the future used to look great back in 1985 when the movie Back to the Future
1985 when the movie Back to the Future
1985 when the movie Back to the Future came out we were infused we were excited
came out we were infused we were excited
came out we were infused we were excited that we’re gonna have hoverboards we’re
that we’re gonna have hoverboards we’re
that we’re gonna have hoverboards we’re gonna have amazing amazing technological
gonna have amazing amazing technological
gonna have amazing amazing technological innovations that were all going to love
innovations that were all going to love
innovations that were all going to love and that was great
and that was great
and that was great I myself was very much into technology
I myself was very much into technology
I myself was very much into technology and I even had more hair than today
apart from folding computers for some
apart from folding computers for some strange reason I ended up studying law
strange reason I ended up studying law
strange reason I ended up studying law and afterwards I worked for different
and afterwards I worked for different
and afterwards I worked for different governments different institutions and
governments different institutions and
governments different institutions and politics and all these years observed
politics and all these years observed
politics and all these years observed hundreds of companies and work with
hundreds of companies and work with
hundreds of companies and work with hundreds of companies to entice them and
hundreds of companies to entice them and
hundreds of companies to entice them and look for ways they can be more
look for ways they can be more
look for ways they can be more successful but more importantly for ways
successful but more importantly for ways
successful but more importantly for ways they can be more strategic and thinking
they can be more strategic and thinking
they can be more strategic and thinking about technology today I realized that
about technology today I realized that
about technology today I realized that it’s radically different that the way it
it’s radically different that the way it
it’s radically different that the way it was twenty or thirty years ago and I’ll
was twenty or thirty years ago and I’ll
was twenty or thirty years ago and I’ll give you three reasons why I think
give you three reasons why I think
give you three reasons why I think technology as such is not what it used
technology as such is not what it used
technology as such is not what it used to be the first one is the speed of the
to be the first one is the speed of the
to be the first one is the speed of the spread of Technology well so means what
spread of Technology well so means what
spread of Technology well so means what man came out it took about 15 to 20
man came out it took about 15 to 20
man came out it took about 15 to 20 years to become a globally successful
years to become a globally successful
years to become a globally successful product on the other hand if you take
product on the other hand if you take
product on the other hand if you take Spotify which is this amazing music live
Spotify which is this amazing music live
Spotify which is this amazing music live streamers streaming service he took up
streamers streaming service he took up
streamers streaming service he took up about eight years to get 100 million
about eight years to get 100 million
about eight years to get 100 million users across the world the second reason
users across the world the second reason
users across the world the second reason why it’s different today is the depth at
why it’s different today is the depth at
why it’s different today is the depth at which technology affects us and you see
which technology affects us and you see
which technology affects us and you see that according to some statistic one out
that according to some statistic one out
that according to some statistic one out of ten American adults is using a
of ten American adults is using a
of ten American adults is using a smartphone while having sex now we know
smartphone while having sex now we know
smartphone while having sex now we know that 85% of
that 85% of
that 85% of mystics are made up but it still kind of
mystics are made up but it still kind of
mystics are made up but it still kind of proves the point that this is a very
proves the point that this is a very
proves the point that this is a very very important has very intimate effect
very important has very intimate effect
very important has very intimate effect on our everyday lives and then the third
on our everyday lives and then the third
on our everyday lives and then the third one is the ease-of-use
one is the ease-of-use
one is the ease-of-use we know babies who can use an iPad even
we know babies who can use an iPad even
we know babies who can use an iPad even before they can talk technology is so
before they can talk technology is so
before they can talk technology is so accessible so easy to use which is a
accessible so easy to use which is a
accessible so easy to use which is a great thing at the same time it just
great thing at the same time it just
great thing at the same time it just lowers the barrier to entry so for these
lowers the barrier to entry so for these
lowers the barrier to entry so for these three reasons I have come to realize
three reasons I have come to realize
three reasons I have come to realize that that our social side effects of
that that our social side effects of
that that our social side effects of technological innovation very
technological innovation very
technological innovation very significant important social side effect
significant important social side effect
significant important social side effect who among you has used Airbnb in the
who among you has used Airbnb in the
who among you has used Airbnb in the past year and up whoa impressive will of
past year and up whoa impressive will of
past year and up whoa impressive will of Airbnb don’t we great company great
