The big story

Tech in review

The year in tech was a case study in the haves and have-nots.

The year kicked off with cuts across Big Tech and increased pressure on cash-burning startups that were running out of options.

The industry received another shock when startups’ and VCs’ favorite bank — Silicon Valley Bank — imploded overnight. That wasn’t the only high-profile disaster this year, as the industry’s favorite social media platform devolved before its eyes.

And yet, there were still plenty of bright spots. Generative AI was a highlight in an otherwise grim startup landscape struggling with high interest rates and a nonexistent IPO market.

But even those riding high on the AI wave had slip-ups. OpenAI, the biggest name in AI this year, dealt with a shocking ouster of its CEO. And even though it lasted less than a week, the aftereffects are still being felt.

Meanwhile, Nvidia, which saw its stock price skyrocket this year, had the unique problem of dealing with employees who have gotten so rich they are in “semi-retirement.”

To make sense of everything that happened in the tech world this year, I asked Business Insider’s Global Tech Editor Alistair Barr to pick five of the top stories from his team, along with some insight about what made them stand out.