VR headset at a wedding? Bold.

6 months ago

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Good morning.

I’m still trying to figure out how to use generative AI before a chatbot takes my job. Until then, I’m going to marvel at the science and tech wins from 2024, while laughing at the fails. An innovation that changed my life this year? Investing in an automatic litter box — I’m never going back. I also wouldn’t be mad if someone got me a pizza-warmer attachment for my PS5. But I don’t know if I'll survive 2025 if streaming services increase their prices again (looking at you, Netflix and Disney+) or if Tesla Cybertrucks continue to assault my eyes on my way to the gym every morning…

— Rashaan Ayesh / Writer / Raleigh, NC

Wins: Tech Solved Problems

It was a groundbreaking year for health technology, with Femtech companies leading the charge by creating products that put women in control of health issues that medicine (and men) have long overlooked. That included at-home tests for hormones and tracking menopause, a Pap-smear alternative, and digital tools for managing everything from menopause to pelvic health. Apple even transformed AirPods into cutting-edge hearing aids and put AI in our pockets. With long wait times to get a doctor’s appointment, more people turned to tools like ChatGPT for quick health answers (though AI can still get it wrong). AI also made health care proactive and personal by helping paramedics better assess injuries and assisting doctors in identifying risks in mammograms and brain scans to catch issues early. Meanwhile, in the “better late than never” category, Meta made accounts for teens under 16 private by default — a small but significant safety step for the 'gram. And one of our favorite innovations? Chipotle’s “Autocado” robot, which cuts, cores, and peels an avocado in 26 seconds. Because who doesn’t want extra guac?

Fails: AI Went Awry and Big Tech Dropped the Ball

AI giveth, and AI taketh — and wreaketh havoc. Election deepfakes, doctored Taylor Swift endorsements, and waves of misinformation overwhelmed social media, while AI-generated robocalls flooded phone lines. And that’s not all: In a world already grappling with climate chaos, AI’s massive environmental footprint — from water consumption to energy demands — is becoming impossible to ignore. AI wasn’t the only technology to cause chaos this year — a CrowdStrike update also froze hospitals, airports, and payment networks worldwide, triggering the infamous “blue screen of death.” Boeing had its own share of turbulence after a door panel flew off a 737 Max midair, and the ISS Starliner mission failed (the NASA astronauts are relying on rival SpaceX for help). And back on Earth, well… Congress tried to make social media safer for kids (emphasis on tried), but lobbying and gridlock stalled action (yet again). Meanwhile, French authorities are investigating Telegram’s CEO regarding suspected criminal activity on the platform. And threats to women's safety online escalated with explicit deepfakes (which have become a massive problem in high schools). The Surgeon General even issued a stark warning about social media's toll on teen mental health.

Jury’s Still Out: Innovation That Left Us Unsure

With great tech comes great responsibility — and some platforms (and people) aren’t ready. Case in point: that groom who wore a VR headset in his wedding photos or people casually sporting Apple Vision Pros at brunch or while driving. And then there’s Mark Zuckerberg’s style transformation: Are the chains and luxury watches actually a better look, or are we just nostalgic for the hoodie? Speaking of things that are hard to get behind, we've got to talk about dating apps. Romance scams are thriving, turning these platforms into dangerous hunting grounds, leaving us wondering: is IRL romance the safer bet? That said, after a bad date, retreating into one of Waymo’s new self-driving taxis might sound like a relief — at least until you remember that viral video of Waymo cars caught in a standoff. As for other things that left us scratching our heads this year: Odysseus made history with its moon landing, but its “one small step” quickly became a stumble when the craft landed sideways and the mission went dark a week later. And while lab-grown meat offers the promise of saving animals and cutting emissions, we need to know: could it ever truly replace the real thing? Speaking of real: Are you ready for AI to become almost sentient? Because OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hinted that could happen as soon as 2025. We're not emotionally prepared for that.

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Skimm Picks

Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…

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We can’t imagine a better way to spend the holiday weekend than with a plush blanket, a heating pad, and a steamy audiobook. Thank us later.

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