Airbnb don’t we great company great
Airbnb don’t we great company great service very interesting what they have
service very interesting what they have
service very interesting what they have to offer but then if you happen to be
to offer but then if you happen to be
to offer but then if you happen to be living in Barcelona you may have seen
living in Barcelona you may have seen
living in Barcelona you may have seen news like that where there are protests
news like that where there are protests
news like that where there are protests against the company because it disrupts
against the company because it disrupts
against the company because it disrupts local communities because it has an
local communities because it has an
local communities because it has an impact on residents in everyday
impact on residents in everyday
impact on residents in everyday buildings so there is a certain effect
buildings so there is a certain effect
buildings so there is a certain effect on the society as a result of technology
on the society as a result of technology
on the society as a result of technology or if we think about self-driving cars
or if we think about self-driving cars
or if we think about self-driving cars Google you bear many other companies are
Google you bear many other companies are
Google you bear many other companies are about to roll these out in the next
about to roll these out in the next
about to roll these out in the next couple of years and it’s amazing that on
couple of years and it’s amazing that on
couple of years and it’s amazing that on one hand they’re going to save 30,000
one hand they’re going to save 30,000
one hand they’re going to save 30,000 maybe even more lives it’s fantastic on
maybe even more lives it’s fantastic on
maybe even more lives it’s fantastic on the other hand it’s pretty likely
the other hand it’s pretty likely
the other hand it’s pretty likely they’re going to induce unemployment for
they’re going to induce unemployment for
they’re going to induce unemployment for millions of people who are living from
millions of people who are living from
millions of people who are living from driving trucks or cars or other vehicles
driving trucks or cars or other vehicles
driving trucks or cars or other vehicles so you might be thinking fine that’s all
so you might be thinking fine that’s all
so you might be thinking fine that’s all great but isn’t it the job of government
great but isn’t it the job of government
great but isn’t it the job of government regulators politicians to address this
regulators politicians to address this
regulators politicians to address this shouldn’t they be the ones who come and
shouldn’t they be the ones who come and
shouldn’t they be the ones who come and deal with these side effects whether
deal with these side effects whether
deal with these side effects whether through laws taxation or other means
through laws taxation or other means
through laws taxation or other means and I think that it’s actually the
and I think that it’s actually the
and I think that it’s actually the companies themselves who have a good
companies themselves who have a good
companies themselves who have a good reason to address these and you might be
reason to address these and you might be
reason to address these and you might be wondering yeah sure why should a company
wondering yeah sure why should a company
wondering yeah sure why should a company care about these side effects I think
care about these side effects I think
care about these side effects I think essentially there are two reasons one is
essentially there are two reasons one is
essentially there are two reasons one is a moral argument and the other one is a
a moral argument and the other one is a
a moral argument and the other one is a one understood business argument the
one understood business argument the
one understood business argument the moral argument is the way we look at
moral argument is the way we look at
moral argument is the way we look at ourselves as good people that we are
ourselves as good people that we are
ourselves as good people that we are saving energy that we turn off the tab
saving energy that we turn off the tab
saving energy that we turn off the tab when we are brushing our teeth that we
when we are brushing our teeth that we
when we are brushing our teeth that we recycle that we send a card on Mother’s
recycle that we send a card on Mother’s
recycle that we send a card on Mother’s Day and company’s value driven companies
Day and company’s value driven companies
Day and company’s value driven companies do the same look at IKEA for instance
do the same look at IKEA for instance
do the same look at IKEA for instance when they would not be sourcing their
when they would not be sourcing their
when they would not be sourcing their wood from endangered Brazilian
wood from endangered Brazilian
wood from endangered Brazilian rainforest or they would engage the
rainforest or they would engage the
rainforest or they would engage the local communities when they open a new
local communities when they open a new
local communities when they open a new shop in the outskirts of Sofia so
shop in the outskirts of Sofia so
shop in the outskirts of Sofia so companies are generally referred to as
companies are generally referred to as
companies are generally referred to as good corporate citizens when their
good corporate citizens when their
good corporate citizens when their morale that value driven judgment is
morale that value driven judgment is
morale that value driven judgment is appreciated but then let’s look at the
appreciated but then let’s look at the
appreciated but then let’s look at the one understood business argument and
one understood business argument and
one understood business argument and that business argument can be summed up
that business argument can be summed up
that business argument can be summed up with the following phrase that is often
with the following phrase that is often
