BEST AI ANALYSIS FROM SXSW 2024: Dozens of expert tech-industry speakers talked about artificial intelligence at SXSW 2024. But filmmakers Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, who directed Everything Everywhere All At Once, may have presented the most compelling analysis of this brave new world. Check out what they had to say about AI during their SXSW Studio interview.
BEST AUSTIN-BASED SPACE STARTUP: Sure, everyone has heard of that company owned by the dude who owns Twitter. But we’re intrigued by the progress of Firefly. Don’t miss them next March at the A Fast and Furious Return to the Moon session.
BEST BET FOR THE NEXT BIG THING: AI is still king of the hype cycle. But quantum is coming quickly for its crown.
BEST BOOK ABOUT LIMITING TECHNOLOGY: Read Jonathan Haight’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness to better understand the many negative impacts of always-on connections.
BEST BOOK ABOUT UNDERSTANDING TECHNOLOGY: Also read Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI to better understand our current challenges in the context of the last 100,000 years.
BEST CEO: We are huge fans of Lisa Su of AMD, who was recently named CEO of the Year by Time. Watch her SXSW Keynote conversation with Ryan Patel to find out why.
BEST GUARDIAN OF HUMAN CREATIVITY: Dr. Joy Buolamwini, author of Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines, has our vote for this one. Here’s her SXSW 2024 Keynote.
BEST NEW ACCESSIBILITY DEVICE: While their holiday commercial on this product is over the top, the new hearing aid feature in Apple AirPod Pros is one of our top innovations for 2024. Learn more about Cupertino’s commitment to accessibility by taking a look at their Featured Session from last March.
BEST NEW SOCIAL MEDIA APP: We continue to be impressed by the meteoric growth of Bluesky. Can this app retain its cool, supportive vibe as more and more users join?
BEST POSSIBLE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OUTCOME: Breaking up giant tech monopolies, thereby creating real space for exciting new innovations.
BEST TECH INDUSTRY ROLE MODEL: If more people in this industry were more like Mark Cuban, we’d feel a lot better about the future. Watch his interview from the SXSW Studio.
BEST USE OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT: Australia banning social media for children under 16.
BEST VC: What Arlan Hamilton continues to do at Backstage Capital always inspires us. View a clip from her 2022 session at SXSW Iconic Moments.
MOST ANTICIPATED 2025 DATE: Does TikTok really go dark on January 19?
MOST INTRIGUING COMEBACK: Where does former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati land in 2025?
MOST IMPRESSIVE STARTUP: So many to choose from, even in a relatively down market for founders! Let’s go with the nine winners from SXSW Pitch 2024.
WORST TECHNOLOGY TREND: Leaders from Meta, Amazon, OpenAI and other companies currying favor with Trump via massive donations to his inaugural fund.
Learn more about the most important tech developments and trends by attending SXSW 2025. We hope you have an excellent holiday and we’ll see you next year!
