The Death of the Old Tech Industry
For decades, Silicon Valley sold us on the myth of endless innovation. We were told the future would keep arriving in leaps — faster computers, smarter phones, better apps. And for a while, that story felt true. But if you look at the last ten years, the “old tech industry” hasn’t really innovated. Instead, it’s been content to polish the same glass rectangles, raise subscription fees, and chase advertising dollars.
What we’re witnessing now is the slow death of that old model. And the rise of AI isn’t a coincidence — it’s the inevitable shift that happens when an industry runs out of real ideas.
The Illusion of Progress
Think back: when was the last time your phone felt truly revolutionary? For most of us, the answer is more than a decade ago. Laptops, apps, social media platforms — they’ve all settled into predictable patterns. Year after year, companies promise something “new,” but what we get are tweaks, redesigns, and slightly better cameras.
This isn’t innovation. It’s maintenance.
Why AI Took the Stage
AI has exploded into the spotlight not because the big tech firms suddenly discovered genius, but because they were cornered. They needed something bold to talk about, something that would re-ignite excitement, investment, and growth. Enter AI — a technology that’s been brewing for decades but is now positioned as the next frontier.
The irony? Many of the same companies that dragged their feet on real innovation are the ones leading the AI conversation.
The Aging of the “Tech Bros”
There’s another undercurrent here: time. The original wave of Silicon Valley disruptors — the so-called “tech bros” — are no longer the hungry twenty-somethings working out of garages. They’re in their 50s and 60s now. They’ve cashed out, settled into comfort, and built empires that prioritize stability over risk.
That youthful arrogance that once fueled wild new ideas? It’s been replaced by boardroom caution and shareholder appeasement. Instead of asking, “What’s possible?” the question has become, “What’s profitable?”
A New Cycle Begins
The death of the old tech industry doesn’t mean technology itself is dead. Far from it. It means we’re at the end of one cycle, and the start of another. AI is filling the vacuum because it represents genuine transformation — the kind we haven’t seen in years.
But let’s be clear: the companies who defined the last era aren’t guaranteed to define the next. History shows us that once the giants get too comfortable, someone else eventually comes along to push past them.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the real innovation we’ve been waiting for.
