what if a generation from now companies are unrecognizable now a number of years
are unrecognizable now a number of years
are unrecognizable now a number of years ago I did a project with a large
ago I did a project with a large
ago I did a project with a large Association focused on the media
Association focused on the media
Association focused on the media industry at a time when it was just
industry at a time when it was just
industry at a time when it was just beginning to experience the early stages
beginning to experience the early stages
beginning to experience the early stages of disruption at that time I remember
of disruption at that time I remember
of disruption at that time I remember having a conversation with one very
having a conversation with one very
having a conversation with one very senior record exec who said that he
senior record exec who said that he
senior record exec who said that he wasn’t worried about new tools like
wasn’t worried about new tools like
wasn’t worried about new tools like Napster opening up a Pandora’s box of
Napster opening up a Pandora’s box of
Napster opening up a Pandora’s box of change because quote CD sales have never
change because quote CD sales have never
change because quote CD sales have never been higher well in retrospect we know
been higher well in retrospect we know
been higher well in retrospect we know how that turned out
how that turned out
how that turned out when when’s the last time you bought a
when when’s the last time you bought a
when when’s the last time you bought a CD right now it’s very easy to look back
CD right now it’s very easy to look back
CD right now it’s very easy to look back on an executive who completely missed
on an executive who completely missed
on an executive who completely missed the way that something like digital
the way that something like digital
the way that something like digital music would turn his whole industry
music would turn his whole industry
music would turn his whole industry upside down and kind of roll our eyes
upside down and kind of roll our eyes
upside down and kind of roll our eyes but the thing is people still get caught
but the thing is people still get caught
but the thing is people still get caught in familiar frameworks and I would argue
in familiar frameworks and I would argue
in familiar frameworks and I would argue that the shifts facing us now are
that the shifts facing us now are
that the shifts facing us now are actually much bigger than those were
actually much bigger than those were
actually much bigger than those were that we’re facing him then some of you
that we’re facing him then some of you
that we’re facing him then some of you may have already heard some of the
may have already heard some of the
may have already heard some of the predictions being made by tech industry
predictions being made by tech industry
predictions being made by tech industry gurus like Elon Musk Eric Schmidt and
gurus like Elon Musk Eric Schmidt and
gurus like Elon Musk Eric Schmidt and Bill Gates as they’ve tried to alert
Bill Gates as they’ve tried to alert
Bill Gates as they’ve tried to alert people to the implications of some of
people to the implications of some of
people to the implications of some of the technologies that their companies
the technologies that their companies
the technologies that their companies are developing now words like robot a
are developing now words like robot a
are developing now words like robot a cessation of work and even jobs
cessation of work and even jobs
cessation of work and even jobs apocalypse are being thrown around and
apocalypse are being thrown around and
apocalypse are being thrown around and they’re not exactly comforting if you’re
they’re not exactly comforting if you’re
they’re not exactly comforting if you’re thinking in terms of your own personal
thinking in terms of your own personal
thinking in terms of your own personal job security right the thing is if these
job security right the thing is if these
job security right the thing is if these forecasts are even partially right then
forecasts are even partially right then
forecasts are even partially right then we’re going to need to rethink the
we’re going to need to rethink the
we’re going to need to rethink the frameworks we use to get things done on
frameworks we use to get things done on
frameworks we use to get things done on just about every level and in a sense
just about every level and in a sense
just about every level and in a sense that’s been the focus of my career
that’s been the focus of my career
that’s been the focus of my career working along with partners to try to
working along with partners to try to
working along with partners to try to track new thinking about the ways that
track new thinking about the ways that
track new thinking about the ways that businesses could be structured and to
businesses could be structured and to
businesses could be structured and to prototype new systems by combining
prototype new systems by combining
prototype new systems by combining emerging technologies and emerging ideas
emerging technologies and emerging ideas
emerging technologies and emerging ideas to get things done in new ways basically
to get things done in new ways basically
to get things done in new ways basically you can kind of think as trying to
you can kind of think as trying to
you can kind of think as trying to stress test the tools that we might use
stress test the tools that we might use
stress test the tools that we might use to build future businesses now along
to build future businesses now along
to build future businesses now along those lines some of the things that are
those lines some of the things that are
