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I have a similar thought experiment (or Sci-Fi plot?) for a long time.

If an advanced alien civilization came to Earth, and helped ancient human civilizations to built and operate a computer system, which can share, store and translate scientific discoveries all across the globe (while they are not allowed to help humans besides operating the system) throughout 5000 years of history - how could it change the human history?

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The ancient humans would then also (eventually) develop patents because someone somewhere would have thought about it even back then - and with worldwide distribution - it would catch on. Effectively, what I'm saying is - when faced with a common greater good that is a game changer for humanity, humanity then has to collectively want the greater good. And humans can be selfish - ancient or not.

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