with the following phrase that is often quoted in the public affairs on the
quoted in the public affairs on the
quoted in the public affairs on the lobbying world is that if you’re not at
lobbying world is that if you’re not at
lobbying world is that if you’re not at the table you’re on the menu if you’re
the table you’re on the menu if you’re
the table you’re on the menu if you’re not engaged in a conversation if you’re
not engaged in a conversation if you’re
not engaged in a conversation if you’re not proactively trying to address an
not proactively trying to address an
not proactively trying to address an issue sooner or later it’s going to bite
issue sooner or later it’s going to bite
issue sooner or later it’s going to bite you sooner or later there’s going to be
you sooner or later there’s going to be
you sooner or later there’s going to be some sort of backlash whether it’s
some sort of backlash whether it’s
some sort of backlash whether it’s protest whether it’s lost whether it’s
protest whether it’s lost whether it’s
protest whether it’s lost whether it’s taxes but it’s going to hurt you you
taxes but it’s going to hurt you you
taxes but it’s going to hurt you you need to proactively engage and then
need to proactively engage and then
need to proactively engage and then that’s all fine and good but what or
that’s all fine and good but what or
that’s all fine and good but what or rather when can a company deal with such
rather when can a company deal with such
rather when can a company deal with such an issue and if you think about startups
an issue and if you think about startups
an issue and if you think about startups what’s the number one concern of a
what’s the number one concern of a
what’s the number one concern of a start-up it’s the grow
start-up it’s the grow
start-up it’s the grow to get customers to get funding to make
to get customers to get funding to make
to get customers to get funding to make sure their supply chain works smoothly
sure their supply chain works smoothly
sure their supply chain works smoothly it’s not about the social concern at
it’s not about the social concern at
it’s not about the social concern at least for most technology driven
least for most technology driven
least for most technology driven startups so when a bunch of college kids
startups so when a bunch of college kids
startups so when a bunch of college kids are out there and they are doing amazing
are out there and they are doing amazing
are out there and they are doing amazing job it’s not their primary consideration
job it’s not their primary consideration
job it’s not their primary consideration but when a company especially a tech
but when a company especially a tech
but when a company especially a tech company is scaling up its growing there
company is scaling up its growing there
company is scaling up its growing there is a phase in the growth phase when they
is a phase in the growth phase when they
is a phase in the growth phase when they have millions of users or customers they
have millions of users or customers they
have millions of users or customers they are present in various countries they
are present in various countries they
are present in various countries they are starting to affect people’s lives
are starting to affect people’s lives
are starting to affect people’s lives that’s probably the point when they need
that’s probably the point when they need
that’s probably the point when they need to start considering fine what is the
to start considering fine what is the
to start considering fine what is the impact of what we do do we need to
impact of what we do do we need to
impact of what we do do we need to address it in one way or another and if
address it in one way or another and if
address it in one way or another and if we accept the idea that they should we
we accept the idea that they should we
we accept the idea that they should we need to look at what can a company
need to look at what can a company
need to look at what can a company actually do about it and I think by and
actually do about it and I think by and
actually do about it and I think by and large there are three things that they
large there are three things that they
large there are three things that they can do the first one is to show empathy
can do the first one is to show empathy
can do the first one is to show empathy and name the problem simply say well we
and name the problem simply say well we
and name the problem simply say well we have an issue here and all of you would
have an issue here and all of you would
have an issue here and all of you would be aware of the heat and criticism that
be aware of the heat and criticism that
be aware of the heat and criticism that Facebook got after last year’s elections
Facebook got after last year’s elections
Facebook got after last year’s elections and not only that not only their
and not only that not only their
and not only that not only their platform being used to spread fake news
platform being used to spread fake news
platform being used to spread fake news but also the platform being used for
but also the platform being used for
but also the platform being used for purposes which were not meant to be used
purposes which were not meant to be used
purposes which were not meant to be used for whether it’s live streaming bullying
for whether it’s live streaming bullying
for whether it’s live streaming bullying or even suicide and various other
or even suicide and various other
or even suicide and various other backlashes
backlashes
backlashes and a couple of weeks ago Facebook
and a couple of weeks ago Facebook
and a couple of weeks ago Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg he came out
founder Mark Zuckerberg he came out
founder Mark Zuckerberg he came out where the 6,000 word level really really
where the 6,000 word level really really
where the 6,000 word level really really long memo trying to address these issues
long memo trying to address these issues
long memo trying to address these issues and some people criticized him from
