“The best way to predict the future is to invent it,” stated Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, at the prestigious Milken 2016 Global Conference in Beverly Hills. At the event he put forward six “moonshot initiatives” that he believes will have a massive and long-lasting impact on the world. To the surprise of some was the inclusion of 3D printed buildings was on the list. Schmidt told the more than 3,500 prominent politicians, technologists and celebrities that, construction represents 5% of the economy, and that entire sector can be made cheaper, more efficient and superior when it begins to integrate 3D printing. Currently, construction is time-consuming, energy-intensive, wasteful and costly, he contended. With the use of 3D printing, however, construction times could be drastically decreased; furthermore almost any type of building could potentially be made from recycled materials and all production would take place on site. Schmidt also pointed out that […]