More evenly distributed - The remote work revolution

Signals from the future:

Emerging trends that are likely to drive changes to the way we live, work and do business.

Robotics

• World’s First Fully Autonomous, AI-Powered Restaurant Opening in Southern California - Miso Robotics - The world's first fully autonomous restaurant will feature advanced food technology and create a safer working environment.
• How Robotics and AI Will Shape a Circular Economy - Reuse All Detritus - A brief but informative vision of integration of robotics and AI will transform recycling, improving efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and creating a more sustainable future.

AI & Automation

• Coscientist - ChatGPT 4 AI-Powered Chemist That Can Design Reactions And Make Drugs On Its Own - Times Enigma - New tool crawls scientific literature, designs chemical reactions, and creates drugs.
• AI could be humanity’s last chance to meet climate goals. Here’s why - Fortune - AI has the potential to mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, but policymakers must prioritise innovation, efficiency, and renewable energy.
• Human Cognition Enhanced By AI Use - Neuroscience News - Training in new forms of human-AI interaction improves complex working memory and switching skills of language professionals.

Climate & Sustainability

• These scientists want to put a massive 'sunshade' in orbit to help fight climate change - space.com - A proposal to construct a space-based sunshade to combat climate change. Surely this is the worst outcome scenario?
• In the clean-energy future, every battery will have a passport - Quartz - The Global Battery Alliance is using a battery passport to ensure sustainability and responsibility in the battery industry and could be a good use case for blockchain technologies.
• US nuclear-fusion lab enters new era: achieving ‘ignition’ over and over - Nature - Scientists at the US National Ignition Facility have achieved nuclear fusion ignition, paving the way for further research and development in fusion energy.

Tech

• Liquid crystal elastomers make morphing fabric - Physicsworld - MIT and Northeastern University researchers have developed a shape-changing fibre that can be used to create adaptive garments.
• Solar-Powered ‘Smart’ Clothing Could Rapidly Heat or Cool Your Body - Singularity Hub - Solar-powered "smart" clothing material adjusts body temperature by storing and releasing heat, eliminating the need for air conditioning.
• Lab on a chip may offer made-to-order medical testing - Futurity - A 3D-printed "lab on a chip" has been developed, allowing on-the-spot testing without external power sources. It has the potential to revolutionise rapid testing and improve patient care.
• Jeff Bezos plays down AI dangers and says one trillion humans could live in huge cylindrical space stations - marketwatch.com - Jeff Bezos believes AI can save humanity and envisions large space colonies as an alternative to colonising other planets.

Focus Issue:

As we head into the holiday season, I wanted to delve a bit deeper into the future of remote work. As someone who works primarily from home, the intersection of my "work space" and "home space" is quite large. It's taken quite a lot of work on my part using techniques from mindfulness to be able to step away from work stuff when I'm with the family, or home stuff when I'm working, so that I can be present in the moment. I tend to feel that things like this are often overlooked when thinking about the future of remote work - that the savings in time and money should be redirected to some coaching for individuals to live and work in an optimum way for their goals.

I think this is why you see things like Gartner pointing out that managers are transitioning from performance evaluation to coaching and teaching, with a need to operate with empathy in an increasingly hybrid work environment. And key to working in these environments is strategic clarity and outcome-based management.

Going a bit further, Gartner also argues that the emphasis on employee well-being is becoming paramount with focus on expanding data collection to consider things like biorhythms and nutritional requirements. This might seem a bit big-brother-ish, and I'm sure there'll be instances of some organisations doing this poorly, but there is an amount of a duty-of-care that employers have.

Another trend is the rise of part-time work, with job advertisements for part-time roles doubling in the last decade. This, coupled with the growing popularity of the four-day work week, suggests a significant shift in work patterns towards flexibility and work-life balance.

To help meet this future of a growing need for professionals who excel in remote collaboration and digital communication, universities are adapting by recognising the importance of preparing students for this evolving work landscape.

