The West entered a period of technological stagnation around 1970; the rapid accelerating progress of 1750-1970 (faster ships, railroads, cars, planes, culminating in the Concorde and Apollo) slowed dramatically in the world of atoms, with progress continuing only in the world of bits (computers, software, internet, crypto, AI).
factualpending
Speaker
Peter ThielEvidence Quote
“From 1750 to 1970, 200 plus years, were periods of accelerating change... It culminates in the Concorde and the Apollo missions. And then that in all sorts of dimensions, things had slowed.”
Source
A.I., Mars and Immortality: Are We Dreaming Big Enough? | Interesting Times with Ross Douthat— Interesting Times with Ross DouthatCreated: 6/18/2026, 2:32:27 PM
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