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How to rank the impact of innovations on humanity and how much they really changed the world.
Everything seems so important these days:
Learn to rationally understand what matters to humanity and what is just noise.
It's easy to tell that the invention of Writing itself is more important than Velcro. But...
History has opinions.
So it's time to build a scale that lets us rationally measure global impact.
Introducing the Innovation Richter Scale - a 1 to 10 rating system that lets you rank absolutely anything you can think of.
NOTE - This episode expands on the Technological Richter Scale proposed by Nate Silver. (see references)
ABOUT
How to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission.
It is written, edited, and recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris. (He also makes the music)
Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia.
References
Nate Silver - One The Edge (2024)
Nate's book is about risk analysis and the future of AI. The final chapter proposes a Technological Richter Scale, with a page on how to use it.
Zvi Mowshowitz - AI and the Technological Richter Scale (2025)
A good summary of Nate's ideas, on how the scale applies to AI. Also quotes Nate's page guide for each level and argues a few changes.
Grant Lichtman - Innovation: Are We Overlooking "Magnitude" With "Frequency" (2013)
A short blog that suggests it might be nice to use a logarithmic Richter scale or a Madonna curve to measure innovation.
Chapters:
00:00 Innovation Richeter Scale
01:47 Why create a Scale?
03:47 Earthquake Metaphor
06:16 Invention, Innovation, Technology
06:56 Ranking Magnitude not Morality
08:08 The Innovation Richter Scale - Level 1 - 10
08:11 Level 1 - Shower thoughts
08:29 Level 2 - Actioned Idea (In private)
08:49 Level 3 - Public ideas (Not popular)
10:17 Level 4 - Popular and commercial ideas
11:08 Level 5 - Defining Brand
12:38 Level 6 - Innovation of the year
15:59 Level 7 - Innovation of the Decade
18:19 Level 8 - Innovation of the Century
21:29 Level 9 - Innovation of the Era
23:53 Level 10 - Species Epoch
28:31 Part 2 - Using the scale
29:45 Weapons & Tools of Death - Brands, Categories and Concepts
33:58 Politics & Population Impact - Local, Continental and Global
38:00 Questions without answers
38:38 Sports & Religion - Emotional Impact and Purpose
41:01 Peter Thiel and Chess
41:47 Religion and Personal Beliefs in interpreting the scale
43:33 Roundup conclusions
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to rank the impact of innovations on humanity and how much they really changed the world.
Everything seems so important these days:
Learn to rationally understand what matters to humanity and what is just noise.
It's easy to tell that the invention of Writing itself is more important than Velcro. But...
History has opinions.
So it's time to build a scale that lets us rationally measure global impact.
Introducing the Innovation Richter Scale - a 1 to 10 rating system that lets you rank absolutely anything you can think of.
NOTE - This episode expands on the Technological Richter Scale proposed by Nate Silver. (see references)
ABOUT
How to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission.
It is written, edited, and recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris. (He also makes the music)
Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia.
References
Nate Silver - One The Edge (2024)
Nate's book is about risk analysis and the future of AI. The final chapter proposes a Technological Richter Scale, with a page on how to use it.
Zvi Mowshowitz - AI and the Technological Richter Scale (2025)
A good summary of Nate's ideas, on how the scale applies to AI. Also quotes Nate's page guide for each level and argues a few changes.
Grant Lichtman - Innovation: Are We Overlooking "Magnitude" With "Frequency" (2013)
A short blog that suggests it might be nice to use a logarithmic Richter scale or a Madonna curve to measure innovation.
Chapters:
00:00 Innovation Richeter Scale
01:47 Why create a Scale?
03:47 Earthquake Metaphor
06:16 Invention, Innovation, Technology
06:56 Ranking Magnitude not Morality
08:08 The Innovation Richter Scale - Level 1 - 10
08:11 Level 1 - Shower thoughts
08:29 Level 2 - Actioned Idea (In private)
08:49 Level 3 - Public ideas (Not popular)
10:17 Level 4 - Popular and commercial ideas
11:08 Level 5 - Defining Brand
12:38 Level 6 - Innovation of the year
15:59 Level 7 - Innovation of the Decade
18:19 Level 8 - Innovation of the Century
21:29 Level 9 - Innovation of the Era
23:53 Level 10 - Species Epoch
28:31 Part 2 - Using the scale
29:45 Weapons & Tools of Death - Brands, Categories and Concepts
33:58 Politics & Population Impact - Local, Continental and Global
38:00 Questions without answers
38:38 Sports & Religion - Emotional Impact and Purpose
41:01 Peter Thiel and Chess
41:47 Religion and Personal Beliefs in interpreting the scale
43:33 Roundup conclusions
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.