Another question that's worth pondering is that perhaps the previous generation of technologies was simply easier to develop than the current generation - I bel

Another question that's worth pondering is that perhaps the previous generation of technologies was simply easier to develop than the current generation - I believe the economist Tyler Cowen proposes this theory in his book "The Great Stagnation". For example, it may be that silicon processors are just intrinsically easier to develop than quantum computers, traditional nuclear (fission) reactors are easier to develop than fusion reactors, better fertilizer is easier to develop compared to GMO crops, etc. Perhaps, as Cowen claims, we have already plucked all the low-lying technological fruit, so to speak.