and some people criticized him from
and some people criticized him from being too little and too late but still
being too little and too late but still
being too little and too late but still the idea of saying hey we have an issue
the idea of saying hey we have an issue
the idea of saying hey we have an issue here whether it’s local journalism
here whether it’s local journalism
here whether it’s local journalism whether again the negative ways of
whether again the negative ways of
whether again the negative ways of attack innovation being used we need to
attack innovation being used we need to
attack innovation being used we need to address it in one way or other
address it in one way or other
address it in one way or other so that’s probably the first one showing
so that’s probably the first one showing
so that’s probably the first one showing empathy naming the problem the second
empathy naming the problem the second
empathy naming the problem the second one is compromising on the short-term to
one is compromising on the short-term to
one is compromising on the short-term to gain on the long-term to be more
gain on the long-term to be more
gain on the long-term to be more strategic in the mindset and very simple
strategic in the mindset and very simple
strategic in the mindset and very simple perhaps even simplistic example for that
perhaps even simplistic example for that
perhaps even simplistic example for that is if we look at Apple and iPhone and
is if we look at Apple and iPhone and
is if we look at Apple and iPhone and various devices and the way they have
various devices and the way they have
various devices and the way they have constructed an operating system to be
constructed an operating system to be
constructed an operating system to be using cars now when you’re using your
using cars now when you’re using your
using cars now when you’re using your phone in a car through the system it
phone in a car through the system it
phone in a car through the system it doesn’t allow you to send a text message
doesn’t allow you to send a text message
doesn’t allow you to send a text message while you’re driving and probably most
while you’re driving and probably most
while you’re driving and probably most of you would say yeah that’s right
of you would say yeah that’s right
of you would say yeah that’s right because you’re freedom to use the device
because you’re freedom to use the device
because you’re freedom to use the device and the imperative to save your life and
and the imperative to save your life and
and the imperative to save your life and keep you safe are connected that you
keep you safe are connected that you
keep you safe are connected that you need to be limited in some sense for a
need to be limited in some sense for a
need to be limited in some sense for a greater purpose for a more important
greater purpose for a more important
greater purpose for a more important value than your freedom to use the
value than your freedom to use the
value than your freedom to use the gadget at any point in time so that’s a
gadget at any point in time so that’s a
gadget at any point in time so that’s a short-term limitation for something more
short-term limitation for something more
short-term limitation for something more important the third one is the sponsor
important the third one is the sponsor
important the third one is the sponsor third-party programs perhaps when
third-party programs perhaps when
third-party programs perhaps when self-driving cars are becoming a reality
self-driving cars are becoming a reality
self-driving cars are becoming a reality perhaps helping organizations
perhaps helping organizations
perhaps helping organizations educational funds or other initiatives
educational funds or other initiatives
educational funds or other initiatives to train those who are drivers into a
to train those who are drivers into a
to train those who are drivers into a new job and support those not
new job and support those not
new job and support those not necessarily a company running those but
necessarily a company running those but
necessarily a company running those but supporting those because of this
supporting those because of this
supporting those because of this responsibility that we’ve discussed so
responsibility that we’ve discussed so
responsibility that we’ve discussed so with that in mind there’s just so much
with that in mind there’s just so much
with that in mind there’s just so much innovation coming out and you will be
innovation coming out and you will be
innovation coming out and you will be working in companies and you will be
working in companies and you will be
working in companies and you will be founding companies maybe robotics
founding companies maybe robotics
founding companies maybe robotics maybe artificial intelligence maybe
biotechnology whatever it may be and
biotechnology whatever it may be and chances are that those companies will
chances are that those companies will
chances are that those companies will have social impact and I urge you and I
have social impact and I urge you and I
have social impact and I urge you and I encourage you to look at those
encourage you to look at those
encourage you to look at those whether for the moral argument whether
whether for the moral argument whether
whether for the moral argument whether for the business argument whether for a
for the business argument whether for a
for the business argument whether for a third one that I may have not mentioned
third one that I may have not mentioned
third one that I may have not mentioned I encourage you to do that because we
I encourage you to do that because we
I encourage you to do that because we all would like to be living in a future
all would like to be living in a future
all would like to be living in a future that Marty McFly could come back to
that Marty McFly could come back to
that Marty McFly could come back to thank
”
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