There are broadly two adoption paths for new computing technologies: inside-out and outside-in
Inside-out technologies are pioneered by established institutions and later proliferate outward to the mainstream. Apple (followed by Google and others) pioneered the modern touchscreen smartphone, university and corporate research labs pioneered machine learning, and big tech companies like Amazon pioneered cloud computing.
Outside-in technologies, by contrast, start out on the fringes and only later move inward to established institutions. Open-source software started out as a niche anti-copyright movement. The web was invented at a physics lab and then built out by hobbyists and entrepreneurs. Social media began as a movement of idealistic blogging enthusiasts.
In the video below, Chris Dixon speaks with Buzzfeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti about modes of innovation and how they will drive the future of the Internet.
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