Thoughts on computing by 2040

  

By 2040, I hypothesize most of our technologies will be highly if not completely controlled by AI and Cloud based. As well as being in the hands of only a few companies, (which could be sort of argued right now). What I mean by this and my reasoning behind it is as follows:

More and more companies are moving away from x86 architecture ( which isn’t a bad thing but not paired with the trend of zero cross-platform support).

We have already seen Apple’s own M1 processors do this as well as Google’s new Pixel 6 line up using their in-house Tensor core processors. These are both based on the ARM architecture but the echo systems are becoming less and less cross-platforming and more and more self-contained. I think that you will eventually essentially be isolated to one subsystem complete via software, hardware, and services. It will also most likely be on low-powered devices that connect to cloud-powered computing over the web.

One example I can give of the limited ability to work together is with the new Apple File System that has been replacing HFS Plus as the default file system for iOS 10.3 or newer. This file system when formatted on a hard drive or SSD won’t be readily available to pop into a Linux machine or a Windows machine and read, and write to that drive. 

 This is just one example of the many avenues that are all becoming harder and harder to have cross-workings. I believe that integrated tools are the heart of the computing world. Things like open source projects, or having a standard like USB and then letting companies improve and innovate on a standard. But without limiting your ability to use different operating systems on different devices throughout the day. If a company is able to develop its own exclusive products, fine but the problems are that this trend of all-in-one echo systems isolates the whole concept of innovation. As a result, the power user is killed in favor of keeping the user in one product and keeping them bound to the ecosystem.