# Innovation Stagnation?

- Show: [Oxide and Friends](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends)
- Published: 2024-02-07
- Length: 1h 00m
- Episode: 5
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f0c79828

## Summary

Bryan Cantrill and Adam Leventhal, co-founders of Oxide Computer Company, along with guest Steve Klabnik, critique a tweet by Nate Silver claiming innovation has stagnated by contrasting the 1900s with the 2000s. They argue that while 'groundbreaking' inventions like the Haber process and CRISPR are vital, modern innovation is often hidden in complex infrastructure like extreme UV lithography at TSMC or distributed systems consensus algorithms like Raft. The hosts emphasize that abstraction layers make it difficult for non-practitioners to appreciate the depth of current technological progress, citing Rust's safety features and horizontal scaling as critical, albeit less visible, breakthroughs.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation#t=0) Introduction and the Nate Silver Tweet
- [5:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation#t=324) Critiquing the Definition of Innovation
- [13:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation#t=819) Missing Inventions: Haber Process and AgTech
- [21:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation#t=1263) The Complexity of Modern Breakthroughs
- [34:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation#t=2052) Software Innovation: Rust and Distributed Systems
- [45:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation#t=2739) Healthcare and Battery Technology
- [52:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation#t=3139) AR/VR and the Apple Newton
- [56:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation#t=3389) Conclusion: Gratitude vs. Grievance

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Oxide Computer Company (company)
- Nate Silver (other)
- TSMC (company)
- Rust (tool)
- Raft (other)
- CRISPR (other)
- Haber process (other)
- Apple Vision Pro (product)
- Apple Newton (product)
- Code Breaker (other)
- Dream Reaper (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [509: Swarmed by Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-09-05-509-swarmed-by-engineers) (Embedded.fm)
- [Live From HIBT Summit: Payal Kadakia, Tristan Walker, and Perry Chen on Innovation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-07-22-live-from-hibt-summit-payal-kadakia-tristan-walker-and-perry-chen-on-innovation) (How I Built This)
- [S3 E6: Building Innovation Moats with Open Hardware with Andrew "Bunnie" Huang](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2025-12-09-s3-e6-building-innovation-moats-with-open-hardware-with-andrew-bunnie-huang) (The Builder Circle)
- [422: It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-28-422-its-not-a-bug-its-a-feature) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 192: Different or better with Evan & Katelyn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-11-23-episode-192-different-or-better-with-evan-katelyn) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-02-07-innovation-stagnation. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Oxide and Friends.