The other dimension of technological obsolescence is its impact on sustainability. The tech industry doesn’t face any special obligation to recycle, which could have a restraining effect on product upgradation. Recycling should ideally be an industry-specific protocol based on the waste being generated and the ability to reuse materials from waste. Since the materials demand in any industry is likely to be consistent over time, processes should emerge on extracting the best outcome from waste. The nature of global value chains makes this a challenging endeavour given production is spread across economies based on their resource endowments. This shifts the onus of sustainability from industry to government. That does not permit a more productive approach to sustainability.
Since software companies are driving shorter device product cycles, they can’t escape their share of the sustainability burden. Specifically, energy intensity of computing that is exploding with generative AI must be accounted for. The negative externalities are yet to be priced in by investors creating the AI bubble. Both investors and consumers will have to assert their rights better in the technology space. Sustainability is as much their concern, and they need to seek mitigating strategies in their economic actions.