[decGetAc]

Agreed,only the super rich will get cars err electricity err I mean refrigerators err I mean personal computers err I mean mobile devices

To be fair I think there's a lot of truth in your statement in the short term (and arguably in the long). But in the 'long' term , it sure does look like revolutionary technology makes everyday peoples life better (I didn't even go into transportation or health care/life expectency)

[Terr_]

Let's be careful not to conflate (A) general technological-progress with (B) changes in economic organization and wealth distribution.

The nice things from (A) don't necessarily require what co-occurred with (B). There is nothing in the physics or materials of a refrigerator which requires the assembler to have been paid less than the CEO.

[gruntbuggly]

Sure, we have more consumer goods available to us, but I don’t know if that’s a great measure of a better life. We have supercomputers in our pockets but can’t talk to our neighbors, AI with a warming planet, etc. It’s all tradeoffs. A flourishing human life is independent of technology.

[jajko]

There will be soon new type of stuff only for rich - clean air, safe healthy food, beautiful nature, stable climate location, safe from warfare... we are not heading for a rosy future.

Sure everybody can be addicted to some crappy social service on their phones, but that's not a mark of progress in 2025 nor definition of life fulfillment/happiness, some would say in contrary. Obesity was also for a long time mark of wealth (and in some 3rd world countries it still is), and now its a sign of low social status and failure for various reasons.

Btw life expectancy i starting to decline again in developed countries, its just 3rd world that has so much gap to cross that they still go up.

[api]

When I said recent history I meant the last roughly 20 years, when the trend has been for gains to go to a smaller and smaller number of people.

Of course historically this does seem to be a cycle. Usually it goes gilded age, revolution, broad-based growth, emergence of a new elite, repeat cycle. Unfortunately the revolution period is often very chaotic and destructive.

[exe34]

How will you pay for the cars err electricity err I mean refrigerators err I mean personal computers err I mean mobile devices when you have no income?

[abenga]

It is possible for luxuries to become easier to have, but still have entire generations unable to buy homes or retire.