The global technology landscape is currently witnessing a profound divergence in capital allocation and philosophical direction, characterized by a massive influx of investment into artificial intelligence and a simultaneous, grassroots-led pivot toward human-centric social experiences. While industry giants like Alphabet continue to shatter fundraising records with multi-billion dollar allocations for AI development, a new generation of founders is intentionally building in the opposite direction. This movement, often referred to as "together tech," prioritizes in-person interaction, tactile hardware, and a rejection of the algorithmic mediation that has come to define the modern digital era. On the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, editors Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane explored this dichotomy, analyzing whether the surge in "human" technology is a fleeting backlash or a sustainable shift in the venture capital ecosystem.
The AI Fundraising Machine: Alphabet and Anthropic’s Scale
The scale of investment in artificial intelligence has reached levels previously unseen in the private and public markets. Alphabet recently signaled a massive commitment to its AI business with a record-breaking $85 billion raise, a move that reinforces the narrative that the "AI arms race" is only accelerating. This capital is largely earmarked for the massive infrastructure required to train and deploy next-generation large language models (LLMs), including specialized semiconductors and data center expansion.
Parallel to Alphabet’s maneuver, Anthropic, a primary competitor to OpenAI, has reportedly filed for a confidential initial public offering (IPO). This filing comes against a backdrop of intense scrutiny regarding the "circular economy" of AI funding. Analysts have noted a trend where venture capital and corporate investment flow into AI startups, only to be immediately redirected back to the cloud computing divisions of the very same tech giants—such as Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure—that provided the initial funding. This phenomenon raises questions about the long-term sustainability of AI valuations and whether the concentration of wealth is stifling innovation in non-AI sectors.
The Emergence of Together Tech and the Board $20 Million Raise
In stark contrast to the ethereal nature of generative AI, Brynn Putnam, the founder of the fitness technology company Mirror, has returned to the startup scene with a new venture called Board. Mirror, which was acquired by Lululemon for $500 million in 2020, represented a high-water mark for home-based, screen-mediated fitness. However, Putnam’s new venture suggests a pivot toward the physical world. Board recently raised $20 million in a funding round aimed at scaling a business focused on in-person games and social experiences.
Board’s philosophy centers on the "loneliness epidemic," a public health crisis that has been exacerbated by the proliferation of social media and remote work. By creating high-quality, tactile gaming experiences designed for communal settings, Board aims to capture a market of consumers who are increasingly weary of digital-first interactions. The startup has reportedly already sold thousands of units, indicating a strong product-market fit that bypasses the need for AI-driven personalization. This "together tech" wave suggests that while AI may dominate the headlines, there is a significant, underserved demand for technology that facilitates genuine human connection.
The Cyberdeck Movement: A Grassroots Rejection of Big Tech
The trend toward more "human" technology is not limited to high-growth startups; it is also manifesting in the DIY and maker communities through the "Cyberdeck" trend. Cyberdecks are custom-built, often whimsical, portable computers that emphasize form, function, and repairability over the sleek, locked-down aesthetics of modern smartphones and tablets. These devices frequently go viral on platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where creators showcase builds that encourage users to "touch grass"—a colloquialism for disconnecting from the internet and engaging with the physical world.
The Cyberdeck movement represents a philosophical rejection of the "black box" nature of modern technology. Where AI models are often opaque and centralized, Cyberdecks are transparent, open-source, and deeply personal. They represent a return to the "hobbyist" roots of computing, where the goal was not to maximize screen time or data extraction, but to foster a sense of agency and creativity. This movement aligns with the broader "Right to Repair" advocacy, signaling a growing consumer desire for hardware that they can understand, modify, and own outright.
Search Without the Noise: DuckDuckGo’s Anti-AI Pivot
The shift toward human-centric tech is also visible in the software layer, particularly in the search engine market. As Google and Bing integrate generative AI "snapshots" into their search results—often to the frustration of users seeking direct links to human-authored content—DuckDuckGo has doubled down on its "no-AI" search experience. The privacy-focused search engine recently made it easier for users to access a version of its platform that omits AI-generated summaries, focusing instead on traditional indexing.
This move has resulted in a traffic boom for DuckDuckGo, as users express concerns over the accuracy and "hallucinations" of AI-generated search results. The success of an AI-free search option suggests that a significant portion of the internet-using population still values the ability to parse information for themselves, rather than having it synthesized by an algorithm. This reflects a broader skepticism regarding the role of AI in information gatekeeping.
Chronology of the Shifting Tech Landscape
To understand the current state of the industry, it is essential to look at the timeline of events that led to this divergence:
- Late 2022 – Early 2023: The launch of ChatGPT triggers a global AI investment frenzy. Corporations and VCs begin reallocating billions toward generative AI.
- 2023 – 2024: The "loneliness epidemic" is officially recognized as a public health crisis by several global health organizations. Consumers begin reporting "digital fatigue."
- Late 2024: High-profile AI devices, such as the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1, receive mixed to negative reviews, highlighting the limitations of hardware that relies solely on AI interfaces.
- Early 2025: Brynn Putnam launches Board, signaling a return to physical-social tech. DuckDuckGo sees record user growth following its refusal to force AI summaries on users.
- Mid-2026: Alphabet raises $85 billion for AI, while Anthropic files for a confidential IPO. Simultaneously, the "together tech" movement gains institutional VC backing as a legitimate alternative to the AI-centric status quo.
Economic Implications and Market Analysis
The dual tracks of AI and Together Tech present a complex landscape for investors. On one hand, the AI sector represents a "winner-take-all" market where the barriers to entry are primarily capital and compute power. This favors incumbents like Alphabet and well-funded startups like Anthropic. However, the returns on these investments are increasingly scrutinized. If the majority of the capital is flowing into infrastructure rather than consumer-facing applications that generate new revenue, the industry may be heading toward an "AI bubble."
Conversely, the "together tech" and human-centric sectors offer a different value proposition. These companies often have lower capital requirements and focus on high-margin hardware or subscription-based social experiences. By addressing fundamental human needs—socialization, play, and privacy—these startups may offer more stable, long-term growth than the volatile AI sector. The challenge for these founders is to scale without losing the "human touch" that defines their brand.
Inferred Reactions from the Tech Community
While official statements from Alphabet and Anthropic focus on the transformative potential of AI, off-the-record conversations among Silicon Valley insiders suggest a growing "AI fatigue." Many developers and founders have expressed concern that the obsession with LLMs is sucking the air out of the room for other types of innovation.
On the other hand, the reception to "together tech" has been one of cautious optimism. Investors who were previously focused on SaaS (Software as a Service) are now looking at "physical-to-digital" models that bring people back into the same room. As one venture capitalist noted during the Equity podcast discussion, "The most valuable thing in the next decade won’t be information—AI has made that a commodity. The most valuable thing will be attention and physical presence."
Conclusion: A Future of Parallel Tracks
The current state of the technology industry is not necessarily a battle between AI and humanity, but rather a diversification of the human experience. As AI becomes integrated into the background of the digital world—handling tasks like data analysis, coding, and administrative automation—there is a corresponding opening for technology that enhances our physical lives.
The $85 billion raised by Alphabet and the $20 million raised by Board are two sides of the same coin. One seeks to optimize the digital intellect, while the other seeks to nourish the social spirit. As we move further into the 2020s, the success of the technology industry may be measured not just by the complexity of its algorithms, but by its ability to bring people together in a world that feels increasingly fragmented. The "together tech" movement is a reminder that even in an age of artificial intelligence, the most important connection remains the one between people.
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