Satyajit Das: Innovative destruction, not disruption

Satyajit Das, author of “A Banquet of Consequences” argues that innovation is slowing and todays startups in the computing and technology spaces are delivering disappointingly small changes when compared with the step-changes of former eras. “Between 1960 and 1990 when the initial phase of computing went through and particularly in the early 1990s when connectivity (the internet) took off… I think that’s where you got most of the benefit.” Das says since those days the innovations have only “improved speed, miniaturised things, taken existing processes and arguably made it better.” But it’s not the massive change that people believe it is. Das also makes the point that most companies are “sniping” at the competition by making things cheaper rather than creating real innovation and new markets that will create new wealth and enhance our lives.