Stage 1: Hunter & gatherer societies
Stage 2: Agriculture societies
Stage 3: Industrial societies
Stage 4: Information societies (now)
Reason that I still didn't buy into "precious" metals for so long. Although certain physical materials are still required to develop stuff, information itself is driving the industry towards source substitutes.
Edit: although if you think about it, most cryptos are becoming like plastics of the industrial revolution.
RE: Gold Is Useless