The Six Ds of Exponential Technologies

Maggie Sun
3 min readSep 14, 2023

The Six Ds of Exponentials is a framework developed by Peter Diamandis, a well-known entrepreneur, author, futurist, and the founder of the XPRIZE Foundation and Singularity University. The framework explains the six stages that technologies and innovations typically go through, offering valuable insights into how technological advancements can reshape industries, economies, and societies.

1. Digitization: The first stage involves the digital transformation of information, products, or services. This is when analog processes or products are converted into digital formats, making them easier to manipulate and distribute. For example, the digitization of music has transformed the entire music industry. With the advent of digital music, people can now access millions of songs from anywhere in the world.

2. Deception: In the early stages of exponential technologies, their growth can be deceptive. They may not appear to be significant, but they are quietly advancing and doubling in power, often unnoticed by most people. For example, in the early days of the internet, many people dismissed it as a fad that would never catch on. However, as more and more people began to use the internet, it became clear that it was here to stay.

3. Disruption: Once a technology or innovation reaches a certain point in its growth curve, it can disrupt…

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Maggie Sun
Maggie Sun

Written by Maggie Sun

MBA, certified agile coach and experienced strategy analyst, specializing in business agility, agile leadership, Beyond Budgeting, and general management.

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