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I am reading The New Wave, the last book from Microsoft AI CEO Suleyman. He mentioned that a massive study pegged down the General Purpose Technologies to be only 24 in human history, but I can’t find the study. Does anybody know the study? This is the list btw:

  • Domestication of plants
  • Domestication of animals
  • Smelting of ore
  • Money
  • Wheel
  • Writing
  • Bronze
  • Iron
  • Water wheel
  • Three-masted sailing ship
  • Printing
  • Factory system
  • Steam Engine
  • Railways
  • Steamship
  • Internal combustion engine
  • Electricity
  • Automobile
  • Airplane
  • Mass production
  • Computer
  • Lean production
  • Internet
  • Biotechnology
  • Decq@lemmy.world
    3·
    17 days ago

    I dont know what study it is or how they define general purpose technologies. But i do miss a few world changing discoveries in that list. Like modern medicine/vaccines and radio/telecommunications. Although that last one might fall under electricity? Though I feel like it should be it’s own thing.

    It kinda feels like a subjective arbitrary list

  • OhNoMoreLemmy@lemmy.ml
    3·
    17 days ago

    I wouldn’t be surprised if this list turned out to be generated by AI.

    It’s terrible. 3 mast ships but no boats?

    Steam engine turns up 3 times as steam engine, railways, and steam ship.

    Mass production isn’t even a technology, it’s a process. Biotechnology is a field not a technology.