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Tyler Cowen debates whether technological progress has slowed or just shifted domains. He argues that progress in atoms (physical world) has stagnated while progress in bits (digital world) has accelerated, creating an uneven future.
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Canon
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Cowen argues that the hedonic treadmill explains why people feel like progress has stalled: digital progress is real and enormous, but we adapted to it instantly. A smartphone is a miracle that feels boring because we got used to it within months.
Highlights
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The Great Stagnation thesis: progress in atoms (transportation, energy, construction) has stalled while progress in bits (software, AI, communication) has accelerated — creating a lopsided civilization
Cowen argues that physical-world progress has plateaued: we fly at the same speed as 1965, buildings take longer to construct than in 1960, and nuclear energy has regressed. Meanwhile, digital progress is exponential: smartphones, AI, streaming, social media.Was this useful?