| Era | 1760-1870 | 1870-1947 | 1947-1983 | 1983–2024 | 2024 - ???? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolution | Mechanization | Mass production | Automation | Connectivity | Cognitive |
| Iconic invention | Steam engine | Electricity and assembly lines | Electronics and IT | Internet and smart phone | AI |
| Revolutionized production, shifting labor from hand tools to machines. | The era of big factories, mass production and mass consumption. | The era of automation, and the beginning of robotics transforming job roles. | The information age connects people and information, globalizing both commerce and workforces. | LLMs and generative AI fundamentally alter how information is processed and decisions are made and how quickly output is generated. |