Interesting debate below between Robert Gordon and Erik Brynjolffson on how they see the future of work and innovation mapping out. Gordon famously declared that growth was essentially over, with the most game changing innovations having already been invented.
Brynjolfsson however is more optimistic. He adopts the approach taken by W. Brian Arthur, who argued that technology can consist of inventions with a direct benefit, and inventions that help us make other inventions. Brynjolfsson believes we’re currently getting to grips with a lot of inventions that once fully understood will give society a huge leap forward.
Do you think we are witnessing the end of innovation? Is growth over? Did either speaker here change your opinion? Let me know in the comments.
I'm with Brynjolffson on this one. I think innovation will continue to drive growth for a while yet.
Gordon can join the list of such luminaries as the head of the US patent office who said in the 1890's that everything that can be invented has, The head of Warner Brothers who posited "Who the hell wants to hear actors talk" at the end of the silent film era, and a political big wig in the early 20th century who said that "Sensible women do not want to vote"
Not to mention Thomas Watson proclaiming that there was a global market for five computers whilst head of IBM.