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The 5 Patterns of Technology Breakthroughs — Episode 35 of Onward

Cardiff and Ben dive into the history of technology breakthroughs, and what the past can teach us about the present.

May 20, 2024

In this episode, Ben and Cardiff explore the significant technology waves of the last several decades—mainframe, the personal computer, internet, mobile, cloud, and now AI—highlighting how each wave increased in scale and impact.

Ben and Cardiff walk through the five most significant patterns of growth — 1) waves, 2) bridging, 3) democratization, 4) centralization-decentralization, and 5) the 3x multiple.

These patterns serve as a roadmap, illustrating how past technological advancements have unfolded, and what we might expect in the future. Cardiff and Ben discuss the implications of these patterns for future innovations, particularly focusing on AI’s potential to drive an unprecedented economic boom.

This episode offers a look at how understanding historical patterns can provide us with insights into future technological and economic shifts, shaping our understanding of what’s next in the tech world.

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