Progressive Policy Institute

A new essay argues that deliberately slowing the adoption of new technologies can be a virtue rather than an obstacle to progress. The piece makes the case for institutional caution, suggesting societies benefit when they resist pressure to deploy powerful tools — such as artificial intelligence or biotechnology — before understanding their consequences. It frames 'foot-dragging' as a form of democratic oversight, allowing time for regulation, public debate and the correction of early mistakes, and challenges the assumption that faster is always better in innovation policy.