Emerging Technologies

An important question has been popping up much more frequently as of late. Do organizations have the legal and ethical right to use the data, information and know-how that feeds their intelligent systems?  Over half of professionals recently surveyed about this topic responded they did not know!  That question is becoming much more likely to arise on programs and projects as an increasing number of organizations adopt artificial intelligence (AI). The inquiry went a bit further with a prominent privacy subject matter expert that was asked if the acquisition, storage and use of the knowledge by an AI system was a violation of employees’ privacy.  The legal SME quickly replied there is opinion on this issue but really was unaware of any substantial case law covering such issues. He also pointed out this question increases significantly in complexity when the acquisition of the employee’s intelligence/knowledge will potentially put them out of a job. There are some employee advocates that went as far as to call it the theft of their intellectual property. There is allot at stake here.  McKinsey Global Institute research disclosed that “by 2030, AI could deliver additional global economic output of $13 trillion per year.”  Now add to that stat this interesting tidbit from the World Economic Forum – “The adoption of new information technologies such as AI in more workplaces is influencing not just employment and wages, but worker well-being such as job satisfaction, stress, and health.” As adoption of intelligent systems and other emerging technology increases, programs and projects involving these technologies will likely fall under increased scrutiny – internally and by the public.

INSIGHT - Stephen Hawking once said, “Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.”

The top challenge that we all face as professionals, with respect to emerging technologies, is without question preparing for the substantial near-term disruption that is beginning to occur. Digital transformation has opened up a wealth of opportunities, as well as numerous risks.  There are some organizations that should immediately address one or more of these risks and opportunities.  The combination of multiple emerging technologies is bringing about new ways of thinking around traditional problems as well as producing new demands. In the near-term, Virtual Reality - VR, Augmented Reality – AR, and Human Augmentation – HA technologies will have increasingly sophisticated capabilities and features.  As these technologies become more powerful and produce higher quality visually represented environments, AR, VR and HA will combine with other emerging technologies and create an estimated $100 billion market by 2025. Now consider, this market was all but non-existent just a few years ago. Have you thought about how you would use AR/VR/HA in your current position?

INSIGHT: Human augmentation goes far beyond aspects similar to AR/VR!  MUST SEE -Take a quick look - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH67RH6_rwI

I wanted to take a moment and thank those that have called me and emailed me about contributing during my role at Internet pioneer NETSCAPE to the #1 Influential Projects of the Past 50 Years – the World Wide Web.  Netscape was the creator of the very first web browser that all but eliminated technical skills from surfing the Internet.  We grew at 65,000 % in under 5 years.  At that point we merged with AOL and about a year later we merged with the multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate, Time Warner.  I was chief strategist at Netscape and worked with many organizations around the world in their efforts to understand and exploit the capabilities of the Internet.  It was by far the greatest job of my career and that is not to short my time at Deloitte and CSC. 

Again thank all of you for your thoughts.

The fusion of business and technology has increased the importance and value of a growing percentage of programs and projects. In the next few years, trillions of dollars-worth of emerging technology and its disruption will without question intensify the need to deliver these initiatives on-time and within budget. All of this has intensified the interests of board members and increased PMs activities before the board of directors. Board meetings require proper etiquette to ensure efficiency and avoid disruption where conflict could arise. Proper etiquette mandates those speaking at the board meeting observe legal and ethical principles. PMs are increasingly likely to be called upon to attend and or present at board meetings.  So, are you prepared if you get asked? You had better be!  Check out the upcoming December 12^th webinar on this subject starting at 11:00 AM ET.

INSIGHT:  Pearl Zhu, digital visionary said, “The Board’s role is to pull management out of the trees to see the forest.”

The business world is undergoing dramatic changes.  Digitization and emerging technologies are about tremendous implications today and will continue throughout the next few years. Both digitization and emerging technologies, are rapidly driving global economic and business transformation and it’s demanding global expansion and integration. The continuing wave of digitization and change, as well as emerging technologies are basically making businesses borderless. Organizations, employees, and governments must begin to respond to this global transformation.  Nearly all organizations that were asked stated that digitization and emerging technologies will be disruptive in the next few years.  All things considered, there is a widening functional gap between organizations that are beginning to mature in their digitization and those who have not yet begun. Nearly all have come to believe that usage of emerging technologies has just begun and is starting to accelerate and have significant implications. This requires all organizations, managers, employees as well as colleges/university students to begin and prepare and obtain the new skills that are required given to going digital and transformation driven by emerging technologies.  All of this has combined to dramatically change risk models and demand new business and operational processes, metrics, and risk mitigation.  With all of this considered, less than half of professionals that were asked, believe their organization’s leaders are spending enough time addressing digitization and emerging technologies.  How prepared are you and your organization?

John Naisbitt, a U.S. Business Executive said, “Whenever a new technology is introduced into society, there must be a counterbalancing human response - that is, high touch - or the technology is rejected...”