The Secret Algorithm That Powers Every Tech

We often talk about the big, flashy things in tech; the next AI chatbot, the metaverse, or the latest app that’s going to change everything. What if I told you that the secret sauce powering almost every single piece of technology you use today is over 60 years old?  

I remember my first time driving in a new city a decade ago, relying on a clunky GPS that kept recalculating and sending me in circles. 
In that frustration, I had no idea that the elegant logic of a single algorithm was trying its best to save me: Dijkstra’s Algorithm.

Think of it this way: it’s the digital GPS for everything.  

Its sole job is to find the shortest path from where you start to where you want to go. Whether it’s the fastest route for data to travel, the most efficient way to stream your videos, or the quickest path to get a pizza delivered, this simple algorithm does the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
To truly appreciate its impact, let’s look at where you encounter this algorithm every day. 

The Unseen Hand of Tech 
You’ve used this core logic countless times today, whether you know it or not. 

• Your Car's GPS: When you enter a destination, the algorithm calculates the optimal route based on distance, traffic, and speed. 

• Video Streaming: It finds the most efficient network path to deliver data, giving you smooth, buffer-free playback. 

• Robotics & AI: In factories or warehouses, robots use this algorithm to navigate the quickest route from point A to B without hitting obstacles. 

• Supply Chain Logistics: For big e-commerce companies, it calculates the most fuel-efficient and fastest routes for fleets to deliver packages nationwide.

As tech evolves, these algorithms must grow more complex to meet new challenges.

The Evolution of a Great Idea 
Some of you might be thinking, “Jigar, that’s old tech. Haven’t we moved on?” 

Great question.

While Dijkstra’s remains the gold standard, its principles have been built upon to tackle modern complexity even better.

Enter the A* (A-star) algorithm. 

You might have heard of it in video games or robotics. What makes A* special is its use of a ‘heuristic’, an educated guess about the best path. 

This heuristic helps the algorithm focus on promising routes first instead of checking every single path evenly. 

That smart shortcut saves time and computing power.

A* doesn’t replace Dijkstra’s but evolves it.  
It shows how a brilliant, simple idea can adapt to today’s needs. 

Now, let me show you why this ever-evolving old algorithm is crucial for future innovation.

The Future-Ready Algorithm 
So, why am I talking about a 60-year-old algorithm today?  
Because the biggest opportunities aren’t always about inventing something brand new. They’re about mastering timeless tech and applying it to the future.

I recall a pitch from a startup building a logistics platform. They weren’t proposing a brand-new algorithm. Instead, they had hyper-optimized a shortest-path algorithm to integrate with real-time AI and satellite data, making supply chains faster and smarter. 

They saw the value in a timeless idea.

Today, innovators are building on that logic with next-gen tech to create dynamic, powerful systems.

AI & Machine Learning: AI models use these algorithms to find efficient paths for processing data, speeding up everything from medical diagnostics to financial forecasting.

Blockchain: As networks grow, verifying transactions fast and securely requires the shortest, quickest path through decentralized systems, and that’s where these algorithms come in. 

Don’t get me wrong: AI and ML are revolutionary.  
But the biggest gains often come when these new tools combine with proven foundations. 

The most valuable innovations aren’t always new wheels.  
They are brilliant, unexpected applications of timeless ideas.

As you think about your business or projects, ask yourself: 
What timeless foundation will you build on to shape the future?