“Many processes are repeatable and only data inputs change.”
— Scott Shemwell, 2023.
Technology disruption has been with humankind since the first invention. We get used to one model and suddenly, a new way supplants the old. Much has been written about the innovation process, and it is not the focus of this Blog to regurgitate the obvious.
However, Wikipedia states, “Beyond business and economics disruptive innovations can also be considered to disrupt complex systems, including economic and business-related aspects. Through identifying and analyzing systems for possible points of intervention, one can then design changes focused on disruptive interventions.” This is the broader focus of this piece.
Human Redundancy?
One if the ongoing concerns, “will AI replace humans?” As of this writing, many do not believe it will, at least anytime soon. Interestingly, according to Harvard professor Karim Lakhani, “Just as the internet has drastically lowered the cost of information transmission, AI will lower the cost of cognition.” This is consistent with the traditional path of Information Technology innovation.
Moreover, this concern is not new. In her 1983 paper, Ironies of Automation, Lisanne Bainbridge posited that there are inherent problems with automating workflow, humans are still required for tasks that are not easily (if at all) automated. Oversight of automation requires more training in new job skills, not less. More recently, the former Chief Scientist of the US Air Force points out the “Original Ironies of Automation is highly relevant with regards to today’s new wave of AI-enhanced automation. Near misses and incidents involving human automation operations often arise from a mismatch between the properties of the system as a whole and the characteristics of human information processing.”
In our forthcoming book we address the need for Strong Oversight coupled with Standardization and Risk Tolerance to address the broader need for upskilling today. According to McKinsey, “Any engineering talent rethink needs to begin with an understanding of how gen AI will affect the product development life cycle.”
Paraphrasing Mark Twain, “The rumors of Human demise are greatly exaggerated.” AI is here to stay and should be embraced with cautionary guardrails as it is still immature and subject to error.
Human Factors
One pundit refers to the ‘Human Edge‘ as the competitive Advantage we have over machines. This pundit has long been an advocate for Human Factors when it comes to managing technology, especially emerging technology used for process or production management. The risk profile otherwise is just to0 steep and high. One only has to look at the recent travails of the once venerable firm, Boeing.
2025 and Beyond
Artificial Technology, its future derivative products and solutions not yet envisioned will continue. Most likely at the breakneck speed or faster of today. Remember when we used to think of the Internet growth in terms of Dog Years? Insect Years may be the new metric.
Many, including this writer as documented in our book, believe AI et al is just entering the explosive growth on the maturation curve. We must live with it and the most successful will get ‘on board’ when the timing is right for them.
Exciting times lie before us all and it is a great time to be alive, at least from a technology perspective.
How are you, your family and work colleagues prepared for the future?
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Navigating the Data Minefields:
Management’s Guide to Better Decision-Making
We are living in an era of data and software exponential growth. A substantive flood hitting us every day. Geek heaven! But what if information technology is not your cup of tea and you may even have your kids help with your smart devices? This may not be a problem at home; however, what if you job depends on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
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The author’s credentials in this field are available on his LinkedIn page. Moreover, Dr. Shemwell is a coauthor of the recently published book, “Smart Manufacturing: Integrating Transformational Technologies for Competitiveness and Sustainability.” His focus is on Operational Technologies.
We are also pleased to announce our forthcoming book to be published by CRC Press in 2025, Navigating the Data Minefields: Management’s Guide to Better Decision-Making. This is a book for the non-IT executive who is faced with making major technology decisions as firms acquire advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” (Martin Luther King speech at Cornell College, 1962). For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross-Cultural Serious Game. You can contact this author as well.
For more details regarding climate change models, check out Bjorn Lomborg and his book, False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet.
Regarding the economics of Climate Change, check out our blog, Crippling Green.
For those start-up firms addressing energy (including renewables) challenges, the author can put you in touch with Global Energy Mentors which provide no-cost mentoring services from energy experts. If interested, check it out and give me a shout.
