How on Earth Can we Design a Future with Technology in a Humane Way? 6 insights from my visits to the Dutch Blockchain Days & The Next Web

Last week was a good one! Why? Because two remarkable events took place: the Dutch Blockchain Days 2024 and TNW . Leaders in Web3 and emerging tech were brought together here to discuss the next big things in technology, innovation and leadership. Attending these events is always fun as we get to explore and reinvent the future together. So, as I learned a lot and not all of you could attend, I decided to share my key learnings. Good to know before you dive in is that I approached everything with a humane lens. As you might know by now, it is my mission to inspire leaders in business and make them aware of their ability to use technology ethically to create a future we all want to keep living in.?All driven by my genuine curiosity of understanding “how on earth we can redesign our future with technology in a humane way” ...

Considering that this is the main question I keep asking myself, I took away 6 interesting learnings that you can read about below. After each learning I listed a key question and some food for thought that arose in my mind, to provide you with some examples on how to start applying a humane lens on technology.

Insight 1: AI is dominating all conversations.

The first learning from both events is that AI is currently dominating the conversations. The spotlight is specifically on generative AI, a fascinating field that sparks creativity and innovation. Moreover, the integration of AI with other cutting-edge technologies such as Blockchain or Quantum Computing is gaining increasing attention. It is crucial to seize the opportunity to educate yourself on these topics. AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to the development of intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. Generative AI focuses on AI systems that can generate original and creative outputs. In that sense, a computer is literally taking over the creative process of a human, based on prompts, or in other words, tips or advice you give the specific tool. A general point of view from a business is focused on how it can help resolve issues and make processes more efficient. It was even mentioned at TNW that it is the only tool that can help us solve very challenging and pressing issues in society.

Are you aware of the importance of why you need to know more on AI, before diving in into the technology itself?

Food for thought: whereas there is immense potential for businesses and society, don’t forget to consider the following. When you think about AI - what happens to you? What is your current thought about AI and how does it make you feel? Challenge yourself to think about what all those AI applications mean to yourself and your family. Dare to make it personal, experience how it makes you feel and bring that back to work. That is how you can use your humane values in driving more responsible decision making in business.?

Insight 2: Boundaries around responsible AI are being refined.

The second learning revolves around a shift in opinions regarding the proposed 6-month break advocated by visionaries like Elon Musk and Yuval Noah Harari (which I discussed more extensively in one of my previous articles). Technologists now assert that technology holds the key to addressing critical societal challenges such as hunger. They emphasize that generative AI plays a pivotal role in this pursuit. While this perspective focuses on the positive output, it also reminds us to reflect on the potential harm that the technology can inflict. As I am still forming my new opinion on these new insights, I recognize the importance of forming my own perspective on the matter, considering both the transformative possibilities and the need for cautious deliberation to ensure responsible and ethical implementation of the technology.?

So, what do you want to leave behind with your organization?

Food for thought: Rules and regulations are constantly evolving and depending on businesses to be formed. Zooming out, what do you think the responsibility of businesses is when new technological inventions are created?

Insight 3: The maturing Web3 & Blockchain space enables the departure from the power concentration from existing tech companies.

The third learning from these events, one close to my heart, highlights the remarkable evolution of the blockchain and Web3 space. Where blockchain used to be defenced, decentralized technology is considered as “logical” today. It is increasingly recognized as essential to facilitate widespread participation in the fifth industrial revolution. This shift shows a lot of development of the tech space, as it is a departure of the concentration of power within tech firms towards a more equitable and transparent society. Web3 refers to the third generation of internet technologies that emphasize user ownership, privacy and control over data. By enabling individuals to opt-in, Web3 brings positive changes to our existing society, which often experiences a concentration of power at the top. This transformative paradigm brings inclusivity, democratizes access and empowers individuals to participate actively in shaping our future. The increasing computational power that has become available with generative AI combined with the decentralized nature of blockchain and Web 3 will have a profound impact on businesses, making them more powerful, scalable and secure.?

How do you participate in creating a more equitable society?

Food for thought: Did you ever think about the fact that major tech companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft are bigger in revenue and people than multiple countries? The power they have is immense. To what extent is your organization dependent on Web2 companies? And, to what extent are there opportunities for you in the Web3 space?

