What technology inventions do you find most beneficial despite what it may cost you?
Think beyond the smartphone, laptop, apps like Google Maps or YouTube, software like Google Chrome or Microsoft 365 and now ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini.
For me, it is the Litter-Robot, my vehicle’s surround view monitor, Ring doorbell camera (with a paid subscription) and the Flo by Moen water sensor (and app). These are technology innovations that work extremely well for what they are designed to accomplish at whatever the cost. If I had to give one of these up, it would be really hard. The water sensor alone has saved us extensive water damage from two failed water heaters.
Obviously, this is subject to personal preferences but there is a threshold where too many technology devices either become overwhelming or they’re essentially junk and we eventually stop using them and morph into clutter.
I panned through the best inventions of 2025. Some looked interesting and promising but many appeared far-fetched, highly specialized or an eventual dust collector.
We’ve already experienced the old ways and new ways of doing things with the computer/laptop and smartphone/tablet. For the most part, this has been a uniform adoption for everyone, male and female.
For AI driven technologies, I think there will be different adoption methods. For some, they knowingly want to use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc. and will pay the monthly fee for broader access. My husband does for ChatGPT but I don’t use it much. Only 3% to 5% pay for AI subscriptions and the vast majority are men.
I use Gemini to ask questions and find things, so I don’t have to spend hours searching for what I want. The rug on our main floor bathroom I loved but we had it for years and was looking very worn. So, I took of picture of it, uploaded it to Google Gemini and asked it to find a similar one to purchase. Within seconds, it gave me several options for an almost identical rug. I chose Amazon over Target because there is no minimum dollar threshold for free delivery and the last Target rug didn’t hold up well.
Some are going to use AI to analyze highly specific problems while others are going to use AI without even knowing they are. For some, it will be technology they will shape into what they find useful and for others it will be invisible that will only make things easier for them. Some will want significant control over what type of output they receive while others will not even know they are using AI.
In 1996, Amazon had about 180,000 customers. Now, 83% of US households shop via Amazon and over 70% have the Prime membership. Most people say they aren’t using or won’t use AI, especially women, but it will eventually change how we work, shop, clean, drive, interact whether we know it or not and in ways we can’t yet imagine. And it won’t take 30 years for the majority of us to adopt it.
The technology that becomes invaluable will survive while the rest will succumb to an inevitable death in the graveyard of electronics recycling.