Innovation—it’s the buzzword of our generation. From tech giants unveiling the latest gadgets to pharmaceutical companies touting groundbreaking treatments, it seems like everyone is racing to innovate. And I’ll admit, I’ve been swept up in the excitement more times than I can count. But the deeper I’ve delved into this world, the more I’ve come to realize something unsettling: not all innovation is what it seems. Sometimes, it’s just a shiny mask for something far less admirable—corporate greed.
Let me take you back to a moment that opened my eyes.
A few years ago, I was eagerly awaiting the launch of a new smartphone. The company’s marketing team was brilliant—they made it seem like this device was going to revolutionize the way we communicate. When it finally dropped, I was one of the first to buy it, convinced I was holding a piece of the future in my hands.
But the honeymoon phase didn’t last long. Within months, I started noticing performance issues. Apps lagged, the battery life plummeted, and it felt like the phone had aged years in just a few weeks. Then came the kicker: a major software update was released, and it only made things worse. After some digging, I discovered reports suggesting that the company was deliberately slowing down older devices to nudge users toward upgrading. What I had thought was a groundbreaking innovation turned out to be a calculated move to line the company’s pockets.
And this isn’t an isolated incident.
I’ve seen the same pattern in other industries, too. Take the pharmaceutical world, for example. While some truly life-saving drugs have been developed, there are also companies that tweak formulas ever so slightly just to extend a patent and keep generic competitors out. These minor “innovations” are often celebrated, but their real purpose is to maintain sky-high prices. Meanwhile, patients are left struggling to afford medications they desperately need.
Even the tech industry’s obsession with subscription models often feels more like exploitation than innovation. I’ve lost count of the number of software tools I used to own outright but now have to pay for monthly. The shift is always framed as “providing continuous updates” or “adapting to the modern user’s needs,” but it’s hard to ignore the financial benefits flowing to the companies at our expense.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not against innovation. In fact, I’m in awe of how human creativity and ingenuity can solve problems and make life better. But when companies start using the guise of progress to justify exploitative practices, it’s a problem. It erodes trust and makes people like me more skeptical of what’s being sold to us as the “next big thing.”
So, what can we do about it?
For starters, we need to be more critical consumers. Every time a company touts a new innovation, it’s worth asking: Who does this really benefit? Is it solving a genuine problem, or is it creating one to sell the solution? Secondly, we need to support businesses that prioritize ethical practices over short-term profits. They’re out there, but they often get overshadowed by the big players with massive marketing budgets.
Finally, let’s hold corporations accountable. Whether it’s through public pressure, legislation, or simply choosing where we spend our money, we have more power than we realize to demand better. Because at the end of the day, innovation should be about progress—for everyone, not just for those at the top.
I’m still a fan of innovation. But now, I’m also a skeptic. And honestly, I think that’s a healthier place to be.