Most of the modern conveniences we use every day — cellphones, laptops, GPS devices, coffee makers and more — have one thing in common. They all run on computer chips, introduced by U.S. firms that propelled America to the forefront of technological innovation.
Many of those firms sprouted from humble roots, according to Silicon Valley lore. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built the first Apple computer — an icon of American ingenuity — in the garage of the modest home owned by Jobs’ parents.
The digital revolution emerged over several decades in the United States as a result of scientific curiosity, a robust private sector and America’s pioneering spirit. Its next chapter promises even greater advances at a rapid pace.
Experts predict that quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) will shape our future. U.S. tech companies are investing heavily in the “quantum AI” market. And smaller companies, some likely incubating in basements or garages across America, will join them in making breakthroughs in key areas that can improve our world.
To learn how the digital age has transformed the world, and where it’s now leading us, explore How America Launched the Digital Age .
