The world. Eaten by software since 2011.
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Shocking! Disgusting! Unbelievable. Does this whole statement even make sense? How would someone ..or..something even dare to eat our planet?
Can’t be true. Must not be true. But it is from Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valleys' top investors. These guys definitely do their homework. So it must be true.
Oh my god.
The world. Our home.
Will be gone.
Eaten.
By software.
Probably soon.
That was a decade ago. Good old times. Funny how times fly. Since then we can observe two -quite contrary- facts:
1. We are still here. Maybe in the stomach of THE software?
2. Not only that but according to articles by high-profile authors, the world is currently eaten-up by even more eaters! In fact, “Eating X” became a decade-defining headline template.
Let’s see ourselves..
2014: Platforms are eating the world. Reason: You either have to transform into a platform or you will be eaten by one.
Now the world is officially eaten by at least to eaters. Well, since platforms are a special species of software, let’s say that amongst all software-creatures, platforms might be the hungriest.
2016: So 5 years later, and software is still eating. Loud enough to get noticed by TC. No wonder, if you ask me, it’s a big meal after all.
2016: Two years later, Platforms still … right, eating.
2018: Now Education is eating the world, because, according to the article: “Every company must, in some form, become an education company.”
2018: Agile is eating the world. “An unstoppable revolution (Agile) is now underway in our society, affecting almost everyone.” Apparently a very hungry year..
2019: AI is eating the world (indirectly by eating software, which, as we know is still eating). Reason: By automating the coding process.
2019: Now the Landlords are joining the club. Happy eating, we might wish. Reason: High rents.
Shocking news: Software might have stopped eating.
2019: Fintech is eating the world. Reason: “Software not only lets us bypass hard structural problems, it lets us build entirely new kinds of companies and services.”
Sad: This is apparently not even headline-worthy anymore. Shame on you, world. You are officially too small to make it into the headline template. Or maybe your inventor is just bored of over-using it.
2019: Services are eating the world, again, by eating directly. Service as in “Software as a Service”. Software is seen as an on-premise package of code. Service is seen as the value given to the customer. And since a service can not only replace software but also transform other industries like renting and transportation, service is eating big time.
2019: Blockchain is eating the world. Reason: “Peer-to-peer markets.”
2019: Bitcoin is eating the world. Reason: “Bitcoin and blockchain can enable new forms of governance that decentralize business hierarchies, disrupt the decision making process and organizations, forcing them to be more transparent and accountable.”
2020: Biology is eating the world. Reason: “Biology is one of the most advanced manufacturing technologies on earth.”
2020: No-Code is eating the world. Reason: “Build [your own software]on the Shoulders of Giants.”
2020: Data is eating the world. Reason: “Now, in truth, it’s more accurate to say that data is eating the world. The smartphone and ubiquitous computing have produced an exponential data explosion.”, says Index Ventures.
NOT software. Now that’s interesting, isn’t it? Is it not eating anymore or hasn’t it been eating all the time? And if not, who made all the smacking sounds in the meantime?
So that's all by the end of 2020. Let’s see what 2021 brings.
So do these examples bring us closer to the definition of the term? For me, it says: Once upon a time in silicon valley, there was the next-big-thing to rule them all. The Ring. You must listen! You might live in outer-SV-live — maybe in hobbit land- but you will feel the changes in power very soon. And very drastically. So you MUST listen. It says: From now on, software is not only competing with software — but with everyone. No place to hide. Technology has left the sidelines of the game.
X has entered the playfield (of capitalism). And now it starts to replace every single player.
Mindblowing, frightening — not only for the players. Even good old German existential Angst shows up. Fun fact: There is a movie for that.
Angst, Fear, Eating? It's all there. By Fassbender.
Can that be a coincidence?
Enjoy your meal.
