Another year has passed, and for the ever-changing tech industry, it was yet another significant one. From innovative trends that defined 2024 to specific milestones that were achieved by industry giants, we thought it would be insightful to look back on some of our personal top tech moments from last year. We hope you had a wonderful new year celebration, by the way!
Artificial Intelligence
As we push deeper into the 2020s, it would be impossible to talk about tech without acknowledging the biggest thing in our sector right now. Having only gained widespread public use – and acceptance – in the last few years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced rapidly these past twelve months. This technology continues to evolve and we begin to see tangible benefits not only for businesses, but for humanity as a whole.
Should we be worried AI will replace human achievements? Not at all! When used responsibly, we believe that companies that implement AI strategies can derive significant benefits. It allows them to cut costs and company time that would have once been restricted by administrative tasks. One thing is for sure, AI isn’t going away any time soon. According to PluralSight’s AI skills report, 20% of organisations formally deployed AI-related technologies and tools last year, and 55% plan to do that soon.
Nvidia dominated 2024, but 2025 brings uncertainty
The leader of AI hardware this past year was Nvidia, thanks in no small part to the rising demand for AI semiconductors. These are growing popular to meet the requirements for autonomous systems and high-performance computing, which are quickly becoming the newly accepted standard. In 2024, Nvidia officially became one of the three most valuable companies worldwide, alongside tech giants Microsoft and Apple.
Although Nvidia was once known more modestly for its GPU products, the AI boom has led to incredible success. By June – only halfway through 2024 – Nvidia was already worth $3.34tn (£2.63tn), with the price having nearly doubled since the start of the year.
Fast forward to January 2025, and we’re seeing major disruptions in the market. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has upended the status quo by releasing an AI model that rivals OpenAI’s ChatGPT, but with far lower development costs. This has sent shockwaves through Wall Street, especially impacting Nvidia, which saw its stock plummet by 17%—the largest single-day loss in company history. DeepSeek’s technology, which requires fewer chips and less energy than Nvidia offerings, has raised questions about the future demand for Nvidia GPUs. As a result, investors are rethinking the valuation of major AI players like Nvidia, with DeepSeek’s breakthrough presenting a more cost-effective way to power AI.
Industry layoffs
Although the tech industry is thriving, it is not immune to economic hardships. Several tech companies announced significant layoffs last year including Intel, Tesla, Cisco and Microsoft, resulting in around 149,000 redundant employees in the global tech industry in 2024 according to estimates by Layoffs.fyi. This is particularly relevant to the wider conversation about AI and how its deployment could affect the workforce.
B2B Influencer Programmes
Although this is more on the marketing side of things than tech itself, B2B influencer programmes are growing more popular – including in the tech industry. They are becoming another useful tool to build brand and reputation, because B2B influencer marketing focuses on building meaningful connections with industry and subject matter experts. These are vital lifelines for growth and recognition among one’s peers, and a business that includes influencers in its communications strategy can gain both credibility and clout.
The potential of social media doesn’t just benefit the consumer segment anymore – there are real results to be had for B2B companies that invest in social media platforms. For a product to be sold, it needs to find its market and it also needs to be made visible! And visibility is more important than ever in today’s modern, oversaturated market. That is something influencers can help with.
The world is more connected than ever before. It could also be argued that the world is more automated than ever. As we now head into 2025, the tech industry does look different to how it did twelve months ago. Who can tell what the year 2025 has in store?
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