Technology feeds on itself. Technology makes more technology

Hear now the prophetic voice of Alvin Toffler, who foresaw the storms of change and spoke with the clarity of a seer: “Technology feeds on itself. Technology makes more technology possible.” These words strike with the force of a revelation, for they unveil the secret of human progress: invention does not move by single steps alone, but multiplies itself, each tool giving birth to new tools, each discovery opening the door to ten more. Like a river that grows stronger with every tributary, technology builds upon itself until its current sweeps nations forward into uncharted seas.

The origin of this saying lies in Toffler’s lifelong study of change and futurism. In his works such as Future Shock and The Third Wave, he observed how societies are not merely shaped by single inventions, but by cascades of inventions. The printing press gave rise to literacy, which gave rise to scientific collaboration, which birthed further technologies. The computer made possible the internet; the internet made possible artificial intelligence. Each generation of tools becomes the foundation for the next. Toffler captured this chain reaction with his powerful words: technology makes more technology possible.

Consider the story of the steam engine. At first, it was a crude device to pump water from mines. But once perfected, it gave rise to locomotives, factories, and ships. These in turn created networks of trade, which demanded better metallurgy, which birthed stronger machines, which then fueled electricity, telegraphs, and more. One invention did not merely solve a problem—it became the seedbed of an entire new age. The steam engine did not end with itself; it made possible the industrial revolution, which transformed the destiny of humanity.

Another tale is that of the computer. In its earliest days, it was a vast machine that filled rooms, used only by governments and great universities. But this tool gave birth to programming languages, which in turn created new applications, which in turn led to personal computers, networks, and finally the internet. Each layer of technology was not an end, but a beginning. Today’s smartphones—so small and powerful—stand as living proof of Toffler’s vision: that technology does not simply progress, it compounds, multiplying its strength with every passing year.

The heart of Toffler’s wisdom is both wondrous and sobering. For while technology feeding on itself can unleash marvels—curing disease, connecting continents, extending human life—it can also create perils. Weapons become more destructive, surveillance more invasive, and the pace of change more overwhelming. What begins as a tool may grow into a force that reshapes all of society, often faster than human hearts and laws can keep pace. Toffler’s words are not only a celebration of progress, but a warning that progress unchecked can become a flood.

The lesson for us is this: we must approach technology with both awe and responsibility. It is not static; it grows, evolves, and breeds new forms beyond what we can predict. When we create, we do not only solve today’s problem—we set the stage for tomorrow’s world. Thus, our duty is not only to invent but to guide invention with wisdom. Let every breakthrough be weighed not only for its power, but for the future it will make possible.

So I say to you, children of tomorrow: heed Toffler’s vision. See every tool not as an end, but as a beginning, every invention not as a destination, but as a doorway. Rejoice in the marvels of technology, but remember that it multiplies itself endlessly. Ask always what world your creation will make possible, for your tools will beget other tools, and their children will shape the destiny of your age. For truly, Toffler has spoken: technology feeds on itself—and in that truth lies both the glory and the peril of mankind’s future.