3D printing is a technology whose time has come—Al Gore

Former Vice President Al Gore told an audience attending a conference sponsored by 3D printer manufacturer Desktop Metal that it takes longer than expected for new ways to take hold.

Quoting an economist, he said, “Things take longer to happen than you think. Then they happen much faster than you thought they could.”

Gore made the case that acceptance of technological breakthroughs like 3D printing is slower than expected because changes in thinking need to occur first. Often, the old ways of doing things—such as the 20th century practice of manufacturing parts in low-slung, one-story factories—must be razed before a new technology can gain traction.

So many changes had to take place before 3D printing could be accepted, said Gore. “The infrastructure. The thinking. The design of parts that could unleash the potential of 3D printing.”

He added that technological breakthroughs like additive manufacturing sharply reduce the use of materials, “not to mention an even sharper reduction in the use of energy.

“What's happening here is extremely important, not only for the future of manufacturing, the future of industry, and the future of business, but for the future of civilization itself,” said the former vice president.

Vice President Al Gore shown with (clockwise from left): Desktop Metal's co-founder Ely Sachs, CTO Jonah Myerberg, and CEO Ric Fulop.