The tech landscape in late 2026 is producing real hardware and AI advances alongside real societal friction. 9to5Google's Ben Schoon is asking readers a direct question this week: what specific technology is actually making you happy right now.
The question matters because it cuts through the noise. With AI proliferating across every product category and new devices shipping faster than most people can evaluate them, identifying what genuinely improves daily life is harder than it sounds. Schoon's Weekender column, part of the 9to5Google newsletter alongside Daniel Bader's twice-weekly Inbox roundup, uses reader sentiment as a lens on the broader industry moment.
The full piece is worth reading for the community responses, which surface specific products and tools that real users find worthwhile, not press release claims. Sign up at 9to5google.beehiiv.com to get Weekender on Sundays and Inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
[READ ORIGINAL →]