We always wrap up the year on CompTIA Volley – a podcast serving up the latest topics in tech – by taking a look back at the big stories of the year through a technology lens. There were no shortage of tech-related headlines in 2023, and we did our best to cover them all.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Just over a year after the launch of ChatGPT, people still can’t stop talking about AI. After setting the record for the fastest-growing user base in the early part of the year, OpenAI ended the year with corporate intrigue. In between, there was tremendous exuberance over AI’s possible benefits and ongoing debate over AI’s potential downsides.
With all the hype, you’d expect that every business has aggressively adopted an AI strategy. Our IT Industry Outlook 2024 report suggested a different scenario. Only 22% of organizations say that they’re aggressively pursuing integration of AI into their workflow, and many of those firms were likely pushing the cutting edge of AI even before ChatGPT hit the scene. There’s a world of difference between a consumer technology and an enterprise application, and while AI will likely be a transformative force for years to come, there will also be significant hurdles in cost and skill as organizations work toward including AI as part of a complex tech strategy.
Social Media
It’s obviously inaccurate to say that Elon Musk’s October 2022 purchase of Twitter thrust him into the spotlight. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has a track record with disruptive technology and a personality that has always drawn attention. Acquiring Twitter, though, amplified interest throughout 2023 not only in the new owner but also in the platform itself and the role of social media in general.
If there’s one simple way to describe the challenge that social media has faced (and there’s probably not), it would be to say that scale is difficult to manage. Building tools that allow for global connection has introduced a wide range of benefits for society, but there have also been unintended consequences. As Twitter (now X) has struggled to fully define its business model and Facebook (now Meta) has come under fire for possibly playing a role in teen depression and political misconduct, the question of moderating social platforms has gotten more intense. On the podcast, we didn’t even mention the concern over Chinese-owned TikTok becoming a primary source of information. Social media has proven difficult to regulate since it differs so much from traditional media, but the calls for more oversight are growing stronger.
Tech Jobs
The last major story we covered was around tech jobs across the economy. In the early part of the year, layoffs by major tech vendors raised questions around the health of the tech workforce. For the most part, data from our monthly Tech Jobs Report showed that those concerns were unfounded. Tech job postings remained high and tech unemployment remained low throughout the year, even if there was a bit of a slowdown in the fourth quarter.
The demand for technology skills is growing in multiple ways. First, there continues to be strong demand for traditional skills, like IT support, network administration and database administration. Second, there is rapidly growing demand for skills that build on this foundation. Think of job roles like data scientist or cybersecurity architect. Finally, nearly every job role today requires some level of digital fluency. The specifics of the tech workforce may fluctuate with the economy and changes in technology, but digital skills will only grow in importance as organizations continue moving toward skill-based hiring and career development.
Post-Pandemic Economy
We hit the final three topics quickly. 2023 felt like the first full year that the pandemic was in the rear view mirror, meaning it wasn’t a major part of business planning or consumer behavior. The biggest ripple effect remains the transformation of the workplace, with the remote/hybrid model looking like it’s here to stay, even if the details behind organizational culture or employee preference may still evolve over time.
Cybersecurity
While previous years featured a constant stream of high-profile cybersecurity incidents in the general press, 2023 didn’t have a signature cybersecurity event. On the plus side, the multitude of incidents from past years has raised organizational awareness around cybersecurity. More organizations are forming dedicated teams and increasing their investments. On the other hand, that awareness is still probably not as high as it needs to be, and a feeling that attacks are just a regular occurrence might put a damper on any momentum that’s been building.
Digital Components
The CHIPS Act was one of several federal actions designed to create jobs, but it was also a big step in the global race to produce and control digital components. From supply chain resiliency to cybersecurity concerns to overall economic output, nations are getting serious about how technology is built and distributed. Without a doubt, there will be plenty more government activity that impacts the tech sector.
The fact that many technology stories stand on their own as some of the biggest news of 2023 shows how important technology has become to business and career growth. At CompTIA, our mission is to unlock the potential that technology holds, and we’re looking forward to expanding our activities as technology expands its impact.
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