Rise of the New Titans, Part II

Last week, we discussed how Google and Apple, by branding themselves as extensive service providers, have established themselves as the new titans of the 21st century. But do titans benefit a society as a whole? Many would argue that we benefit from greater flexibility and a collaborative approach, as opposed to a dominating entity that proscribes the particulars of commerce.

However, the malleability and rapid adaptability of technology may enable ordinary folks a greater degree of input than ever before. In previous centuries, change came at a much slower pace than it does in the 21st century. Because people have greater access to one another and rival services, titans can no longer dominate by virtue of perceived power alone. They must provide genuinely useful services. This degree of competitiveness may stave off stagnancy and complacency in both Google and Apple, and encourage ordinary citizens to continue to honestly communicate their needs.

In other words, Google and Apple’s dominance will continue just as long as they are meeting the needs of their customers. And customers may demand a more collaborative society, where people work together to achieve their common goals, as opposed to pursuing an economic model where an individual attempts to dominate others purely for his or her own gain.

Historians will look back on the first decade of the 21st century as the de facto fall of capitalism. The second decade of this century may bring about a greater emphasis on collaborative ventures, with the new titans no longer attempting to dominate and control the market for egotistical purposes as much as enable it to thrive. The seemingly unobtainable goal of a meritocracy — a society driven by ability, which focuses not on accumulating trophies, but rather on improving the well-being of its members and expanding its intellectual horizons — may come to pass.

Both Google and Apple were founded by people interested in contributing something of worth to their society. Now that they are in a position to guide its course, one hopes that they will stay true to their original goals, and not fall into the usual traps of power.