Week ending 30 November 2023
Signals from the future:
Emerging trends that are likely to drive changes to the way we live, work and do business.
- Training seafarers for a decarbonised future - Ship Management International - A project to train 800K sailors on how to work in low-carbon environments. Part of battling climate change will be investing in skills.
- The labour market will stay tight as shifting demographics keep draining the talent pool, warns multinational recruitment agency CEO - Fortune - Shifting demographics, such as an aging population and declining birth rates, will create a talent shortage in the labour market.
- New Pearson Research Shows Generative AI Will Have Greater Impact on White Collar Jobs Than Blue Collar Jobs in Next 10 Years - Tech Times - Generative AI is expected to have a greater impact on white collar jobs than blue collar jobs in the next decade.
- Mother plucker: Steel fingers guided by AI pluck weeds rapidly and autonomously - Ars Technica - Discover how Ekobot's autonomous weeding robot uses AI and metal fingers to identify and remove weeds, reducing herbicide usage by 70%.
- Many Companies are Looking for Individuals who can Work as Prompt Engineers and AI Heads - Digital Information World - AI taketh, and AI giveth. Prompt engineers earning upwards of $375K.
- Hong Kong start-up reveals liquid microalgae tech for capturing CO2 - Interesting Engineering | Technology, Science, Innovation News and Videos - Biotech is likely the only way to practically scale up carbon capture.
- Could AI Chatbots Be Our Future Therapists? A Psychologist Weighs In - Forbes - Discover the potential of AI chatbots as therapists in mental healthcare. Learn about the challenges of accessing traditional therapy and how AI chatbots can provide consistent support, overcome barriers, and reach individuals in remote areas.
- Video-to-sound tech allows blind people to recognize faces - New Atlas - Blind individuals can recognize faces using auditory cues with a sensory substitution device developed by neuroscientists.
- By Alexander Mirza, Sahar Cain and Gurvinder Batra - Hospitality Net - AI technology is revolutionizing the hotel industry, providing personalised experiences, streamlining processes, and enhancing sustainability.
- Ghost kitchens neighbours - Residents living near Cloud Kitchens in the Bay Area face challenges such as traffic congestion and blocked driveways as they exist in a grey area of regulation.
- Pentagon's AI initiatives accelerate hard decisions on lethal autonomous weapons - AP News - The Pentagon is increasing its use of AI in military operations, including the development of lethal autonomous weapons.
- Revolutionizing Eco-Friendly Architecture: The Wind Turbine Wall Innovation - Impact Lab - Meet the Wind Turbine Wall, a revolutionary eco-friendly architecture that combines beauty and function.
- Meet six real-life giant mech robots - Humanity Redefined - Discover six real-life giant mech robots that have gained popularity for their practical and entertainment uses.
Focus Issue:
Human augmentation, also known as Human 2.0, is a rapidly evolving field that seeks to enhance human abilities through the integration of medicine and technology. This enhancement can take various forms, from replicating and supplementing human abilities to exceeding them, pushing the boundaries of what is humanly possible. This Day1Tech article provides a comprehensive overview of the three categories of human augmentation: replicating, supplementing, and exceeding.
One of the most surprising developments in this field is the use of neurostimulation to enhance motor control in stroke patients. A clinical trial conducted in 2017 involved the surgical implantation of a neurostimulator to the vagus nerve of stroke patients with arm and hand disabilities. The results, published in The Lancet, showed significant improvement in the use of the patients' disabled limbs. This technology has the potential to enhance physical performance in healthy individuals, but it raises ethical questions about fairness, regulation, and access.
Another interesting development is the exploration of on-body technology to enhance human experiences. The recently launched Humane Pin is an example of the integration of devices into our clothing and things we wear.
While the benefits of human augmentation are clear, it is important to consider the ethical implications. The UK Ministry of Defence, in partnership with the German Bundeswehr Office for Defence Planning, has released a publication titled "Human Augmentation - The Dawn of a New Paradigm", which explores the potential implications of emerging human augmentation technologies on society, security, and defence. The publication highlights the need for early and regular engagement on the ethical, moral, and legal implications of human augmentation.
As we move forward, it is crucial to ensure that the benefits of human augmentation are distributed equitably and that no one is left behind. The future of human augmentation is here, and it is our responsibility to navigate it with care and foresight.
