By Subbu Iyer & Siddharth Patel
Is it unrealistic to talk about being a Force for Greater Good during these unprecedented times? This question arose when I watched a recent movie clip where the protagonist mentioned that he wouldn’t focus on such ideals when society doesn’t value them. It’s true that we, as communities, have prioritized transactions over relationships. However, I’m convinced that this perspective is on the verge of transformation. We must break through the prevailing narrative that champions transactional mindsets, emphasizing ambition rather than aspiration and valuing opportunism over genuine opportunities.
The Paradox of Power
The three paradoxes of power that we see today are all tilted heavily in favor of the individual emerging from a society that favored corporations. From a single objective of economics, there is a great opportunity to once again see a cultural renaissance where the focus of life shifts to enjoying the gifts of empowerment rather than exploitation. Is it so hard to understand and reimgine life from this single perspective?
1. The Impact of Personalization:
From 1760 to 2024, we have witnessed a significant transition from Industrialization to Personalization. While competition has fueled this change, the future will be steered by the force of Innovation. Innovation will reshape how products and services are conceived, focusing on the What (Purpose), Why (Strategic Justification), and How (Process / Method), not dictated by the conventional Product/Service Lifecycle but rather by the individual’s lifecycle that consumes them. This evolution in relevance will influence how industries function, redefining the nature of work, enhancing workforce capabilities, and determining the design of workplaces to support the new structure and relationships.
2. The Impact of Humanizing Technology:
The journey from the introduction of calculators in 1937 to the scientific applications reliant on hard-coded logic and cumbersome motherboards in 1974 reflects a gradual evolution primarily focused on hardware. The invention of microprocessors in 1976 accelerated the shift toward operating system-driven computing, transforming computers into workstations. The personal computing revolution began to take shape around 1993, with Steve Jobs at Apple in 2010 broadening the concept of computing beyond mere desktop workstations. Today, computing devices encompass not only workstations and personal laptops but also mobiles, wearables, IoT devices, scanners, and sensors. The transition from centralized data capture and processing to real-time computing in the cloud at a personal level is significant. The boundaries between life and commerce are increasingly merging, as individuals harness the power of computing to achieve their goals, aided by Generative Intelligence that empowers them to make informed decisions and influence how their computers learn and support them, reversing the previous paradigm. English and native languages are emerging as the primary interface between humans and computers, with innovative companies like Nvidia surpassing traditional giants like Intel and AMD in providing Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Nvidia’s Omniverse Platform showcases the evolution of computing across four data forms: text, video, audio, and graphics, enabling machines to learn and become intelligent in serving humans within their specific life contexts. It is hard not to understand that technology is not just software but also includes hardware, embedded ware and firmware.
3. The Power of Global Connectivity:
The evolution of computing has been accompanied by significant advancements in networking and communication, eliminating the limitations of physical wiring and pairing connections from anywhere on the globe. There’s no longer a need for armies or conflict to engage in trade or reap commercial benefits. Instead, all that is required is sharing and collaboration within global communities that feel local. Ultimately, the value one provides drives these relationships, rather than the pursuit of immediate gratification. Today’s social connections are set to evolve into more sustainable communities that promote a better quality of life. This is particularly significant as many marginalized individuals gain access to the internet, which opens doors for them to achieve equity and income based on the value they provide, free from biases related to gender, religion, ethnicity, or skin color.
Generative Intelligence (GI) is likely to have the biggest impact on knowledge work, particularly activities involving decision making and collaboration, which previously had the lowest potential for automation adding $2.6–4.4 trillion annually to global economy. (McKinsey Global Institute)
Challenging the Status Quo
It is evident from the three paradoxes mentioned that technology has significantly advanced, enabling humans to challenge the status quo on personal, professional, and emotional levels. This challenge requires a design mindset focused on inquiry, exploration, and the discovery of potential that can be unacked for practical outcomes. Artificial and Generative Intelligence must be shaped by human design, and this should be the goal for many of us to remain relevant. Creators should prioritize visualizing the journey from solutions to applications, allowing machines to generate code, rather than merely writing it. Likewise, consumers should leverage this intelligence to make informed decisions about what they engage within their lives. The next level of personalization necessitates systems and platforms based on data autonomy, where individuals create and share their personal data at their own discretion, rather than being subjected to the fine print dictated by corporations. Life doesn’t have to emerge from conflict; it can also stem from collaboration. In these challenging times, with conflicts ongoing in Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond, there must be a strong grassroots movement persuading political leaders to prioritize the welfare of the people over their own egos. Unlike previous revolts in history, individuals now have access to the powerful tools of technology, making a difference possible.
Delloitt’s 2024 Global Human Capital Trends research reveals that a focus on the human factor is emerging as the bridge between knowing what shifts are shaping the future of work and doing things to make real progress toward putting them into action to create positive outcomes. It’s clear from the responses to the 2024 global surveys — over 14,000 respondents from 95 countries — that the more boundaryless work becomes, the more important uniquely human capabilities — like empathy and curiosity — become.
DEI over Philanthropy, Charity, Donations:
Diversity leading to access for computing is the fishing rod that humans need to empower them rather than give them some fish in charity. Philanthropy and Charity have no place in a modern society other than in circumstances of natural disasters. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) must be a more integrated strategic process in corporations and not just a compliance catchphrase. Trillions of dollars are spent worldwide for electing democratic governments. The Biden — Harris — campaign committee raised $997.2 million and Trump’s campaign committee raised $388 million in total between Jan. 2023 and Oct. 16, 2024, the most recent date for which Federal Election Commission filings are available. Imagine all that money wasted on television ads and rhetoric that does not focus on human development. Individuals seem to be raising their voices but not necessarily intelligently. The narratives need to change and for that to happen, the data from Creation to Consumption will need to be traced in every sphere of life.
Poverty is a lack of ideas to generate wealth, not a lack of money to fulfill one’s needs and wants.
The responsibility of overcoming poverty and the 16 other challenges outlined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals should not rest solely with political and commercial leaders. Instead, it must lie with individuals who democratically empower leadership to act for the greater good. This is where Generative Intelligence excels, as it is fueled by personalized contexts rather than traditional industrialized frameworks that dominate computing. To truly engage and enhance our quality of life, it’s crucial for each of us to transition our mindsets from viewing jobs and careers as driving our lives to designing the work we do that enlivens our life.
Corporate DEI investments have increased from $7.5 Billion in 2020 to $11.2 Billion in 2024 (Delloitte DEI Report 2024). impacting Revenue Increase +19%, Increased Innovation +20% and Employee Retention +22% (McKinsey Diversity Report 2024). World Economic Forums’s Future of Jobs report also brings the stark warning of Traditional Jobs Displaced of 85 million, New Roles Created being 97 million and the Net Job Creation equalling nearly 12 million.
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