Why “Think Different” is Necessary in a Digital Age Maria Callas (the way she “posed” in her “Apple Think Different” poster) The more I think about it the more I am convinced that automation forces us to re-visit, re-evaluate and re-think some of the fundamental “building blocks” of society. Think finance, business, work, energy, health and law. But this is not going to be easy. Take the example of work. Broadly speaking, we can distinguish between two “schools of thought”, even amongst those who accept that automation will soon transform the workplace. The first group points to the emergence of mass poverty, wealth inequality and new forms of social exclusion as a result of automation depriving large sections of the workforce of employment opportunities. The second group takes a more “positive” view. They are convinced that we will find ways to deal with these issues. They believe that those groups that have traditionally performed “routine” work will be able to find alternatives. But, in one important sense, it doesn’t matter which group you belong to. There is no “right” answer. The crucial point is that the future is open and everyone is going to have to “ ” in the “creation of a new automated world”. Think Different The use of a “Think Different” strategy to usher in a new era is not new. In late 1997, Apple adopted the slogan “Think Different” to re-launch the brand, go back to basics and focus on “what really matters”. Twenty years later, what strikes me is how relevant the slogan still is today. In fact, I believe the mantra of “Think Different” is even more important to society now than it was for in 1997. Apple Here’s why. Technological Revolution is Different This We are on the brink of a “new world” centered around digitization, automation and machine intelligence. , but I genuinely believe that this technological revolution is different from previous technological revolutions of the last 250 years. I have written about this before The challenge of coming to terms with these “differences” requires us all to “ ”. Think Different #1 — The Complexity of Technological Change Current technological innovations in the area of smart machines, sensors, big data, etc., appear to be faster and more wide-ranging. The pace of digitization and automation is accelerating. This makes perfect sense. The developments in the different “automation technologies”, such as machine learning, blockchain technology, Internet of Things and data-analytics, are all accelerating each other. Not a single day passes by without me being amazed by new technologies. Anyone who doubts the pace and complexity of change should follow one of the many websites that are now devoted to the daily chronicling of technological discoveries. My own current favorite is . Futurism _There are growing concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will slowly take more jobs away from people…_futurism.com IT experts foresee 60 percent of businesses affected by automation within five years We are living through an era of the exponential growth of new technologies. Moreover, technological innovation now has a character, in the sense that significant discoveries can happen almost anywhere. And — thanks to the Internet — the dissemination of the latest innovation is also global and almost simultaneous. global This process of constant and unrelenting technological change will only get faster as more resources are devoted to developing even more technologies. #2 — The Key Role of Consumers in Driving Innovation Previous technological revolutions were, broadly speaking, spearheaded and controlled by a combination of industry and (national) governments working together to deliver innovation to the market. But this time, things seem to be different. play a much more central role in both driving technological change and determining its scope and impact. Consumers Consumers today are often among the first group to “experiment” with new innovations. Think of smart phones, drones, games, etc. What is interesting is that whenever new innovations make life more convenient or meaningful for consumers, they are very quickly accepted by society as a whole. This widespread consumer adoption of new innovations has a number of interesting side effects. Access to finance becomes easier. Professional investors, such as venture capital funds and “angels”, naturally gravitate to technologies with mass consumer appeal. But, increasingly, innovators can turn to the public for funding (through crowdfunding or initial coin offerings). This then feeds the “hype” which encourages even more professional investors to invest in what is perceived as the “next big thing”. The “next big thing” argument plays a key role in convincing large corporations to invest heavily in new automation and digitization applications. Consumer success provides a powerful override to the in-built cautiousness of established corporations when dealing with innovation. Finally, governments see innovations with broad consumer appeal as a powerful means to boost economic growth or other public policy goals. For example, innovation can provide an opportunity for a government to solve demographic issues (think Japan) or as a means to project a youthful and dynamic