We may not have packed away the Christmas decorations yet, but 2023 is already becoming a distant memory. It was an eventful year, though, particularly in technology, with the battle of AI getting under way, and the metaverse struggling to get a foothold. And 2024 is already shaping up to be another eventful year, with Big Tech regulation and quantum computing among the developments expected to dominate the headlines.
With that in mind, the New Year Tech Quiz is looking forward as well as back.
1. Which social media platform celebrates its 20th anniversary next month?
2. Social media platform Twitter got a new chief executive in May, with Linda Yaccarino stepping into the role. What media company did she previously work for?
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3. Cork-based Altada collapsed in the latter months of 2022, leaving its intellectual property up for grabs. Which Irish businessman picked it up last year through a High Court process?
4. Which Irish company won the overall Irish Times Innovation of the Year award?
5. Elon Musk started making changes to Twitter during 2023, including changing the name of the service, wiping out years of brand recognition in one fell swoop. What was the name of the “rebellious” AI-powered assistant that he announced in November?
6. Who took over as chief executive of Web Summit following cofounder Paddy Cosgrave’s resignation in October?
7. Apple announced a new “spatial computing” headset at WWDC in June, which is set to be released this year. What is the name of the product?
8. Early in 2023, Ireland’s new body for regulating broadcasters, on-demand services and online media was formally established. What is its name?
9. Which Irish company recently netted a €473 million payout from Japanese giant SoftBank in return for a controlling stake in the firm?
10. In December, Google lost an antitrust case brought by Epic against its Play Store. But it is facing two further antitrust cases, one of which is expected to be heard in May. What two sections of its business are coming under the microscope in those cases?
Entries should be sent for the attention of Ciara O’Brien, The Irish Times, 24 Tara Street Dublin 2 or by email to techquiz@irishtimes.com. Entries must be received by Friday January 12th. Terms and conditions apply to all prizes. The judges’ decision is final.
The Prize
This year’s prize is a Google Pixel 2 smartwatch, worth €379, courtesy of Three Ireland. The smartwatch has a 30-hour battery life, quick charge, and features that include a Safety Check feature, heart rate, sleep and activity tracking. It also includes Google apps, YouTube Music, Google Assistant and home app control.
