The Real Reason For the Sad State of the Tech Industry

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the current state of the technology industry, which the author believes is in a "historic rut" characterized by a lack of inspiration, innovation, and clear direction. The author examines several potential reasons for this, including corporate greed, corporate politics, the influence of "entitled users," and the hype around AI and Gen AI. The article aims to provide a nuanced perspective on these issues and encourages readers to focus on being part of the solution rather than getting caught up in blaming single factors.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Current State of the Technology Industry

1. What is the author's view on the current state of the technology industry?

• The author believes the technology industry is in a "historic rut" with a "complete lack of inspiration, innovation, and clear direction."
• The author argues that the current state of technology is "boring" and not just a "lull or malaise."

2. What are some of the potential reasons the author explores for the current state of the technology industry?

• Corporate greed
• Corporate politics
• The influence of "entitled users"
• The hype around AI and Gen AI

3. Why does the author argue that corporate greed is not the sole or primary reason for the current state of the technology industry?

• The author states that corporate greed has been a problem since the 1600s, so the current state of technology cannot be attributed solely to 400 years of systematic neglect.
• The author suggests that there are other factors, such as corporate politics and the influence of "entitled users," that are also contributing to the problem.

[02] Corporate Politics and "Entitled Users"

1. How does the author define "Corporate Politics"?

• The author defines "Corporate Politics" as "a catch-all term for every little nitpicky thing that anyone can find to complain about the way a company is run."
• The author suggests that Corporate Politics are usually the "wingman" for Corporate Greed, jumping into action when a company is doing things that are not going to make money.

2. What is the author's view on the role of "entitled users" in the current state of the technology industry?

• The author argues that "entitled users" are the result of unchecked corporate greed, corporate politics, and generation gaps.
• These users are now "clogging our support lines, asking for features that are either impossible or unnecessary, and, in short, creating the lowest common denominator that all technology now has to accommodate."

3. How does the author suggest striking a balance between building technology for technology people and building technology for "entitled users"?

• The author acknowledges that "we were all noobs at one point or another" and that "if we're building technology strictly for technology people then that technology is going to suck too."
• The author suggests that "striking a balance isn't asking a lot" when it comes to building technology for different user groups.

[03] The Role of AI and Gen AI

1. How does the author view the role of AI and Gen AI in the current state of the technology industry?

• The author acknowledges that AI and Gen AI are a "huge part of the problem right now" as they are "sucking all the oxygen and money out of the room."
• The author suggests that tech companies are going to "overestimate or underestimate the usefulness of AI and Gen AI for a while," similar to what happened when the industry was forced to shift to a mobile UX.

2. What is the author's perspective on the "crazy conspiracy theories" surrounding technology and AI?

• The author suggests that these "crazy conspiracy theories" around technology, such as "Dystopia," "We're living in a simulation," and "End of the world/universe," make the real complaints about the state of technology seem less real.

[04] The Need for Understanding and Solutions

1. What is the author's overall message regarding the state of the technology industry?

• The author acknowledges that "technology is in a bad place right now" and that there is no single culprit, but rather a complex problem with multiple contributing factors.
• The author encourages readers to focus on being part of the solution rather than getting caught up in blaming single factors.

2. What does the author suggest readers do to be part of the solution?

• The author suggests that "it takes understanding to avoid being part of any of those problems" and that if readers are doing that, they are "part of the solution."
• The author invites readers to join their email list to "keep hearing more about the solutions as I explore them."