WTF: Materials of War

We Talk Friday Ep. 9: Materials of War

Do you remember how after the Twin Towers attack travel security changed forever, with all kinds of bands on liquid sizes, and nail clippers, and shoes coming off, and all toiletries in clear plastic bags - because everything could be used as a weapon. Then there were websites and security experts showing that even with all the bans, much of the acceptable items could be used as weapons of some kind anyway. Trillions spent on stopping terrorism on planes, but most of the planes that are falling out of the sky - are due to Boeing's shoddy production and design practices.

Trillions spent on security upgrades around the world.

It kind of reminds me a bit of the trade wars that are currently ongoing, where the US government said that China couldn't have high-end AI-powering chips from Nvidia for national security reasons, and everyone was okay with that. China's nerds developed AI cheaper and faster anyway. Now, China is limiting access to some rare earth minerals that are needed for wind turbine, batteries, robotics and *military gear, *citing security concerns.

The problem is - the US can't replace the supply.

Perhaps their nerds will innovate away from the need for these minerals that China controls 90% of the supply of - but that is going to take some time. Because while software is pretty easy to develop, physical material can't be created out of thin air. It is a good reminder as to the real value of the trillion dollar software companies - they are valuable because of the userbase willing to spend, not the software.

And I think it also highlights that while the world has changed as the digital revolution has taken off, when push comes to shove, tangible still has value. However, over the last years where we have embraced the online world, we have put massive amounts of value into the intangible, where the economies are driven by untouchable assets, whether it be business software, a social platform, or a gaming app on a device. Again, trillions, and trillions spent - on nothing.

There is security in storing untouchable value, but there has to also be the realisation that at least at this point in our technological knowhow, we live in the real world. A digital roof doesn't keep us warm, and a bite of a digital apple doesn't fill the stomach.

Maybe, if there is any "good" to come out of all of the economic greed and stupidity of politicians and billionaires, it is that it might highlight that the "own nothing and be happy" slogan is bullshit. Own nothing might give freedom in some way, but when personal supply chains are reliant on others who are able to throttle them at will, then owning nothing means having nothing to trade.

Well, maybe your body.

Taraz
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