Exploring Causes of Tech Stagnation and Societal Shifts

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Tech stagnation can be attributed to the depletion of easy innovation opportunities and a decrease in society's ability to adopt new innovations. The saturation of marketing techniques and the rise of stringent government regulations contribute to hindering progress. Society's increasing risk aversion and emphasis on safety also impede technological advancement. The fear of negative consequences and bureaucratic resistance towards embracing new technologies act as barriers to innovative growth in various sectors such as the nuclear industry and genetic engineering.

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss tech stagnation, drawing from Peter Thiel and Tyler Cowen's theories on technological progress rates with energy consumption as a metric. They also delve into Y Combinator and Andreessen Horowitz's influence and potential futures amidst differing views on tech slowdown, and they touch on regulatory, cultural, and economic bottlenecks. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign.

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LINKS:

Samo’s Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:35) What is Tech Stagnation?

(03:20) Exiting the Great Stagnation

(06:23) The Future is Already Here (But Not Evenly Distributed)

(08:19) Sponsor - Brave

(09:20) How Tech Culture Has Stagnated

(17:38) On Industrial Jargon

(22:50) The Importance of Clear Language in Tech

(24:08) Energy Consumption in Tech Progress

(27:23) The Critique of Energy Consumption as a Measure of Progress

(29:04) The Great Stagnation Debate

(31:01) Bottlenecks of Stagnation

(37:10) Y Combinator and the Software Slowdown

(47:26) The Future of Tech: Applying Software to Manufacturing

(48:54) Wrap

This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.