In his new book, Deep Future, futurist and inventor Pablos Holman asks: has the tech industry traded solving big challenges for the comfort of convenience, settling for “shallow tech” over bolder ambitions in “Deep Tech”? This involves tackling fundamental global challenges in energy, manufacturing, food, and infrastructure.
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Drawing on his background with organizations like Blue Origin and his experience as a venture capital investor in breakthrough technologies, Holman illustrates his thesis through compelling case studies. These include innovations like autonomous, wind-powered shipping to clean up global trade, space-based solar power to provide constant energy, and self-healing cement inspired by ancient Roman engineering. The book frames these not as science fiction but as achievable goals, grounded in existing scientific principles and emerging technologies.
Who is this book for?
Deep Future is likely to resonate with entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors seeking paradigm-shifting opportunities that transcend the current software-centric landscape. It offers a framework for identifying and pursuing large-scale, impactful projects. However, professionals already deeply involved in fields like nanotechnology, advanced materials, or biotech may find the concepts familiar. The book serves more as an introduction to this mindset than a technical manual for experts already in the trenches.
Is all software “shallow tech”?
While Deep Future champions hardware and physical innovation, it raises an interesting question: is the line between “shallow” and “deep” tech so clear? It is worth considering that not all software is focused on minor conveniences. The development of artificial intelligence, for instance, is a software-driven evolution that is already creating transformative ripples across both B2B and B2C realms, from drug discovery to supply chain management, and naturally, all sorts of data analysis.
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Similarly, social media platforms, often considered examples of shallow tech, have fundamentally altered how information is disseminated and how societies interact. The distinction may not be between hardware and software, but between incremental improvements and true, foundational change. Both software and hardware hold the potential for substantial impact, and the most powerful solutions often arise when the two are integrated to solve a meaningful problem. Looking ahead, Deep Future stands out as a catalyst for essential industry debate, challenging leaders to reassess priorities and shaping the debate about where technology’s ingenuity is needed most.
Photo credit: The feature image has been taken of the author of the featured book by Eirik Solheim at an event in 2008.
