system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How do developers make "better" compression algorithms?

What do we know or do now that we didn't when we first started file compression? What makes new image and video codecs better than their predecessors?
gpt
The algorithms are usually around for years before they get widespread acceptance.  The catch is that better compression algorithms require more CPU time and memory to run.

When you see a new algorithm start getting used, that usually just means that modern computers have improved to the point where they have the resources to practically compress & extract data with a better algorithm.