Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

That is not true. You can't claim that. I'm saying that on average it's going to be exponential - e.g. even if it takes 100 years, the jump will be so huge it'll be an exponentially large step.



> on average it's going to be exponential - e.g. even if it takes 100 years, the jump will be so huge it'll be an exponentially large step

I would not call that an exponential, it's a step function. It's entirely possible that human innovation over time will be look more like a series of step functions than a continuous exponential. The problem with step functions, of course, is that you can't easily predict future growth based on past growth, as you can with an exponential.

E.g., when quantum computing comes, it will surely be significant, but if it takes 10, 100, or 1000 years to make a breakthrough, it's not at all clear that the timing will happen to coincide with the exponential that we have been on for the last 50 years.




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: