Peter Thiel's Disillusionment with Technological Progress

A Decade-Long Lament

"We Wanted Flying Cars, Instead We Got 140 Characters"

In a speech delivered over a decade ago, tech entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel expressed his disappointment with the slow pace of technological progress. Thiel, known for his provocative and unconventional views, asserted that the technological advancements of his time fell short of the utopian visions that had been promised.

Specifically, Thiel criticized the rise of social media platforms like Twitter, which he believed had become a distraction from true innovation. "We wanted flying cars," he said, "instead we got 140 characters." Thiel's frustration stemmed from his belief that society should be striving for transformative technologies that would revolutionize transportation, energy, and other fundamental aspects of life, rather than focusing on superficial distractions.