It's easy to believe we're living in the most advanced era humanity has ever known: artificial intelligence capable of writing essays, rockets that land on their own, and smartphones that replace entire offices. But as dazzling as these innovations are, some experts argue we may be approaching the peak of meaningful innovation .
From the wheel to the web, every major advance has reshaped civilization. Yet today, many of our "breakthroughs" look more like improvements than revolutions: faster chips, thinner screens, slightly smarter apps. Are we innovating... or simply iterating?
The debate on the "innovation plateau"
Economists and historians of technology have debated this question for years. Robert Gordon of MIT, in particular, has argued that the industrial revolutions (steam, electricity, and mass production) brought about far greater progress in terms of productivity and lifestyles than modern digital technologies ever could. Consider this: the transition from horse-drawn carriages to airplanes happened in less than 50 years. But after 15 years of smartphones, what has really changed?
This is not about denigrating modern technologies, far from it. We live in an era where comfort and connectivity are such that our ancestors could never have imagined them. But the pace and impact of innovation may no longer live up to the hype surrounding it.
Even access to technology is evolving: people are now choosing to buy Neosurf online from Eneba , digital gift cards that allow them to securely pay for digital goods and services without going through traditional banking systems. This kind of digital inclusion is part of the true story of innovation: putting technology at the service of more people, not just creating more sophisticated gadgets.
Measuring real progress
The difference between invention and innovation
A distinction must be made between invention (creating something new) and innovation (making that invention usable and accessible). The steam engine wasn't the first, but it was good enough to fuel an industrial revolution.
Today, we are inundated with inventions (AI startups, biotechnological prototypes, blockchain applications), but few turn into large-scale disruptive innovations.
Hidden progress you might be missing
While the media is buzzing about social networks and smartphones, some of the most exciting developments are happening quietly in these areas:
- Health: mRNA vaccines, gene editing and early cancer detection using AI.
- Energy: research on fusion and advances in renewable energy that could redefine sustainability.
- Space: Private companies are transforming space travel into a (semi-)commercial reality.
Perhaps innovation is not dead, it has just moved behind the scenes, to places most of us don't see.
Why innovation looks different today
The internet has shrunk the world, but it has also raised the bar. Consumers demand instant, seamless, and sustainable technologies, and businesses are focused on incremental improvements to meet those demands. Disruption takes time, regulation, and massive investment.
At the same time, global issues like climate change and cybersecurity have shifted innovation from "what's cool" to "what's necessary." The world doesn't need another viral app, but smarter energy, secure data, and resilient systems.
That is why innovation is slower: it is more complex, more responsible, more invisible .
So… have we reached the summit?
Probably not. Innovation is never a straight line, it's a wave. We may be in a slower, more deliberate period, but history teaches us that the next wave is always just around the corner.
General AI, quantum computing, and bioengineering could redefine what's possible in the coming decades, just as electricity and the internet did. But for these innovations to thrive, they must be accessible, affordable, and inclusive.
And that's where the silent revolutions happen: in better digital infrastructure, smarter payments and accessible platforms powered by digital marketplaces like Eneba.
So no, we haven't reached the end of innovation. We're only just beginning a new ascent, where the greatest innovations won't be gadgets, but systems that will allow the whole world to innovate together.
