2024: The Year AI Got Real, Musk Went Full U-Turn, and Your Coder Became a Walking Liability
- By Winston Thomas
- January 04, 2025
Still remember 2024? The year AI went full mainstream, but also got slapped with a reality check? When Elon Musk did a 180 on Lidar (again)? And we all realized our "rockstar" coders were actually ticking time bombs waiting to blow up our security infrastructure? Yeah, that 2024.
Before we dive headfirst into the chaos that's sure to be 2025, let's take a hot sec to revisit the top five stories that had everyone in the CDOTrends-sphere talking (and low-key panicking) last year. You know, the ones that broke the internet, blew up our Twitter feeds, and had us all questioning our life choices.
1. Anaconda's legal hissy fit: Open source? Not so fast!
Remember the good old days when open source meant, well, open? Apparently, Anaconda missed that memo. They decided to lawyer up and go after anyone with a decent-sized team (200+ in size) using their beloved Jupyter Notebook and RStudio. Government agencies? Research labs? Big tech companies like Intel? All fair game in Anaconda's quest for world domination (or at least, a fatter bottom line).
Cue the collective gasp from the data science community. Was this a legit move to protect their IP, or just a cash grab? The jury's still out on that one, but one thing's for sure: it definitely threw some shade on the whole "open source" concept.
Our take: Anaconda's move might just be the tip of the iceberg. Expect more companies to re-evaluate their open source strategies, and maybe even start charging for those "free" tools we've all come to rely on. Pro-tip: Look out for those AI platforms too, which are already introducing sky-high prices.
2. Chip Wars: Intel and AMD vs. the NVIDIA Death Star
Early 2024 saw Intel and AMD stepping up to challenge NVIDIA's reign over the AI chip market. Intel's Gaudi and AMD's MI300X (with OpenAI's blessing, no less) promised to be faster, better, and all-around more awesome. On paper, they were poised to dethrone the reigning champ.
But let's be real, it's 2025 and we're all still talking about NVIDIA. Did Intel and AMD fizzle out? Did NVIDIA pull some Jedi mind tricks on the market? Or are we just creatures of habit, clinging to the familiar even when something shinier comes along?
Our take: NVIDIA might be on top now, but Intel and AMD aren't going down without a fight. Expect more innovation, more competition, chip-slinging and maybe even some surprise contenders entering the ring.
3. Musk vs. Lidar: From "fool's errand" to "secret weapon"
Ah, Elon Musk. Never one to shy away from a hot take, especially when it comes to throwing shade at Lidar. "Fool's errand," "freaking stupid" – he didn't hold back. But then, plot twist! Tesla, Musk’s own baby, turns out to be Luminar's (a Lidar company) biggest customer.
So, did Musk have a change of heart? Was this a classic case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em"? Or was it all just a master plan to troll us all along? Honestly, with Musk, it could be anything.
Our take: Love him or hate him, Musk's embrace of Lidar is a sign of things to come. Expect to see this tech popping up everywhere, from self-driving cars and robotic vacuum cleaners and delivery drones to... who knows what else?
4. AI hits a wall: Data sovereignty strikes back
Just when we thought AI was about to take over the world, it got hit with a dose of reality: data sovereignty laws. Turns out, you can't just go gallivanting around the globe with your AI models, hoovering up data like it's an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Suddenly, companies found themselves navigating a minefield of regulations, trying to keep their AI ambitions in check while avoiding hefty fines and legal nightmares. The message was clear: innovate responsibly, or risk your AI becoming an outlaw.
Our take: Companies will need to get serious about data governance and compliance if they want to play in the global AI arena. Expect to see more tools and frameworks emerge to help navigate this complex landscape.
5. The coder next door: Your newest security nightmare
We've all heard the horror stories of hackers stealing millions, holding data hostage, and generally wreaking havoc. But in 2024, a new villain emerged: the unassuming coder sitting next to you.
Turns out, in our rush to embrace DevOps and Infrastructure as Code (IaC), we've been handing out admin privileges like candy. Developers now have the keys to the kingdom, and hackers are taking notice. The solution? Treat your coders like the high-privilege users they are, and lock down their access before they accidentally (or intentionally) bring the whole system crashing down.
Our take: The days of "it won't happen to me" are over. Every developer, every employee, is a potential security risk. Expect to see a renewed focus on identity management, zero trust security, zero standing privilege and better security awareness training.
So, what does this all mean for 2025?
These five stories weren't just fleeting trends; they were wake-up calls, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
2025 is shaping up to be another wild ride. So buckle up, buttercup, and get ready for a year of innovation, disruption, and maybe even a few more Elon Musk U-turns. Happy new year!
Image credit: iStockphoto/Deagreez
Winston Thomas
Winston Thomas is the editor-in-chief of CDOTrends. He likes to piece together the weird and wondering tech puzzle for readers and identify groundbreaking business models led by tech while waiting for the singularity.