Disruptive Software // Beyond Coding #15 - Patrick Akil with Kevlin Henney

Quantum Impact

Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize technology, but its impact remains decades away. Patrick Akil and Kevlin Henney discuss how current innovations are often remixes of existing ideas, with true disruption likely coming from social changes rather than within the software development community 1. They highlight past game-changers like spreadsheets and mobile phones, which were modest ideas executed well 2.

We've got the same kind of basic things, but we're optimizing it around them.

--- Patrick Akil

The conversation suggests that while quantum computing holds promise, its transformative potential is not imminent.

   

ML Evolution

Machine learning continues to evolve, with its roots tracing back to the 1980s when neural networks were first scaled. Patrick notes that while machine learning has been a significant disruption, many challenges remain social rather than technical 3. The discussion emphasizes that hardware advancements have historically enabled software innovations, allowing developers to reach new "shelves" of possibilities 1.

Hardware has enabled the things that people were dreaming of.

--- Patrick Akil

This evolution underscores the importance of infrastructure in realizing the full potential of machine learning.

   

Disruptive Ideas

The next big disruption in tech might already exist, hidden in unexplored past ideas. Kevlin Henney suggests that the future is unevenly distributed, with potential breakthroughs lying in concepts previously limited by hardware 4. He and Patrick discuss the importance of revisiting these ideas to unlock new possibilities 5.

The future is already here. It's just unevenly distributed.

--- Patrick Akil

This perspective encourages a broader vision, recognizing that innovation often involves reimagining existing technologies.