Progress does not live by successes alone, on the contrary. Technology also moves forward by leaps and bounds, and often capitalizes on the lessons learned from failures. In 2023, unbridled ambition has pushed the limits of prudence and safety in numerous technology sectors. For this reason, it is right to also remember the flops in the hope that they will serve to improve in the future. Here are the worst failures of the past year.
Lessons from the bottom of the sea
La Titan submarine tragedy remains one of the darkest moments of the year. stockton rush, the aerospace engineer behind this ambitious project, had ignored warnings about the safety of his vehicle. His decision to defy engineering conventions in the name of innovation proved fatal, resulting in the deaths of him and four other passengers during an expedition to explore the wreck of the Titanic. This incident painfully highlights how the line between bold innovation and recklessness can be thin and dangerous.
Robotaxi: A technological dream that collides with reality
The division Cruise by GM introduced its robotaxis in San Francisco with great fanfare, promising unprecedented autonomous transportation service. However, after a brief “honeymoon” (in every sense) reality soon revealed serious shortcomings.
Several accidents, including one involving a pedestrian dragged 20 feet, have forced the California Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the service, citing unacceptable risks to public safety. The suspension led to massive layoffs (including of the CEO and co-founder, Kyle vogt), and to an important lesson: technology cannot advance at the expense of human safety.
Lab-grown meat: currently rejected
The sector of the meat grown in the laboratory, led by companies like Upside Foods, promised a sustainable revolution in the food industry. At the moment, however, the push in the opposite direction clearly prevails: production is still far from being scalable and sustainable, both in terms of costs and practicality. And politics has put the brakes on it in several states, including Italy, hindering sometimes even research, as well as production. We'll see in the future.
The “mother” of all failures: the superconductor at room temperature
The promise of a room temperature superconductor, called LK-99, has caused great excitement in the world of physics and on social media. After the release of a video from Korea showing the material apparently levitating on a magnet, the story gained viral traction, living with ups and downs. However, the excitement faded when physicists failed to replicate the results, revealing that LK-99 was not the expected superconductor.
This "accident" demonstrated the risk of being carried away by enthusiasm without accurate scientific verification, highlighting the difference between hope and reality in the field of technological innovation.
We also live through failures
2023 was a year that highlighted how the race towards the future can sometimes overlook fundamental elements such as safety, feasibility and environmental impact. These failures teach us that innovation requires balance, prudence and careful consideration of its long-term implications.
We hope that the lessons learned this year can guide more responsible and sustainable technological development in the future.
