Aug 2023
Technology is changing at such a rapid pace that we have seen many tech disruptions in a relatively short time.
A “disruptive technology” displaces an established technology, thereby shaking up an industry and reshaping its future trajectory. A tech disruptor could also be a ground-breaking product that creates an entirely new industry.
Join our drive down the technology superhighway as we rediscover the top tech disruptions over the past 10 years and dive into what’s next.
Amazon Echo barreled into our lives this year, causing us to rethink how we might use technology in our homes. Powered by Amazon’s voice control system, Alexa, the Echo started with just a few intelligent voice commands. Alexa now boasts thousands of “skills” and has become the central hub in so-called smart homes, making the Internet of Things (IoT) accessible to a much wider audience. Followed quickly by Google Home and, more recently, by Apple HomePod, this technology is sure to continue to grow.
The autonomous car, aka the self-driving car, is envisioned as one capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input. The quest to develop technologies that could enable such a feat began to rise in 2015. Consumers have benefitted from numerous changes in car technology (think adaptive speed tech, proximity sensors, guidance systems, etc.) as manufacturers began pursuing this vision. This dramatic reshaping of the automotive industry certainly deserves a call-out.
Virtual reality has been a concept for decades, providing increasing value in various fields such as military training, surgery simulation, and product development and testing. Although Google had been selling Google Glass prototypes since 2013, VR’s availability to consumers was limited until the introduction of Oculus Rift in 2016. With its launch, VR exploded into many homes. The system was a hot gift and introduced the concept of VR to a broader audience—it’s hard not to enjoy (or laugh with?) someone experiencing VR for the first time!
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a science-fiction trope brought to life. With numerous large companies investing billions of dollars on research in this field, it’s poised to influence how we live and work in the coming years. Applications include everything from automating tasks using bots to enabling computers to answer complex, multi-tiered questions by “learning” from previous queries.
As connectivity became more ubiquitous, fast and reliable internet demand increased. It’s not enough to watch a streaming movie in the middle of nowhere—it has to be smooth! Beginning in 2018, 5G promised to bring more channels for higher speed, lower latency, and greater bandwidth for more connected devices. But 5G wasn’t exciting for smartphone fans only: the benefits had implications for healthcare, education, smart homes, connected cars, and more.
Although the technology and equipment for 3D printing were available in the mid-1980s, they were imprecise, bulky, and costly. Thirty years later, 3D printing became mainstream. This disruptive technology emerged in 2019 as part of predictive maintenance in manufacturing. Smart sensors helped identify potential problems, and 3D printers built new parts before they were needed.
For many of us, forgetting our passwords is a daily occurrence, but those days are largely behind us, thanks to the push for passwordless authentication in 2020. While the world stood still during the COVID-19 pandemic, big tech companies like Microsoft began to push for two-factor authentication and passwordless logins, and an identity management startup called Beyond Identity launched its passwordless identity platform in April of that year. Companies like Adobe and Facebook began using new security features to give us the luxury of forgetting those complicated passwords, and today, there are even more solutions to sign on faster.
Technology automation through IoT didn’t begin in 2021, but this year brought a boon for intelligent everything. The IoT connects objects in the real world—navigation systems, thermostats, your virtual assistant, Alexa—with virtual identifiers on the internet. These identifiers “talk” virtually to create a web of connections and collaborations between the devices. Although IoT has been used in home-based applications, 2021 brought the technology to new areas, including manufacturing, mining, and healthcare.
In 2022, ChatGPT emerged as the undeniable frontrunner and the most influential tech disruption of the year. Developed by OpenAI, this groundbreaking language model harnessed the power of the GPT-3.5 architecture to revolutionize human-computer interactions. ChatGPT evolved beyond traditional chatbots into a sophisticated conversational AI companion that can understand context, generate coherent responses, and adapt to users’ needs. Its applications spanned diverse industries, from customer support to creative writing, education, and even healthcare. As ChatGPT continuously learned and evolved, it showcased the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, leaving an indelible mark on the technology landscape of 2022 and beyond.
In 2023, spatial computing, specifically the Apple Vision Pro, emerged with plenty of fanfare. Years earlier, Apple’s visionary smartwatch had cemented Apple as the leader in wearable technology. If realized, the Apple Vision Pro’s promise is to enable users to seamlessly integrate virtual elements into their physical surroundings, unlocking unparalleled immersion and productivity. It’s a future where the days of limited screen real estate are gone; users can effortlessly interact with a vast array of applications and data in a three-dimensional, contextually aware environment. Apple’s take on spatial computing could substantiate VR’s position as an indispensable tool. In communication, productivity, and entertainment, VR wearables could change the way we perceive and interact with not just our Apple devices but technology writ large.
Generative AI itself isn’t a new technology—we were first introduced to this transformational tech in 2022 with ChatGPT’s launch—but 2024 was the year AI became a part of our daily lives. Android devices launched in 2024 included Gemini Live, an AI voice chat feature, Galaxy AI to suggest content correction and real-time translations, and AI photo editing features in the Google Pixel to zoom, recompose, and add items to your photos. In September, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence as part of the iOS 18 update, accompanying AI-driven features in the latest versions of the iPhone 16. These features bring the benefits of AI to consumers who may have been intimidated by complex prompting and inaccurate responses that have plagued first-generation AI models and made AI accessible to millions of smartphone users.
While previous years focused on individual AI capabilities, 2025 marks a fundamental shift toward AI agents that can work together to solve complex enterprise challenges. “AI is evolving beyond single-purpose solutions,” InspiringApps CEO Brad Weber notes. “We’re seeing specialized AI agents collaborate with one another to tackle sophisticated business problems—what’s known as agentic AI. Forward-thinking enterprises are already asking for these solutions by name.” For example, NVIDIA and Salesforce have been advancing in this space with platforms emphasizing collaboration and enhanced reasoning. As Harvard Business Review states, agentic systems show greater trustworthiness than earlier AI models, with enhanced ability to differentiate information sources and adapt to organizational contexts. Beyond automation, agentic AI is a true collaborative partner, transforming how enterprises approach digital transformation across industries from healthcare to manufacturing.
Tech disruptions in the 21st century have transformed our reality into a digital-first experience. Technology is changing faster than ever. Backed by a confluence of all these giant leaps forward, the future is a brave new world. Our predictions for what’s next include:
The next wave of AI focuses on efficiency and results. Models like DeepSeek’s R1 show how AI can be both powerful and practical, using fewer resources while delivering better results. This means AI that works in real-world conditions, whether coding new solutions or streamlining operations.
AI is making healthcare more precise and proactive. From wearables that catch health issues early to systems that help doctors make better decisions, technology will improve care while keeping it personal. The focus is on making quality healthcare more accessible to everyone.
AR and AI are transforming how we learn and work. Companies are using these tools for everything from employee training to complex medical procedures. The key is making advanced technology serve practical needs, helping people learn better, work safer, and solve problems faster.
The travel industry is using AI to balance convenience with sustainability. Technology is helping make travel both better and greener, from smarter route planning to energy-efficient buildings. These changes meet growing demands for responsible business practices while improving customer experience.
At InspiringApps, we’re passionate about harnessing the power of tech’s newest disruptions to create transformative digital solutions. More than that, we’re thrilled to collaborate with our clients’ brilliant ideas and make them a reality. Could your digital product idea be the next big thing in your industry? See how we helped Fidelity National Financial create a transformative solution for the real estate industry with their award-winning product, inHere.
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