-tech thing of the year: Googly eyes
• Alex Heath: Story of the year: The AI rat race New thing of the year: Granola Non-tech thing of the year: Shochu

Engaging with the Audience

As part of our upcoming episode on December 10th, we want to delve deeper into the essence of The Vergecast and the broader media landscape. We invite our listeners to participate by sending us their questions! You can reach us by calling the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11 or emailing us at vergecast@theverge.com. We’d love to hear your thoughts and inquiries, so don’t hold back!

Conclusion: What’s Next?

As we approach 2025, it's clear that the tech world is undergoing profound changes that will continue to influence our relationship with technology. The ongoing AI revolution, skyrocketing gadget innovation, and significant political events will undoubtedly remain hot topics in the upcoming year. Stay tuned as we keep you updated with the latest trends and developments!