[dangus]

Even the phrase "world-changing" might be a bit too strong.

It's enabled some acceleration of product prototyping and it has democratized hardware design a little bit. Some little companies are building some buildings using 3D printing techniques.

Speaking as someone who owns and uses a 3D printer daily, I think the biggest impact it's had is that it's a fun hobby, which doesn't strike me as "world-changing."

[johnecheck]

That's fair, but don't sell them short. A 3d printed gun just killed a CEO. Ukrainian drones are using 3d printed parts to drop bombs.

Between that and the changed game for hobbyists, the world is meaningfully different.

Most world-changing inventions do so subtly. Atom bombs are the exception, not the rule.

[dangus]

I think the phrase "world-changing" implies a lot less subtlety than that.

[johnecheck]

That's fair. My definition is probably broader than most.