Azeem Azhar

Exponential

1. IDEA 1

   Technology outruns institutions

   Azhar argues that technologies such as computing, renewable energy and biotechnology are improving at exponential rates. Meanwhile, laws, businesses and social norms change slowly, creating what he calls the exponential gap.

2. IDEA 2

   Costs fall again and again

   Azhar explains how the cost of computing, solar power and gene sequencing has dropped dramatically over decades. Each fall opens up new uses. Cheaper tools make new businesses possible that were once too costly to try.

3. IDEA 3

   Growth compounds quietly

   Azhar notes that exponential change looks slow at first, then suddenly overwhelming. People and institutions often fail to anticipate it. By the time the change is plain to see, it may already be too large to manage easily.

All 8 ideas from Exponential →