those lines some of the things that are becoming possible now are enough to give
becoming possible now are enough to give
becoming possible now are enough to give you goosebumps
you goosebumps
you goosebumps things are moving quickly and there are
things are moving quickly and there are
things are moving quickly and there are a number of factors in play but I want
a number of factors in play but I want
a number of factors in play but I want to talk about two in particular just as
to talk about two in particular just as
to talk about two in particular just as examples one is platforms and the other
examples one is platforms and the other
examples one is platforms and the other is machine learning
is machine learning
is machine learning so platforms are digital matchmaking
so platforms are digital matchmaking
so platforms are digital matchmaking systems they’re all over the news right
systems they’re all over the news right
systems they’re all over the news right now as discussions about companies like
now as discussions about companies like
now as discussions about companies like uber Airbnb and lyft play out across the
uber Airbnb and lyft play out across the
uber Airbnb and lyft play out across the headlines incidentally for context it’s
headlines incidentally for context it’s
headlines incidentally for context it’s worth noting that uber is now the third
worth noting that uber is now the third
worth noting that uber is now the third largest employer on earth by total
largest employer on earth by total
largest employer on earth by total number of paychecks issued now because
number of paychecks issued now because
number of paychecks issued now because these systems are good at matching
these systems are good at matching
these systems are good at matching people with resources including Human
people with resources including Human
people with resources including Human Resources they’re already having an
Resources they’re already having an
Resources they’re already having an impact on for example hospitality taxi
impact on for example hospitality taxi
impact on for example hospitality taxi services even consulting you know areas
services even consulting you know areas
services even consulting you know areas where this kind of matching is critical
where this kind of matching is critical
where this kind of matching is critical actually there’s a whole series of
actually there’s a whole series of
actually there’s a whole series of platforms growing up right now around
platforms growing up right now around
platforms growing up right now around the idea of connecting freelancers of
the idea of connecting freelancers of
the idea of connecting freelancers of all kinds to all kinds of work a site
all kinds to all kinds of work a site
all kinds to all kinds of work a site called upwork is the biggest of these
called upwork is the biggest of these
called upwork is the biggest of these and covers everything from accounting to
and covers everything from accounting to
and covers everything from accounting to graphic design now I expect to see more
graphic design now I expect to see more
graphic design now I expect to see more of this kind of work
of this kind of work
of this kind of work matching moving forward machine learning
matching moving forward machine learning
matching moving forward machine learning on the other hand is a particularly
on the other hand is a particularly
on the other hand is a particularly powerful kind of artificial intelligence
powerful kind of artificial intelligence
powerful kind of artificial intelligence and is the technology at the heart of
and is the technology at the heart of
and is the technology at the heart of for example Siri the iPhone personal
for example Siri the iPhone personal
for example Siri the iPhone personal assistant or Watson the computer that
assistant or Watson the computer that
assistant or Watson the computer that you may remember winning jeopardy a
you may remember winning jeopardy a
you may remember winning jeopardy a number of years ago now some of the work
number of years ago now some of the work
number of years ago now some of the work we’re doing suggests that while both
we’re doing suggests that while both
we’re doing suggests that while both machine learning and platforms are very
machine learning and platforms are very
machine learning and platforms are very powerful on their own their power could
powerful on their own their power could
powerful on their own their power could really be unlocked when they’re combined
really be unlocked when they’re combined
really be unlocked when they’re combined to give you a sense of where this could
to give you a sense of where this could
to give you a sense of where this could be pushing companies I want to describe
be pushing companies I want to describe
be pushing companies I want to describe one series of experiments that we’ve
one series of experiments that we’ve
one series of experiments that we’ve been doing to try to test the limits and
been doing to try to test the limits and
been doing to try to test the limits and see if it’s possible for a machine to
see if it’s possible for a machine to
see if it’s possible for a machine to actually bring people together to get
actually bring people together to get
actually bring people together to get work done we were particularly
work done we were particularly
work done we were particularly interested in automating the management
interested in automating the management
interested in automating the management of complex research processes we wanted
of complex research processes we wanted
of complex research processes we wanted to create a push button system a kind of
to create a push button system a kind of
