2024 was another year of seismic shifts in the tech landscape, with groundbreaking innovations, high-stakes controversies, and debates over the ethical boundaries of technology. From AI evolution to advances in space exploration, let’s take a month-by-month journey through the most memorable tech news of the year:
January:
• AI competition intensified as OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic announced partnerships to advance generative AI capabilities
• SpaceX launched the first batch of Starlink satellites capable of direct smartphone communication
February:
• Mark Zuckerberg controversially claimed Meta Quest 3 as “the best product, period” in his review of Apple’s Vision Pro
• Escalating ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure prompted global discussions on AI-driven cybersecurity measures
March:
• Neuralink successfully demonstrated its first patient controlling a computer cursor with a brain-chip implant
• Cisco Systems completed its $28 billion acquisition of Splunk, marking one of the most significant IT industry acquisitions
April:
• SpaceX’s Starship successfully completed its first fully operational flight, delivering a commercial payload
• Governments worldwide implemented stricter data security requirements for TikTok
May:
• Microsoft introduced CoPilot for Life, an AI-powered personal assistant integrated across devices and apps
• IBM unveiled the first commercially viable quantum computer
June:
• Apple’s WWDC 2024 introduced VisionOS 2.0, enhancing Apple Vision Pro experiences
• Nvidia briefly became the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitalisation of $3.34 trillion
July:
• An AI-generated song topped global charts, sparking debates about creativity and copyright
• A CrowdStrike update triggered an unprecedented global IT system outage
August:
• Intel announced plans to eliminate approximately 15,000 jobs to reduce fiscal 2025 spending
• Amazon and Walmart expanded drone delivery services in urban areas
September:
• Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 with Apple Intelligence, featuring significant camera and battery improvements
• Google officially launched Gemini 1.0, an AI model designed to integrate across its ecosystem
October:
• The U.S. and EU introduced comprehensive legislation to regulate AI models and code-generation tools
• Blue Origin launched its first commercial space hotel module for short-term stays in low Earth orbit
November:
• OpenAI introduced GPT-5 Turbo with improved reasoning and multimodal capabilities
• An AI ethics scandal emerged when a whistleblower revealed ethical lapses in a leading AI system’s deployment
December:
• A significant breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology sparked hope for future clean energy solutions
• AI-powered personal companions saw widespread adoption during the holiday season
2024 was a year defined by remarkable advancements and the complex challenges that come with technological progress. As we move into 2025, the need for ethical foresight and global collaboration in tech development has never been more crucial.
What do you think were the defining tech moments of 2024? Which story stood out to you the most?