The Leap to the Moon: Dependencies and Innovation Over Time

When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon in 1969, their astonishing achievement was the result of a meticulously crafted web of dependencies. This endeavor spanned over eight arduous years, where every component had to align seamlessly for the mission to succeed. The Saturn V rocket needed to operate flawlessly, navigation systems had to process unprecedented amounts of data, tracking stations had to remain in perfect synchronization, and astronauts were required to rehearse every conceivable failure scenario. The financial backing from Washington was equally crucial, as it kept pace with President Kennedy’s ambitious promise of putting a man on the Moon. If any single link in this chain faltered, the entire mission could collapse.

The Miracle of Dependencies

The success of Apollo 11 transcended merely touching down on the lunar surface; it represented the flawless orchestration of thousands of bespoke parts—hardware, software, politics, and people, converging at the right moment in history. This incredible feat was not just about technology but also about how interconnected systems can pull together to create something extraordinary.

Fast forward half a century, and companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have demonstrated that space travel need not be fraught with the same precarious dependencies. While these modern ventures didn’t eliminate the inherent complexities of spaceflight, they drastically streamlined many of the dependencies that made earlier missions fragile. The advent of reusable rockets negated the necessity for a new Saturn V for every single launch. Modern computing has automated tasks that once required manual overrides. Additionally, vertical integration has minimized points of failure. The business model has shifted as well, evolving into scalable commercial platforms, indicating a move away from reliance on government funding.

Disruptive Acceleration: Gen AI’s Impact

Now, generative AI (Gen AI) is disrupting the landscape of innovation itself. Just as Apollo 11 showcased a miraculous alignment of dependencies, Gen AI is reshaping how we approach technological advancements by simplifying and collapsing the once-complex processes of innovation.

Shattering Adoption Curves

Consider the evolution of technology adoption. Three years ago, ChatGPT was merely an idea within the labs of OpenAI, but it now boasts 700 million users worldwide, approximately 16.5% of the global smartphone user base. This astounding rate of adoption outpaces any technology in history. For context, personal computers took nearly two decades to reach half of American households, broadband connections dragged on for over a decade, and smartphones took six years post-iPhone launch to hit the same milestone. Gen AI has shattered these historical records, reaching 100 million monthly users within just two months.

By mid-2025, about 34% of U.S. adults had directly interacted with ChatGPT, nearly doubling in just one year. Even more striking is that a Gallup survey found that 99% of U.S. adults had used at least one AI-enabled product within a week, with 64% unaware they were engaging with AI. This rapid acceptance signifies that Gen AI is not just another wave of technology but a fundamental shift in how innovation occurs.

The Technology Dependency Trap

Historically, transformative technologies faced a plethora of interconnected challenges that stymied their adoption. The personal computer needed affordable hardware, user-friendly software, and cultural readiness for widespread acceptance. Despite IBM’s PC launch in 1981, reaching a penetration of 50% in U.S. households took almost two decades.

Broadband’s story is even more complex. With DSL emerging in 1999, early adoption remained dismally low for years, barely exceeding single digits until 2007, when fewer than half of U.S. households had high-speed connections. The technological landscape required countless infrastructure improvements and technician visits, severely hampering growth.

Smartphones initially seemed to sidestep this trap with the iPhone’s launch in 2007, yet even they were delayed by dependencies—high carrier costs, lack of apps, and the need for 4G reliability, preventing adoption from surpassing 50% until 2013. Mobile wallets still grapple with deeply-rooted dependencies, needing perfect coordination between merchants, banks, and consumer habits.

The Great Collapse of Dependencies

Generative AI, however, has radically altered this paradigm by doing more with less. All that is required for Gen AI to thrive is a web browser or mobile app—no new hardware, infrastructure investments, or complicated setups are necessary. It simply leverages billions of existing devices and users’ familiarity with digital products to facilitate rapid adoption.

The models employed by Gen AI emphasize free basic access, encouraging exploration and continuous improvement from day one. This approach eliminates the dependencies that typically create friction in technology adoption, allowing curiosity to be the sole entry ticket for exploration.

Flipping the Technology Script

The longstanding trend where business adoption precedes consumer acceptance has been flipped on its head with Gen AI. While personal computers and the internet started in corporate environments, Gen AI burst onto the scene through consumer engagement, allowing users to experiment and incorporate it into daily life long before businesses caught on.

This consumer-first revolution sets expectations that companies must now scramble to meet. Employees using ChatGPT at home question why their workplaces don’t offer similar tools, while others bypass IT barriers altogether by using LLMs independently. As businesses wrestle with a myriad of additional hurdles—such as compliance and integration—consumers face a much simpler landscape of concerns, leading to a greater sense of urgency for businesses to adapt.

The Value Proposition Driving Gen AI

The core differentiator for Gen AI is its profound impact on productivity. Workers are reporting significant time savings in writing, analysis, and coding, completing projects in days instead of weeks. The technology not only enhances speed but also redefines what is achievable within a limited timeframe. Experiences that once felt sluggish or generic are instantly outdated in light of the advanced capabilities that Gen AI introduces.

The Road Ahead

Reflecting on the journeys of Apollo 11, SpaceX, and now Gen AI, we see distinct paths towards innovation. Apollo 11 taught us the power of aligned dependencies, while SpaceX and Blue Origin demonstrated how collapsing those dependencies can create the conditions for rapid success.

Gen AI stands at the forefront of redefining not only technological advancements but also how organizations position themselves in a rapidly changing landscape. By drastically reducing barriers that once hindered innovation, it sets the stage for unprecedented acceleration across various sectors. As we move forward, we are not merely witnessing faster adoption—we’re overcoming past dependencies and unlocking new avenues for creativity and efficiency.