That Was The Year in Tech: When Nothing Happened (except Everything, Everywhere, All at Once)
That was the year in tech. When nothing and yet everything happened. A year betwixt and between, simultaneously revolutionary and uneventful. That's the ironic conclusion Keith Teare and I reach about Silicon Valley in 2025. It's as if the AI revolution is changing the world without us fully noticing. AI has become electricity—ubiquitous and essential, yet barely noticed. So what will happen on the tech front (or not happen) in 2026? Will it be another year in which nothing happened (except everything, everywhere, all at once). Or are we reaching 1789 or 1917 or 1989—a grand historical year where the logjam breaks and tech formally takes over the world? A true end and beginning of history. The first real year of the tech 21st century.
Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe
Episode 2491: Richard Kreitner 0n 6 Jews, 7 Opinions and the American Civil War
Episode 2490: Stephen Witt explains the rise of NVIDIA and its relentless CEO Jensen Huang
Episode 2489: Gianna Toboni on whether Death Row Prisoners have the Right to Die With Dignity
Episode 2488: Diane Coyle on Measuring the Good Life
Episode 2487: Keach Hagey on Sam Altman's Superpower
Episode 2486: Bethanne Patrick on how our Facebook generation has gotten the Gatsby we deserve
Episode 2485: Paul Rice on why Tariffs are dumb
Episode 2484: David Masciotra on how every day has become April Fools Day in Trumpian America
Episode 2483: Peter Wehner on the ethical darkness that has fallen upon America
Episode 2482: Is AI really about to change the publishing industry?
Episode 2481: Jonathan Rauch on The Resistance to Trump 2.0
Episode 2480: Dr Andy Lazris on how Big Pharma controls the American healthcare system
Episode 2479: Brian Goldstone on the 4 million invisible homeless workers in America today