“My initial motivation for studying quantum computing was a desire to understand the fundamental computational limits of the universe. Even in the absence of practical applications, I believed this pursuit was worthwhile as the most rigorous test of quantum mechanics to date. In fact, I often joke that disproving quantum computing sceptics is the primary application of a quantum computer, with everything else being a bonus.”— Scott Aaronson
The quote archive
A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.
The essence of the evolving global economic system is that all countries are dependent on one another in some way, and this includes finance. Emerging and developing countries are dependent on capital inflows from developed regions. But developed regions are also dependent on funds from the developing world!
— Professor Wim NaudéEconomics professor specializing in entrepreneurship, innovation, and development in Africa
There is something about the female psyche which is intensely social, and the most trivial conversations become part of the process of bonding. They may appear trivial but there will be a lot more un-stated below the surface - a form of commitment.
— Robin DunbarEvolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory
If you imagine the archetypal social environment we have, probably until the beginning of the twentieth century, we saw our network, our community, every day. If a relative emigrated, we lost track of them very quickly and the family link disappeared as it was a very 'up front' person to person relationship.
— Robin DunbarEvolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory
Modern society, specifically the modern economy, is very mobile. Our friendships and social networks become very quickly dispersed. At any one time, we build friendships and relationships with people and, for example, due to work, move on.
— Robin DunbarEvolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory
Like all primates, we are an intensely social species, and having our friends, cohorts, and acquaintances close is important to our general success. In these senses 'keeping the wheels oiled' is critical, hence why we like gossip, and hence why biographies and fiction so wildly outsell anything else in the books market.
— Robin DunbarEvolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory
The price of technology comes down every year, year after year, and I see no immediate end in sight to that process. What this means is that the poorest people in the world will soon have the possibility to access the Internet in some form, and eventually will have 'ordinary' access to it.
— Jimmy WalesCo-Founder of Wikipedia & Online Encyclopedia Pioneer
While participatory culture can create a Wikipedia, it is not likely to produce something like the Star Wars franchise. I don't think that's a problem, because I don't think we have to choose between participatory and top-down culture – both will thrive.
— Jimmy WalesCo-Founder of Wikipedia & Online Encyclopedia Pioneer
With participatory culture, economics dictates that we pour more resources into building an infrastructure platform that anyone can use, so most resources go into empowering 'the long tail'. Small groups of people can come together and make use of a powerful infrastructure to enable them to pursue their own passions and interests, without regard for popularity.
— Jimmy WalesCo-Founder of Wikipedia & Online Encyclopedia Pioneer
I think the biggest technological innovation that will impact Wikia – and the Internet more broadly – is the continuing progress we are seeing in reducing the costs of communication technology, such that it will reach the entire planet in relatively short order. Just think about what happens when the next billion people come online, and the next two billion after that.
— Jimmy WalesCo-Founder of Wikipedia & Online Encyclopedia Pioneer
The concept of Wikia is to provide a platform for communities to build 'the rest of the library', everything that doesn't belong in an encyclopaedia. The purpose is to empower the next wave of massive collaboration, and to extend participatory culture beyond just the non-profit educational and reference works.
— Jimmy WalesCo-Founder of Wikipedia & Online Encyclopedia Pioneer
We are now living with a great deal of uncertainty, which will increase. As a society, though, we have to be prepared for threats we cannot conceive, we must build resilience not just in developed countries, but particularly in conflict areas.
— Kristiina RintakoskiUnknown.
I think that inequality within societies and between regions has become a key cause for conflict, exacerbated by rapid information dissemination, as people are (now) more aware of inequalities.
— Kristiina RintakoskiUnknown.
Concepts like democracy and human rights will always remain fairly abstract if you cannot feed your family. It is therefore important to ensure that job creation, and protecting livelihoods occurs early on in the process.
— Kristiina RintakoskiUnknown.
The fundamental starting point is to acknowledge that outside actors can rarely create peace, local ownership in resolving the conflicts is vital. You cannot import peace, it is created within society.
— Kristiina RintakoskiUnknown.
Over 70% of the labour force in sub-Saharan Africa is involved in agriculture. This means the sector forms a lynch-pin of society.
— Susan PayneUnknown.
Over half the sub-Saharan African population is under 18 years old, versus Latin America, where over half the population is under 25 years old and Asia, where it is under 35 years old. These EM populations are young, expansive and dynamic.
— Susan PayneUnknown.