From Apple Intelligence to smartphones getting smarter: The A-Z of technology in 2024

A to Z of technology 2024

Apple got into the AI race with Apple Intelligence while Google empowered Gemini with more and more AI. Jensen Huang’s Nvidia powered the AI push whereas X emerged as more than a social media platform. Here we bring you the A-Z of all things tech in 2024:

A - Apple Intelligence

It may have arrived late to the AI party but Apple is slowly getting its AI smarts right. For starters, it calls the AI features Apple Intelligence. So now, Siri taps into AI to get conversationally clever, while tools like “Image Wand” make sketching feel fun and better. Apple’s subtle AI strides show it’s playing the long game — and as always it’s not the first but could end up making competition a bit worried.

B - Bluesky

Bluesky, the decentralized social media contender, gained attention as a Twitter alternative but hasn’t quite soared yet. Its vibe? Indie Twitter meets early Instagram. Yet, it’s currently feels like a place where everyone’s waiting for more people to show up. Can it dethrone X? Maybe, but for now, Bluesky is more like a soft breeze than a hurricane.

C - Crowdstrike

Perhaps not many had heard of Crowdstrike till one fateful day in July 2024. The Windows “blue screen of death” struck — due to cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike’s update — and millions of PCs suddenly became useless, albeit for a short while but that was enough to cause a worldwide digital pandemonium. Flights were delayed across the world, people couldn’t check in hotels, and Windows PCs came to a standstill. The outage lasted more than a few hours but it was enough for all to know who or what Crowdstrike is.

D - Deepfakes galore

Not a new phenomena but there seems to be no getting away from deepfakes. During the 2024 general elections in India, deepfake videos were quite common. With more AI video models coming up, combating deepfake will be a challenge for tech companies and users.

E - European Union

Over the last few years, the European Union has taken over the role of the de-facto strict teacher for tech companies. From privacy laws (remember GDPR?) to mandates on USB-C ports, the EU ensures Big Tech doesn’t get ‘away’ with it. EU has been leading the regulation standards across the world. The latest? A push for more transparency in AI.

G - Google Gemini gets everywhere
Here a Gemini, there a Gemini, everywhere a Gemini — that seemed to be the mantra as Google can’t stop pushing it everywhere. Be it Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Search — Google wants Gemini to be its ticket to AI dominance. 2024 saw a massive push for Gemini and we expect it to be the case in 2025 as well.

H - Huawei’s triple folding phone

So you have phones that fold like a book or they flip. Pfft, is what Huawei thought and rolled out a triple-folding phone. Huawei deserves a pat for pushing the boundary but aren’t three folds are two too many? Either way, it’s a reminder that foldable phones are still in their experimental phase and perhaps need an Apple to make them mainstream. Is anyone in Cupertino listening?

I - Intel’s tough 2024

Ever since Apple ditched Intel and moved to its own M-series of processors, Intel has found it tough. In 2024, Intel also faced competition from Qualcomm. Nvidia has stolen the march on Intel in AI-centric chips. If that wasn’t enough, Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger was also asked to leave the company. The company still holds a big slice of the market, but needs to get its mojo back.

J - Jensen Huang
Leather jackets stopped being cool a while ago, right? But Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s leather-jacketed rockstar CEO has made them cool again. Oh, and he also turned Nvidia into the undisputed AI powerhouse in 2024. With GPUs driving everything from generative AI to autonomous systems, Huang’s mix of genius and swagger make him the tech CEO of 2024.

K - Keep your data safe

Data breaches are getting common by the day and staying safe is harder than ever. Cybersecurity isn’t just for businesses anymore but is part of the personal tech lexicon. Multiple measures — from two-factor authentication to stronger passwords — are needed for keeping your data safe is a full-time job. Be aware, be conscious of what links you are clicking, don’t fall for too-good-to-be-true ‘deals’ — just keep your data safe.

L - Layoffs

2024 has been a year of layoffs, with tech giants cutting jobs. It’s not on the scale of 2023 yet lakhs of jobs were lost in the tech industry. Blame macroeconomic pressures or AI-driven restructuring, but for many employees, it’s been a grim reminder that tech jobs aren’t that ‘cool’ anymore.

M - Make in India

India’s “Make in India” push has gone beyond being just a slogan. From iPhones assembled in Tamil Nadu to Google and MSI starting to manufacture in India, the country is becoming a manufacturing hub. Government incentives have played a critical role in getting tech giants to make in India.