to create a push button system a kind of Robo manager able to run workflows from
Robo manager able to run workflows from
Robo manager able to run workflows from end to end ideally at a quality level
end to end ideally at a quality level
end to end ideally at a quality level the same as or higher than those using
the same as or higher than those using
the same as or higher than those using traditional approaches now the system
traditional approaches now the system
traditional approaches now the system works with human assistants to
works with human assistants to
works with human assistants to restructure these workflows like an
restructure these workflows like an
restructure these workflows like an evolving assembly line
evolving assembly line
evolving assembly line from a human resource standpoint it’s
from a human resource standpoint it’s
from a human resource standpoint it’s the system that tries to find just the
the system that tries to find just the
the system that tries to find just the right person for each job using those
right person for each job using those
right person for each job using those freelancing platforms we mentioned and
freelancing platforms we mentioned and
freelancing platforms we mentioned and machine learning so the Robo manager
machine learning so the Robo manager
machine learning so the Robo manager will actually go out and try to find
will actually go out and try to find
will actually go out and try to find talented people hire them give them a
talented people hire them give them a
talented people hire them give them a digital workspace and then route them
digital workspace and then route them
digital workspace and then route them colleagues to either team up answer any
colleagues to either team up answer any
colleagues to either team up answer any questions or review their work in
questions or review their work in
questions or review their work in essence what this had created is an
essence what this had created is an
essence what this had created is an evolving assembly line for knowledge
evolving assembly line for knowledge
evolving assembly line for knowledge work so what does this mean for the
work so what does this mean for the
work so what does this mean for the project of rethinking companies and the
project of rethinking companies and the
project of rethinking companies and the ways that we get things done well for me
ways that we get things done well for me
ways that we get things done well for me the most exciting implication here is a
the most exciting implication here is a
the most exciting implication here is a very big one for more than a generation
very big one for more than a generation
very big one for more than a generation we’ve watched as a series of problems
we’ve watched as a series of problems
we’ve watched as a series of problems too big for today’s organizational
too big for today’s organizational
too big for today’s organizational systems to handle has piled up one on
systems to handle has piled up one on
systems to handle has piled up one on top of another
top of another
top of another slowly seizing up our economic
slowly seizing up our economic
slowly seizing up our economic environmental and political systems with
environmental and political systems with
environmental and political systems with a string of crises we can’t fully fix
a string of crises we can’t fully fix
a string of crises we can’t fully fix think climate change or the financial
think climate change or the financial
think climate change or the financial crisis but what if we’re now on the
crisis but what if we’re now on the
crisis but what if we’re now on the threshold of being able to build
threshold of being able to build
threshold of being able to build organizational power tools that are
organizational power tools that are
organizational power tools that are actually able to scale to meet these
actually able to scale to meet these
actually able to scale to meet these kinds of challenges and it’s not only
kinds of challenges and it’s not only
kinds of challenges and it’s not only for profits that’ll be reshaped in the
for profits that’ll be reshaped in the
for profits that’ll be reshaped in the wake of these you can imagine for
wake of these you can imagine for
wake of these you can imagine for example somebody sitting down at a
example somebody sitting down at a
example somebody sitting down at a terminal and writing a computer program
terminal and writing a computer program
terminal and writing a computer program that’s able to save fight hunger it
that’s able to save fight hunger it
that’s able to save fight hunger it could do this by intelligently
could do this by intelligently
could do this by intelligently soliciting donations online and then
soliciting donations online and then
soliciting donations online and then using these to acquire and then route
using these to acquire and then route
using these to acquire and then route resources to the places where an AI
resources to the places where an AI
resources to the places where an AI suggests they would do the most good
suggests they would do the most good
suggests they would do the most good similarly can you imagine what our
similarly can you imagine what our
similarly can you imagine what our disaster response say responding to all
disaster response say responding to all
disaster response say responding to all of the fires we’ve been having would
of the fires we’ve been having would
of the fires we’ve been having would look like if it was coordinated by the
look like if it was coordinated by the
look like if it was coordinated by the same kind of technology that lyft uses
same kind of technology that lyft uses
same kind of technology that lyft uses to route cards very soon I suspect we
