Cloud Exits
Plus: making gold from rocks, fabric from candy, milk from sheets, and more in Roundup #35
While the Cloud gets cloudy, bingo night is the new rave.
This issue brings forward a tech-driven perspective, and a roundup covering the senses, science, sustainability, and social shifts.
Let’s roll.
Cloud Exits
The silver linings are fading—and a broader exodus is brewing
For years, cloud computing has been hailed as the revolutionary future of technology—merging innovation with the promises of cost savings and agility.
Today, the wave of enthusiasm for public cloud — those powered by AWS, GCP, Azure, and others — is dissipating.
Many enterprises are questioning whether public cloud solutions are as effective, cost-efficient, and strategically aligned as advertised. The anticipated productivity gains haven't always materialized. Concerns about vendor lock-in are rising as companies become wary of being beholden to a single provider's ecosystem.
Cloud-first and cloud-centric business strategies are now being reassessed.
In turn, on-premises hardware data centers and colocation solutions are making a comeback.
A high-profile example is 37signals, the makers of Basecamp, Hey, and more. They “de-clouded” their hosting early this year, leaving AWS and GCP behind.
Their result?
By managing their own servers, they are already generating significant benefits for their business, especially cost savings.
How will the cloud providers respond?
It will start by reducing costs and embracing openness. We will see more promotion of interoperability and how they are helping their customers avoid ecosystem lock-in.
And, of course, there is AI.
Integrating AI into cloud platforms is expected to drive growth, but this may only be a reprieve rather than a long-term solution. As Apple, Microsoft, and Google are showing their ability to run AI on laptops, the ability to run AI through on-premises hardware is achievable today.
When the hype fades, cost-effectiveness and practicality are always the keys to long-term success (right, Airbnb?).
The Roundup
Makes Sense
Bioacoustics,
combining of biology and acoustics to predict early signs of disease
Shazam for Smell,
letting users identify and save scents via their smartphones
DiagNoze,
a portable diagnostic tool that can ‘smell’ diseases simply by analyzing people’s breath
Food, More Sustainable
CO2 Butter,
rich and creamy, all without without ingredients from animals, farmland, or fertilizer
Whole Fruit Chocolate,
Swiss food scientists have developed a way to make chocolate using the entire cocoa fruit rather than just the beans—and without using sugar
Flat Pack Organic Oat Milk,
created with a 2D printing process that transforms oat milk paste into compact, lightweight sheets
Food, More Fabric-y
FabriCandy,
it’s candy, made from scraps of fabric
Potato Yarn,
a more sustainable alternative to pure cotton
All that Glitters is…
Gold Hydrogen,
produced it without emitting carbon, has people predicting a gold (hydrogen) rush is on the horizon
Making Gold,
doesn’t need lead and alchemy, just electricity and quartz (and time)
Social Shifts
NEETs,
aka “not in employment, education, or training,” are young, would-be job seekers who are opting out of the labor force
Bingo Nights,
the new warehouse rave for Gen Z
FTW?
AR, Nope.
Travel Gear, Yes.
So, remember back in Issue 27, where we explored the future through AR?
While augmented reality is still taking shape, here are some of the other fascinating entries that still resonate from the roundup:
AI and Technology: SynthID offered a new way to watermark AI-generated content, while Outline VPN helped users bypass internet censorship.
Space and Science: SpaceBorn was a thing, while the challenges of light pollution ("noctalgia") and the concept of "inverse vaccines" for autoimmune diseases got lots of clicks.
Sustainability: "Crop Biostimulants" turned waste into fertilizer, and glow-in-the-dark houseplants offered a unique and sustainable indoor gardening option.
Lifestyle: "Sumo Clubs" and "Branded Residences” captured the intrigue of emerging trends.
Well-being: "Burnout Breaks" and "Monk Mode" offered strategies for productivity and stress reduction, while ergonomic furniture and robot dog foster care addressed the physical and emotional needs of humans and our best friends.
Travel Essentials
For my work, I travel a lot. With my personality, I’m obsessive about researching products that make travel much easier and more enjoyable. Back in Issue 27, I showcased the short list of things I'm proud to carry—and an even shorter list of things I get asked about all the time.
Like, seriously, I still get asked about these things all. the. time.
Especially my travel charger and my backpack.
The New New’s mission is to fuel foresight. Every issue delivers a curated view into the discoveries, launches, trends, and movements shaping tomorrow—all explored through broad landscapes, from labs and studios to businesses and culture.
Each month(ish), this is pulled together by me, Brent Turner, and published on LinkedIn, Substack, and my site.
Okay, I'm off to practice yelling “BINGO!”
- B
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