N - Nvidia
Nvidia’s rise to a trillion-dollar valuation is the stuff of tech legend. Its GPUs, once swooned over by gamers, are now powering AI models and data centers worldwide. The demand for chips to train AI systems has turned Nvidia into a cash machine. With no signs of slowing down, Nvidia isn’t just riding the AI wave — it’s the engine powering it. Investors are calling it the “AI gold rush,” and Nvidia owns the pickaxes.

O - OpenAI
OpenAI is still the name everyone’s talking about when it comes to generative also. And also when it comes to ethics around AI. With GPT-4 and its own search engine, OpenAI is showing no signs of slowing down. Despite Google, Meta and others’ surge in AI innovations, all eyes remain on OpenAI in driving new tech when it comes to AI.

P - Pixel push by Google

Google’s Pixel phones are finally finding their groove. Google went in overdrive in 2024 and launched as many as five Pixel phones in 2024. While Pixels still aren’t outselling iPhones, they’re emerging as an alternative for those not seeking high-end Samsung phones. Google’s clean software and focus on AI is ensuring that Pixel is part of premium conversation and perhaps for the first time, it’s not just because of the cameras.

Q - Qualcomm’s bet on PCs

Qualcomm is betting big on PCs with its Snapdragon processors, aiming to take a bite out of Intel’s dominance. Its chips promise better power efficiency and integrated 5G, perfect for always-connected devices. The question is: can it eke out a space for itself with AMD and Intel’s established credentials? In the age of AI PCs, Qualcomm showed in 2024 that it wants to be a driving force in the PC market as well.

R - Recall from Microsoft

Rarely does a feature live up to its name in its true sense but Microsoft’s Recall feature certainly has. Showcased first in May 2024, Recall AI captures and stores snapshots of almost all user activity on a Windows Copilot PC. Creepy? Perhaps. Useful? Certainly. But the feature got backlash and Microsoft has ‘recalled’ the feature too many times in 2024. It still remains in beta and perhaps Microsoft won’t ‘recall’ Recall any longer and roll it out in 2025.

S - Smartphone AI makes its presence felt

AI in smartphones is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. From real-time photo edits to personalized recommendations, AI features are everywhere. Brands like Samsung, Google and Apple are doling out AI features like confectionary. Yet, questions remain over their real-world usage. Sure, they are fun to use but can they become the big buying factor for buyers? 2024 has set the stage, 2025 will prove whether it’s a fad or something which may just change how we use our smartphones.

T - The Trump effect

Donald Trump’s successful presidential run has brought him and his relationships with tech companies into the limelight once again. Trump said Google is “very bad for him” and that Facebook is “the true enemy of the people.” Once he was elected president, big tech company CEOs made a beeline to meet and greet the US president-elect. 2024 was just a Trump trailer for tech companies and get ready to read a lot of headlines about Trump and tech companies in 2025

U- UPI scams

UPI scams are the dark side of India’s digital payments boom. Fraudsters are getting smarter, luring victims with fake QR codes and phishing links. Despite government efforts, the scams show no signs of slowing.

V - Video AI Tools Like Sora, Veo
AI is giving video editing a major glow-up with tools like OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo. Still at a nascent stage, video AI tools look like here to stay. Just with a text prompt, one can create a fully functional video. 2025 may well be the year when people talk of generative AI more in terms of videos than text or images.

W - What about Metaverse?

Did any of the tech companies talk about Metaverse in 2024? Not really. Metaverse may not be dead yet but is certainly not a talking point for many. There is literally no buzz around it. Will it change in 2025 or is it destined to be a thing that never really took off?

X - X and its Impact on US Elections
Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) turned out to be more than a wildcard in the 2024 US elections. With controversial policy changes and relaxed moderation rules, X and Musk ensured Trump campaign got more than enough footage and mind space. Love it or hate it, X emerged as more than just a social media platform — it became an extremely important political player.

Y - YouTube Got Expensive
Your favorite YouTube binge just got pricier. Premium subscriptions now cost more, and the days of ad-free watching without paying are fading fast.

Z - Zuckerberg became cool again?
Mark Zuckerberg 2.0 is lifting weights, sparring in jiu-jitsu matches, wearing bling, and cracking jokes. The tech billionaire has swapped saying sorry to authorities all around the world for a cooler tech persona. The jury is still out on whether he has got his cool quotient from early 2000s but one thing’s clear—Zuck is no longer the guy everyone loves to hate.