to route cards very soon I suspect we
to route cards very soon I suspect we will be relying on software to find both
will be relying on software to find both
will be relying on software to find both emergency responders and the equipment
emergency responders and the equipment
emergency responders and the equipment they need and to orchestrate them to do
they need and to orchestrate them to do
they need and to orchestrate them to do the most good one thing we need to
the most good one thing we need to
the most good one thing we need to understand here is how deep this
understand here is how deep this
understand here is how deep this disruption goes and what we need to do
disruption goes and what we need to do
disruption goes and what we need to do to adapt here a couple of fundamental
to adapt here a couple of fundamental
to adapt here a couple of fundamental issues come to mind first we need to
issues come to mind first we need to
issues come to mind first we need to rethink at an individual level jobs jobs
rethink at an individual level jobs jobs
rethink at an individual level jobs jobs are not the only way to organize work
are not the only way to organize work
are not the only way to organize work and already smart platforms are
and already smart platforms are
and already smart platforms are moving away from something that looks
moving away from something that looks
moving away from something that looks like jobs towards something that looks
like jobs towards something that looks
like jobs towards something that looks more like workflows at an organizational
more like workflows at an organizational
more like workflows at an organizational level we’re going to need to rethink the
level we’re going to need to rethink the
level we’re going to need to rethink the concept of companies now companies are
concept of companies now companies are
concept of companies now companies are not the only way to organize work and
not the only way to organize work and
not the only way to organize work and we’re originally developed mostly to
we’re originally developed mostly to
we’re originally developed mostly to coordinate industrial processes moving
coordinate industrial processes moving
coordinate industrial processes moving forward it seems that we’re on the
forward it seems that we’re on the
forward it seems that we’re on the threshold of organizations as a kind of
threshold of organizations as a kind of
threshold of organizations as a kind of technology and a technology on the verge
technology and a technology on the verge
technology and a technology on the verge of disruption at that now not too much
of disruption at that now not too much
of disruption at that now not too much further out it’s possible to imagine for
further out it’s possible to imagine for
further out it’s possible to imagine for example companies that behave like the
example companies that behave like the
example companies that behave like the more benevolent cousins of today’s
more benevolent cousins of today’s
more benevolent cousins of today’s ransomware computer viruses businesses
ransomware computer viruses businesses
ransomware computer viruses businesses in this world could be pieces of
in this world could be pieces of
in this world could be pieces of software designed to go out bring
software designed to go out bring
software designed to go out bring together the resources necessary to make
together the resources necessary to make
together the resources necessary to make things and to get things done so for
things and to get things done so for
things and to get things done so for example what if twenty years from now
example what if twenty years from now
example what if twenty years from now not only most cars but most companies
not only most cars but most companies
not only most cars but most companies are actually self-driving in some sense
are actually self-driving in some sense
are actually self-driving in some sense what if instead of facing a world of
what if instead of facing a world of
what if instead of facing a world of inevitable technological unemployment as
inevitable technological unemployment as
inevitable technological unemployment as robots take all of our jobs we actually
robots take all of our jobs we actually
robots take all of our jobs we actually have the opportunity now to build
have the opportunity now to build
have the opportunity now to build systems that are able to identify and
systems that are able to identify and
systems that are able to identify and enhance the best talents that each of us
enhance the best talents that each of us
enhance the best talents that each of us have to offer what if a generation from
have to offer what if a generation from
have to offer what if a generation from now the world’s best leaders are you
now the world’s best leaders are you
now the world’s best leaders are you know kind of like the world’s best chess
know kind of like the world’s best chess
know kind of like the world’s best chess and go players today not people at all
and go players today not people at all
and go players today not people at all but pieces of software in our lifetimes
but pieces of software in our lifetimes
but pieces of software in our lifetimes organizational technologies are going to
organizational technologies are going to
organizational technologies are going to dramatically expand the realm of
dramatically expand the realm of
dramatically expand the realm of possibility and for me at least that’s
possibility and for me at least that’s
possibility and for me at least that’s the kind of thing that can give you
the kind of thing that can give you
the kind of thing that can give you goosebumps thank you
”
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