Waveform 2023 Retrospective: Awards, Takes, and Highlights

2023 Retrospective: The Waveform Awards

This special year-end episode of the Waveform podcast serves as a fun, reflective journey through 2023. The hosts engage in a series of lighthearted retrospectives, debating their past takes, calling out highlights, and discussing moments that defined their year.

Hot Takes & Corrections

• The hosts revisit their most controversial "hot takes." Notable mentions include the polarizing debate over whether Nissan has ever made a true track car, and regret over past predictions regarding the Clubhouse app comeback.
• There is an honest discussion about errors made during the year, particularly regarding the Fisker Ocean release timeline and, humorously, a basketball-related prediction involving Luka Doncic.

Bingo Cards & Surprises

• The conversation shifts to the most unexpected developments of 2023, referred to as the "bingo card" items. Highlights include:
• Dua Lipa interviewing Tim Cook about cobalt mining.
• Apple adopting the RCS messaging standard.
• Final Cut Pro coming to the iPad.
• The bizarre trend of celebrities licensing their likenesses for AI chatbots.
• The rise of "briefcase tech," such as the LG StandbyMe.

Industry Reflections & Future Outlook

"I feel like we generally notice the big news stories, but there's a huge difference between national news and the smaller, localized tech drama that can be quite hilarious."

• The team discusses tech news they missed, such as localized San Francisco driverless car incidents and the looming threat of quantum computing to current encryption standards.
• They share personal highlights, including interviews with Dr. Mike, Cleo Abram, and Simone Giertz, and look forward to 2024 with predictions focusing on the continued integration of multimodal AI and a trend toward colorful product designs.