--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because of the increased efficiency of…" description: "\"Because of the increased efficiency of machines, it is getting harder and harder for a human to make a productive contribution to society.\" — Sebastian..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/sebastian-thrun-3182_computers_because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-m_2551640.png" --- # Because of the increased efficiency of machines, it is… ![“Because of the increased efficiency of machines, it is getting harder and harder for a human to make a productive contribution to society.” quote by Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/sebastian-thrun-3182_computers_because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-m_2551640.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/sebastian-thrun-3182_computers_because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-m_2551640.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/sebastian-thrun-3182_computers_because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-m_2551640.png) > “Because of the increased efficiency of machines, it is getting harder and harder for a human to make a productive contribution to society.” [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Automation reduces human labor value, making meaningful contribution difficult. **In simple terms:** Machines make it harder for humans to add value. Key Takeaway Adapt skills to complement tech. Themes technology automation economics Mood reflective concerned Type analytical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - Career planning - education reform - policy making Key Concepts AI labor market productivity Questions to Reflect On - How can we stay relevant? - What roles resist automation? A Different Perspective Human creativity remains essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [Digitally enabled supply chains initially increased efficiency and dramatically shortened lead times. Capital was mobile; labor, less so. Economic activity (production, research, design, etc.)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/digitally-enabled-supply-chains-initially-increased-efficiency-and/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [The Apple has the fewest bells and whistles. It has simple sound and few graphics special effects. In a way, that is a weakness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-budge/the-apple-has-the-fewest-bells-and-whistles-it-has-simple-sound-and/) [Bill Budge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-budge/) > [Are machines getting more and more powerful? Absolutely. It's been going on since 1940. We are making progress, and for many people, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-vardi/are-machines-getting-more-and-more-powerful-absolutely-it-s-been/) [Moshe Vardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-vardi/) > [I am in the process of trying to decide whether I can make a substantive and productive contribution to the policy-making process. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bass/i-am-in-the-process-of-trying-to-decide-whether-i-can-make-a/) [Charles Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bass/) > [I hope to make a positive, productive contribution, as cheesy as that may sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/i-hope-to-make-a-positive-productive-contribution-as-cheesy-as-that/) [Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/) > [These times are so hard, and they're getting even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/these-times-are-so-hard-and-they-re-getting-even-harder/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [I have always lived beyond my means. I am still trying to live beyond my means, but it is getting harder all the time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sherman/i-have-always-lived-beyond-my-means-i-am-still-trying-to-live-beyond/) [Allan Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sherman/) > [I've spent so long on some paintings that I no longer know what to think of them, and I am definitely getting harder to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/i-ve-spent-so-long-on-some-paintings-that-i-no-longer-know-what-to/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Getting harder with each time I write, wish I could rewind last night. I had so much fun just kickin' it and goin' in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/getting-harder-with-each-time-i-write-wish-i-could-rewind-last-night/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [“These times are so hard, are they're getting even harder. ~ Eminem”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/these-times-are-so-hard-are-they-re-getting-even-harder-eminem/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Singing like I do is very hard, and as you get older, it's getting harder and harder all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-pickett/singing-like-i-do-is-very-hard-and-as-you-get-older-it-s-getting/) [Wilson Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-pickett/) > [In corporate life, I have noticed, it is getting harder and harder to say that things are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/in-corporate-life-i-have-noticed-it-is-getting-harder-and-harder-to/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [“It’s getting harder,” his breath caressed my cheek. “What is?” I asked. “To resist you,” his fingers flexed against me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/it-s-getting-harder-his-breath-caressed-my-cheek-what-is-i-asked-to/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [Now the current's only pulling me down Its getting harder too breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/3-doors-down/now-the-current-s-only-pulling-me-down-its-getting-harder-too-breath/) [3 Doors Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/3-doors-down/) > [Birthdays are getting harder as I get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/birthdays-are-getting-harder-as-i-get-older/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) ## More by Sebastian Thrun > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I'm really looking forward to a time when generations after us look back and say how ridiculous it was that humans were driving cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-m-really-looking-forward-to-a-time-when-generations-after-us-look/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [There will be no more one-size-fits-all. Education will respond to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/there-will-be-no-more-one-size-fits-all-education-will-respond-to-you/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-take-all-day-to-climb-mountains-and-then-spend-about-10-minutes-at/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Its a no-brainer for me that at some point our cars will have the ability to drive themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/its-a-no-brainer-for-me-that-at-some-point-our-cars-will-have-the/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I am particularly surprised that certain outlets look at pass rates irrespective of student population. As if inner city high school kids are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-am-particularly-surprised-that-certain-outlets-look-at-pass-rates/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [At the end of the day, the true value proposition of education is employment,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/at-the-end-of-the-day-the-true-value-proposition-of-education-is/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [When you raise a child, you don't sit down and take all the rules of life, write them into a big catalog, and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/when-you-raise-a-child-you-don-t-sit-down-and-take-all-the-rules-of/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Perhaps we can get to the point where we can outsource our own personal experiences entirely into a computer - and possibly our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/perhaps-we-can-get-to-the-point-where-we-can-outsource-our-own/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I wanted to participate in the political responsibilities of an American citizen. I wanted to vote. I wanted to be a full member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-wanted-to-participate-in-the-political-responsibilities-of-an/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It's my dream to make learning as addictive as a video game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/it-s-my-dream-to-make-learning-as-addictive-as-a-video-game/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I care about education for everyone, not just the elite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-care-about-education-for-everyone-not-just-the-elite/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Most rules that you think are written in stone are just societal. You can change the game and really reach for the stars and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/most-rules-that-you-think-are-written-in-stone-are-just-societal-you/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I find it amazingly easy to take something, if you really believe in it, and turn it to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-find-it-amazingly-easy-to-take-something-if-you-really-believe-in/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Education should learn from the positive side of gaming - reward, accomplishment, and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/education-should-learn-from-the-positive-side-of-gaming-reward/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) [Explore all 137 Sebastian Thrun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because of the increased efficiency of machines, it is getting harder and harder for a human to make a productive contribution to society.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sebastian Thrun" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-machines-it-is-getting-harder/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-machines-it-is-getting-harder/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/sebastian-thrun-3182_computers_because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-m_2551640.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/sebastian-thrun-3182_computers_because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-m_2551640.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11e/sebastian-thrun-3182_computers_because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-m_2551640.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Because of the increased efficiency of machines, it is getting harder and harder for a human to make a…” — Sebastian Thrun", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sebastian Thrun", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Because of the increased efficiency of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-machines-it-is-getting-harder/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/because-of-the-increased-efficiency-of-machines-it-is-getting-harder/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```