Comment by vidarh
5 days ago
I'd argue that technological change that is a simple enough iteration of existing technology that it can be carried out by small groups of people will happen independent of culture with a very high probability once a population is large enough.
In this case, so many people are curious as to whether we can make this work and/or see financial implications that this will happen irrespective of whether wider culture rejects it.
Prioritizing profit above all is still a culture though. And it is the choice of a people to give a small group with large amount of money huge cultural influence.