Finally, the potential of AI to address the talent shortage is a development worth noting. Forbes discusses how AI can redefine talent strategies by making roles more attractive and streamlining recruitment processes. This could be a game-changer in how organisations approach the growing demand for skilled workers, in office and remote roles.

For knowledge and office workers, it's clear that the future of work for them is that a workplace is not just a physical space but a concept that encompasses time and space flexibility, more autonomy and accountability, and being more aware of their physical and psychological health. The organisations that will thrive are the ones that also recognise this and will find ways to prioritise wholehearted wellbeing for their employees.

Consider these strategic insights:

• Embrace Flexible Work Arrangements: With remote and part-time work on the rise, businesses should adapt to offer more flexibility in work patterns, including options for a four-day work week and hybrid models to attract and retain talent.
• Reskill and Upskill the Workforce: As digitisation and AI integration continue to transform job roles, companies must invest in continuous learning and development programs to prepare employees for future cognitive and technical demands.
• Enhance Employee Well-Being: Implement monitoring systems for workplace productivity and employee wellness that consider biorhythms and other personal health aspects, ensuring a balance between professional and personal life in remote settings.
• Reimagine Leadership Roles: Transition middle managers from traditional performance evaluators to coaches and mentors who can provide empathy and support in a hybrid work environment, focusing on outcomes and personal development.
• Leverage AI for Talent Strategies: Utilise AI to make roles more attractive and efficient in recruitment to address talent shortages, while preparing the workforce to collaborate with virtual counterparts and smart machines.

Deep strategy:

Longer form articles rich with insights:

• Where Have All The Futurists Gone? - Medium - Theo Priestley discusses the decline of futurism and its transformation into a shallow and corporate-driven field. He calls for a return to imagination and critical thinking in order to create more meaningful visions of the future.

Business at the point of impact:

Emerging issues and technology trends can change the way we work and do business.

• Bridgewater, the US's biggest hedge fund, has a truly bizarre take on AI & robots replacing human workers. - Bridgewater - AI and machine learning advancements could lead to a low- or zero-marginal-cost world, reshuffling spending and economic activity. The development of AGI is uncertain.
• Bill Gates thinks AI will radically transform jobs, healthcare, and education. These are his predictions for the year ahead. - Business Insider - Key Insight: Bill Gates believes that AI will revolutionize jobs, healthcare, and education, with potential for personalized learning and combating antibiotic resistance.
• What Managers Should Ask About AI Models and Data Sets - MIT Sloan Management Review - Key insight: Many AI projects fail after deployment due to a lack of understanding and attention to data sets and models. Managers need to ask the right questions and understand the concept of "the right data" to prevent failures.
• The C-Suite Outlook On Generative AI In 2024 - Forbes - GenAI is a customisable solution for businesses, with CEOs focusing on strategy and legal leaders concerned about ethics. C-suite should prioritise critical outcomes and adapt to GenAI for future growth.
• How McDonald’s is future-proofing its business - Nation's Restaurant News - McDonald's is digitising its business to improve customer experiences, automate operations, and enhance cost savings.
• What 2023 Taught Us: The Rules Are Always Changing - INSEAD Knowledge - 2023 taught us that in a rapidly changing world, adaptability, self-awareness, and proactive action are key for success.
• The Eight Biggest HR Trends In 2024 - Forbes - HR professionals in 2024 will need to navigate the challenges of AI, adapt to the expectations of younger generations, and leverage HR tech tools.
• Not Sure Where to Start with Your AI Strategy? Here Are 3 Steps - Kellogg Insight - Developing an AI strategy involves understanding and utilizing data, educating oneself about AI, and crafting a comprehensive strategy that aligns with company goals.
• The Potential Of Embodied AI - Forbes - Embodied AI has the potential to revolutionise industries by integrating AI into physical systems, such as robots, and improving business operations.