Future Ready Digest Vol. 2 No. 9 - 17th February 2025
Jim Hamill (Dr)
Director at The Future Ready Hub - supporting organisations in becoming future ready for an increasingly volatile, digital and AI world.
The Early Bird Discount for our next AI Strategy & Management Executive Coaching Programme ends soon. Full details here:
In this edition - a helpful primer on Agentic AI, autonomous problem solving will redefine work but are organisations ready, the human costs of outsourcing digital labour, the latest tech redundancies, AI in education, AI and data science trends, a short history of performance measurement, is your board stuck in the wrong gear, book review Nexus.
Artificial Intelligence and Business Adoption
A helpful primer on Agentic AI via CMS Wire, including its potential impact on Software as a Service.
From LSE Business Review – how Agentic AI will signal a fundamental shift in how we approach work and problem-solving, revolutionising business processes and redefining work. But is there a growing gap between supplier enthusiasm and clients’ apprehensions? - Salesforce Stock Down As AI Agents Aim To Win Skeptical Customers
Digital Labour and Workforce Impacts
Via The Guardian - a reflection on the harsh realities of outsourced digital labour and the profits derived from workers' suffering. “It was not just a Sama problem. It was not just a Facebook problem. It was how the entire tech industry operated – outsourcing the most brutal digital labour and profiting from our pain.”
The latest update on tech layoffs (redundancies) from the independent layoffs tracker?Layoffs:?12,863 this year, following 152,104 last year.
AI's Role in Education and Innovation
Explores how large language models like ChatGPT are revolutionising education. Teachers report that these AI tutors enhance their work and improve education quality.
Industry Trends and Transformations
From MIT Sloan Management Review – the AI and data science trends shaping industries in 2025.
? How to grapple with both the promise and hype around agentic AI.
? Why organisations must measure the ROI of their AI investments.
? The ongoing challenges of building a data-driven culture.
? The renewed importance of managing unstructured data.
? The still-evolving roles and reporting structures for data and AI leadership.
This is an interesting Medium article tracking the transformation of performance measurement systems from the Industrial Revolution to the use of AI today.
Corporate Governance and Leadership
Interesting research from INSEAD presents four Board engagement modes: passive, command-and-control, mentor, and partner boards. Worryingly, in a world of pervasive uncertainty, most boards remain passive.
Books and Reviews
A detailed review of Nexus by Yuval Harari, the bestselling author of Sapiens and Homo Deus. The book presents a brief history of information networks from the Stone Age to AI, exploring how humanity’s relationship with information has shaped civilizations and how AI now threatens to redefine our future.
As always, comments and feedback are very welcome.
Take care.
Jim H