image to the world (think Singapore). #3 – The Uncertain Social Effects of New Technologies The social effects and meaning of new technologies today are more dynamic and complex than with previous technological revolutions. , we struggle to come to terms with how automation impacts on society. As I discussed last week The process of automation often occurs unnoticed. From a consumer-user point of view, the “best” (i.e., most convenient) technologies facilitate action, but quickly disappear into the “background”. This transparent quality makes any assessment of the social effects of new technologies difficult to assess. What is also different about the digital revolution is that whereas the social effects of previous technologies unrolled over decades, the social effects of the automation efforts today occur over a much shorter time horizon and these social effects are geographically more dispersed and affect aspect of social life. every The result? New technologies require us to “ ” about the most fundamental “building blocks” of society. Think Different “ ” as the Mantra of a “Digital Age” Think Different The urgency of responding to new “automation technologies” means that we don’t have time to adopt a “wait-and-see” approach. We need to be proactive in determining automation is affecting society. how This requires us to set aside traditional ways of thinking and — by “Thinking Different” — find new ways of thinking that are more appropriate for the new realities of a digital age. More and more of us believe that issues regarding bureaucracy, middlemen, legacy systems, human error, corruption and fraud can be solved by automated technologies. Particularly, the combination of blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, robots and sensors offer a powerful and “convenient” alternative for business, consumers and government. Here are just a few examples of the impact of “automation technologies”: Centralized banking systems and financial organizations are slowly but surely being “replaced” by peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding strategies. We see a growth in communities and smart grids taking ownership of renewable energy. _Executive Summary Blockchain has grabbed the attention of the heavily-regulated power industry as it braces for an…_hbr.org How Utilities Are Using Blockchain to Modernize the Grid There is a shift in how we think about “ownership” and “organizations” as a result of the technology-driven “sharing economy”. Life expectancy is gradually increasing, again as a result of technological revolution. _With great computing power comes great possibilities. That's what supercomputers offer society, according to Jean…_futurism.com Supercomputers Could Help Extend Human Life Expectancy By a Decade The use of smart (automated, code-based) contracts has the potential to transform legal transactions and enforcement. Trust is being automated by the use of prediction algorithms, sensors and blockchain technologies. The new world of automation means that we will have to re-think banking, tax, retirement and pension policies, as well as employment. It will also have a significant impact on our legal systems, which will have to be re-visited in light of the sharing economy and blockchain. And the implications for energy and the environment are similarly far-reaching. We need to “ ” in order to create a better future together. Think Different _Ida Auken, Member of Parliament, Parliament of Denmark (Folketinget)_medium.com Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better Think “Different Education” So, what’s next? Where do we begin? Well, we need to start by giving the necessary skills to “ ”. everyone Think Different I have written before about education and the importance of positioning myself as a co-creator, collaborator and influencer for the students, rather than the more traditional role of “teacher”. My experience of this new approach is promising. By reflecting together on the “digital age”, we (both educators and students) gain a better understanding of the world that we are currently living in and will certainly live in tomorrow. “ ” seems to be an appropriate and significant first step to introduce in all levels of education. It is a powerful way to think about the distinctiveness of a “digital age”. Think Different Even more importantly, it can be used as a mantra to stimulate and activate the necessary combination of creativity and teamwork that we will all need to navigate the uncertain automated world to come. 👏 Thank you for reading! Please click and hold the below, or leave a comment. There is a new story every week. So if you follow me you won’t miss my latest insights about how the digital age is changing the way we live and work.

Apple

Funding

Routine

Too Long; Didn't Read

Developers: Build Less. Deliver More. [Learn how]	

Automation and the “Creation of a New World”

Too Long; Didn't Read

Companies Mentioned

Erik P.M. Vermeulen

About Author

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN...

Automation and the “Creation of a New World”

Too Long; Didn't Read

Companies Mentioned

Erik P.M. Vermeulen

About Author

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN...

RELATED STORIES