by Charles Miller

Looking back over the tech news of the past 12 months it is possible to find stories about various areas of technology, ranging from virtual reality games to fold-up smart phones However, the topic that has monopolized much of the conversation this year has been artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT. Public reaction to AI would seem to be divided between those who see products such as ChatGPT as the gold standard for humanity’s future, while others worry that the existential risk of AI is becoming disturbingly clear. The US Patent and Trademark Office jumped into the fray with a new rule saying AI computer systems cannot be named as inventors in patent applications, but humans still can be (for now).

In other government-related news, the United States moved to enact a nationwide ban on TikTok, citing concerns over national security and data privacy due to the video hosting service’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. U.S. lawmakers have set a deadline of next week, January 19, for TikTok to be deported.

Tesla unveiled its electric fully-autonomous self-driving taxicab prototype with no steering wheel or pedals. BMW, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota are among the big-name automakers now offering new hydrogen-powered vehicles, including steering wheel and pedals (for now). And the rental company Hertz’s dream to electrify its rental car fleet ran out of juice as the company took a US$2 billion (with a B) loss on Electric Vehicles (EVs) its customers rejected.

The electric power grid that powers all of our EVs, computers, smart phones, and every other modern convenience has been a hot topic of conversation. Many are examining the long-term viability of renewable resources such as wind and solar. The growing energy consumption requirements for Artificial Intelligence products and for cryptocurrency technologies has come under scrutiny as some have predicted these two market sectors alone could possibly double their demands for electricity by next year. The debates about the sustainability such massive resource consumption by AI development and cryptocurrency is pushing companies to balance innovation with environmental responsibility. TerraPower, with Bill Gates as a primary investor, has commenced construction of a next-generation nuclear power plant in Wyoming hoping to provide a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional nuclear reactor designs.

On the news and entertainment front, Netflix and other streaming providers are moving into live sports broadcasts of boxing, football, basketball and other sports. Recognizing the decline in traditional television viewership and advertising revenues, the struggling CNN introduced a $3.99-a-month digital paywall for its web site. NFL and NBA fans will probably pay to watch games not available from other sources, but CNN may learn that its readers can easily find many cost-free alternatives for online news reporting.

And while I could probably continue for another 10,000 words on the tech news of 2024, I will close for this week with the comment that companies, governments, and the people running them are all clearly struggling to establish clear guidelines for regulating AI, how can we do it, and whether or not we should do it. I join them in wishing I had some answers. Issues such as algorithmic transparency, data bias, and accountability all remained unresolved. As we move forward, we as a society have no choice but to address the challenges of rapidly advancing AI technologies while hoping we can innovate responsibly.

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Charles Miller is a freelance computer consultant with decades of IT experience and a Texan with a lifetime love for Mexico. The opinions expressed are his own. He may be contacted at 415-101-8528 or email FAQ8 (at) SMAguru.com.

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