'Big Tech' as you call it, in the last decade, enabled us to work from home during the pandemic via zoom calls, and still shop and get food delivered.
Is that 'inspiring'? I guess that depends on what inspires you.
WebRTC is nice and I like it. Work from home is lovely.
I think the internet is having a rough time with things, and that in general corporations have become more greedy and more bold, which overshadows the smaller improvements.
Being able to summon a car to my location at the push of a button and to be able to track it as it arrives is amazing.
Being able to make money at any time by giving people rides in my car is great too.
The legal system of distinctions of different kinds of workers that allows Uber to exploit drivers - not so great.