Consider these strategic insights:
- Invest in Human Augmentation R&D: Businesses should consider investing in research and development within the human augmentation field, focusing on technologies that can replicate, supplement, or exceed human capabilities, to stay ahead in the market.
- Develop Wearable AI and Mixed Reality Solutions: There is potential for growth in the wearable AI and mixed reality sectors. Businesses could develop products that enhance learning, interaction, and self-understanding, tapping into consumer and enterprise markets.
- Engage in Ethical Dialogue: Actively participate in ethical discussions regarding human augmentation to help shape regulations and public opinion. Being a part of this dialogue can position a company as a responsible leader in the field.
- Ensure Equitable Access: Businesses should work towards creating solutions in human augmentation that are accessible and equitable, preventing a divide between those who can afford enhancements and those who cannot.
Deep strategy:
Longer form articles rich with insights:
- Technology is amazing, and there are very high costs to delaying it - Vitalik Buterin - In response to Marc Andreesens's Techno Optimist Manifesto, Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin has penned his own more nuanced viewpoint. He covers a wide range of concerns, and this is well worth the long read.
- GenAI Could Transform How Health Care Works - Harvard Business Review - Generative AI language models like ChatGPT have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry. Leaders must understand the role of AI in technology substitution and ecosystem transformation and prepare for organisational design challenges.
- Paving the way to resilience: Strengthening public sector adaptation planning and execution - McKinsey & Company - Discover the key actions governments and government agencies can take to strengthen public sector adaptation planning and increase resilience to climate change. A long and data rich read.
Business at the point of impact:
Emerging issues and technology trends can change the way we work and do business.
- What does the future hold for generative AI? - MIT News - Key insights include the need for responsible development, collaboration among academia, policymakers, and industry, and the blurred line between science fiction and reality with powerful generative AI models.
- Leading in the Age of Exploding Transparency - MIT Sloan Management Review - Leaders face challenges in a hyper-transparent world. The article provides four strategies for leaders to navigate this environment, including embracing organizational honesty, reframing communications, focusing on communication skills, and combining them with emotional intelligence.
- An affordable, reliable, competitive path to net zero - McKinsey & Company - A successful net-zero transition will require achieving not one objective but four interdependent ones: emissions reduction, affordability, reliability, and industrial competitiveness.
- Launching A Superstar Startup In The Age Of Fractional Employment - Forbes - The traditional model of long-term careers is disappearing, leading to the rise of fractional work where employees focus on results and work for multiple employers. A model I'm sure we will see more of in the future.
- Future of Work Report: AI at Work - LinkedIn's Economic Graph -- A digital representation of the global economy - Discover how AI is impacting the world of work and shaping job roles, as revealed by the Future of Work Report.
- Building the Neurodiversity Talent Pipeline for the Future of Work - MIT Sloan Management Review - Discover how embracing the strengths of neurodivergent individuals can help address the labour shortage in the
- Energy demand: Turning a cost into an opportunity - PwC - Learn how organizations can address the energy trilemma by managing energy demand through decarbonization, decentralization, and digitization.
- Council Post: Beyond Efficiency: Unleashing Business Transformation Through Generative AI's Hidden Potential - Forbes - Discover how generative artificial intelligence (AI) can transform businesses by promoting creativity, innovation, and a shift in mindset.
- Rethinking the role of the middle manager - McKinsey & Company - Discover why the role of middle management is changing and how organizations are adapting to stay competitive in a rapidly changing business landscape. Learn about the shift towards decentralization and the need for middle managers to focus on coaching and mentoring rather than traditional supervisory tasks.
- An American Complexity Scientist says AI's upcoming detrimental effects on the elite and educated, will drive reactions far more than previous automation has had on the less educated and working class. - An interesting article into how AI will impact more than jobs and directly affect "social power" and the norms we are used to today.
- Can GenAI Do Strategy? - Harvard Business Review - Discover how an AI assistant developed a strategy in just 60 minutes, compared to a team of MBA students who took a week.
- Bill Gates' Forecast for a New Work Paradigm - Digital Information World - Artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially lead to a three-day workweek, according to Bill Gates. He believes that machines taking over tasks could provide individuals with more time for a balanced life.
