2022 gratitude to prepare for 2023

What did I learn this year to prepare me for the next year and beyond… I always ask this question at the end of the year. As I reflect on my lessons from 2022 and be grateful for the wonderful people and experiences that have helped me learn and grow, three distinct themes shined through personally to build on for 2023.

Tech intensity will accelerate our growth and evolution?

There was a kaleidoscope of reactions as people experienced ChatGPT in the last few weeks. It was a significant moment for all of us, as we saw how we could achieve a lot more with the power of artificial intelligence (AI). A hallmark of human evolution has been how new fundamental shifts in technology have evoked fear and concern for altering the present, and at the same time, be a source of joy and hope for the possibilities of the future. Our history tells us of these seminal turning points with the use of steam engines, electricity, the printing press, telephony, computers, video photography, the internet, mobile communications, cloud computing, and many more such innovations.

In our world of today, AI has been significantly leveraged in our scientific progress on multiple fronts. The open public access to ChatGPT is a moment when the power of AI is in the hands of every person on the planet. Many will embrace this new frontier and run with it to achieve more, while many will approach it with careful evaluation. The varying pace of adoption and use will determine a different path of tech intensity for each of us.

Another big use of cognitive AI is how multiple Indian languages are getting ready for real-time spoken translation and transcription. This will enable all Indians to be able to talk to each other, surpassing the barriers of language. AI use cases are all around us now and will eventually become seamless parts of our lives. When India celebrated completing 50 years of independence, I remember getting my first mobile phone as I had just entered the workforce. It changed my life as I knew it, and most of us now consider mobile communication, the internet, and cloud integral to our lives. As India celebrates the completion of 75 years of independence, the power of AI for every person will accelerate our growth and evolution.???

Modern work will accelerate diversity and inclusion

For most of human history, working together meant being in the same place at the same time. Over the last couple of decades, technology-led services have pioneered new forms of global collaboration and elevated global productivity. In 2022, as the world emerged from two years of the pandemic, it was an open question of whether our work lives will relapse to pre-pandemic ways or evolve with all the learnings and new norms set during the pandemic. The answer is very different for each of us and is not a constant - it evolves with each situation.

The dimensions of place (in-person or virtual) and time (synchronous and asynchronous) are now playing in every work situation to create new paradigms. We now have the unique opportunity to bring together many different people and skills at many different places and at different times to be able to work together. Hybrid has changed the world of our work forever. It is a new way of looking at work, as much as it is a new way of working. It is creating new and dynamic ways for people to integrate work into their lives,?while allowing them to be present for their personal priorities. It is also elevating the role of the office as a space to collaborate, build relationships, and encourage empathy, learning, and growth. Making the most of hybrid goes beyond cloud capabilities and digital tools.

I see it as a responsibility for leaders to foster mutual trust, build social capital and enable a culture that encourages everyone to be connected. Modern work builds on all hybrid capabilities and tech intensity to enable better use of time and space for our personal productivity and effectiveness. I look at the Microsoft Viva and analytics daily to learn about when, where, and how I should best use my time, and most importantly who I can spend it more with. I can now connect, collaborate, listen and learn from a diverse set of people more inclusively than ever before. Such modern work tools are thus powerful enablers to expand our horizons of diversity and inclusion.?

Trust will be even more important for the sustainable future of our communities?

People will only use the technology and digital signals that they trust. At Microsoft, we continuously ask the question of what technology should do, not just what it can do. With the rapid use of AI in increasing tech intensity and modern work, it is even more important to keep asking such questions. Building and using trusted AI has six distinct pillars: privacy & security, reliability & safety, fairness, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability. AI tools will be critical as we all work together to solve for the planetary challenge of climate and sustainability. Therefore, these questions and pillars of trusted tech need simultaneous focus. As every human learns and forms their own norms of trust, it can be built stronger or lost?in every moment - every action and every interaction. I strongly believe that the foundations of trust will be a big differentiator as each one of us continues to grapple with different challenges to aspire for a sustainable future of our communities.?

I step into 2023 with immense gratitude for having the opportunity to work alongside the smartest and brightest minds, who challenge me every day and make me a better person. All of these learnings present unique growth opportunities on a fabric of innovation and a foundation of culture. While the global environment around us may be challenging, my optimism for India in creating winning templates of innovation for the world is stronger than ever before. My vision for India is to become the data capital of the planet. Nothing drives me more than our mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.??Wishing you a very happy 2023!?