Technology is a political project

Technological progress is primarily a political project. We often think of technology as a purely technical matter, but its role as the driver of societal change makes it inherently political.

The most important sectors of our society—healthcare, housing, mobility, food, energy, and education—are heavily regulated. Unlike consumer electronics like flat-screen TVs, which benefit from technological deflation, these essential domains become more expensive each year. This is largely because regulation prevents the kind of technological innovation that would make them more affordable. In effect, technological progress in these areas has been halted by political and legislative processes.

The term “frontier technology” refers to the limits of what’s possible. These limits are no longer determined by the laws of physics alone but are increasingly dictated by legislation. The political process, through laws and regulations, controls what can and cannot be created with new technology in these crucial domains.