Insight 4: Awareness is the first step towards reclaiming the future

Positive news! There is increased awareness among leaders about the need to lead responsibly in the realm of AI. Notably Lars Seier Christensen , the CEO of Concordium, Janet Adams the COO of Singularity.net and Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau , special envoy of TechLeap passionately addressed this issue. They emphasized that awareness is the first step towards reclaiming the future. Constantijn van Oranje-Nassau captured the essence of responsible leadership in one word: human-centered. This underscores the importance of placing human values, well-being and ethics at the forefront of AI development and implementation, ensuring that technology serves the greater good and aligns with our collective aspirations.?

How human-centered are your technical applications?

Food for thought: while you are probably aware of AI, to what extent are you aware of the AI act, or other frameworks that can support and guide you in what decisions your organization needs to make to ensure a humane future? Being aware of how these regulatory frameworks are build up can help you in guiding yourself and your organization through this innovation responsibly.?

Insight 5: There is a shift to personal responsibility, alongside corporate responsibility, enabling a more holistic and conscious approach to leadership in the tech industry.

I was amazed by the remarkable willingness of individuals, particularly leaders, to engage in open discussions about their emotions and feelings. During a workshop I held together with Rufaro Hoto at the Dutch Blockchain Days, leaders exhibited impressive vulnerability by sharing internal conflicts. It was shared by a CEO that he experienced an internal conflict as he noticed that how he, as a human thought about zero knowledge proofs, did not fit his organizational view. This is very valuable as it shows that we are taking decisions that arent based on our humane values. When this is the case, the chances are much higher that we create a future that is not humane. This level of candidness is crucial as we explore the implementation of AI and Web3. It enables us to reflect on the potential impact our technological inventions have on us, our teams and organizations. By reconnecting with our human perspective, we can develop informed opinions and make conscious decisions about how we want to apply these technologies. It is time for leaders to embrace their own humanity to be able to courageously lead with a sense of personal responsibility instead of a sole focus on corporate responsibility.?

Where do you stand on the spectrum between corporate and personal responsibility as a leader?

Food for thought: When you think about how technology innovation, like generative AI is impacting your organization, do you start by forming your personal opinion first? If so, how can you establish a safe environment for yourself and your colleagues to share how they feel about the impact of new technologies??

Insight 6: Numbers aren’t everything anymore in the context of generative AI (and other technologies that have such massive impact at scale)

Janet Adams (COO) in her insightful session with Jan Scheele imparted valuable wisdom on how to approach AI and its impact. Besides connecting with the audience in a very refreshing way, she shared an illustrative example that highlighted the potential pitfalls of relying solely on numbers. She asked the audience if they were using ChatGPT, after which the entire crowd raised their hand. With this engagement she emphasized that AI lacks the ability to think autonomously or possess our human consciousness. To drive her point further, she posed the following question: “How many of you consider a 93% accuracy score positive in the context of AI?” Again, many hands went up. However, she then firmly stated that a seemingly good score could be deceptive. Even with a 93% accuracy, the remaining 7% could contain a single fatal error, potentially leading to profound societal consequences. This example emphasizes the critical need for utmost awareness and caution when leading with AI.?

Data versus emotions – how do you lead?

Food for thought: Do you consider AI or technology in general as a solution to your problems? It might be, but it won’t always be. We need to be wary of the fact that it can do a lot right, but also a lot wrong - at a massive scale.?

So, to conclude, where it is becoming clear that visionary leaders are extremely aware of the need to think about the future responsibly, what I am bringing home is that we need to start experimenting with the how. How do we actually become responsible leaders in tech? The first step is awareness of course, the second is to reflect on how you actually think about technological innovation. Keep asking yourself critical questions. Allow yourself to feel uncomfortable when you think of where technology could lead us. Open up your mind to see how you consider technology. Is it scary? A solution to all?

By embracing vulnerability and an open dialogue about our feelings when considering where the future might lead, leaders can play a pivotal role in redesigning a future that we all want to live in. Let’s remember that the future is not yet written and that we should not rush things that we want to last forever.?

Thank you for reading! Any questions or remarks? Please leave them below or send me a DM.?