Mind + Machine: Unlocking the power of together
Tom Popomaronis
Innovation Leader | GenAI Expert | HBR Contributor | 40 Under 40 | Host of TomTalks??
Hey there,
I'm super excited to bring you another TomTalks?? that features a video podcast! A huge thanks to Tobias Porserud , General Manager at Mentimeter North America, for being my guest, walking me through Mentimeter's value proposition, and sharing some of his wisdom and predictions around artificial intelligence.
Before I dive into all of that, here are a few of the biggest AI soundbites from this week, each one exemplifying a different aspect of the current challenge-opportunity landscape
The bad
Back to Tobias Porserud, a former biotech engineer turned business innovator, who talked to me about what AI is good for and how we can use it to reach our full potential.
I'm working on being a better podcast host, by the way.
But this was another instance where I was more than happy to just listen and nod along.
Here are some of the things Tobias said that I couldn't have agreed more with.
Obviously, there's some room to disagree with this statement. Generative AI can make things like pictures and videos. It can churn out the code to build apps and websites. Do those things constitute reality? Parts of reality?
I know what Tobias means. I think.
AI can't build. It can ideate based on human input, but it can't comprehensively implement its own ideas. It can generate business plans, but can't create a business. It can generate data and simulations, but it can't strategically execute. It can generate a Code of Conduct, but it can't monitor and mitigate compliance in anything resembling a holistic way.
Don't get me wrong. That's coming. All of it, and much more. We don't even need AI to be that much better for it to happen, either -- just integration of many existing systems, at scale. But better AI will help, and that's coming, too.
I digress.
The good
In the meantime, what businesses need is ...
Hmm. That's unnecessarily broad. Let me start over.
In the meantime, it would be beneficial for businesses to cultivate a clearer understanding of where the key leverage points for AI exist -- or maybe more importantly, where they don't.
领英推荐
What is something that all the things above have in common -- creating a business, doing due diligence, executing a strategy?
They require collective intelligence.
AKA, collaboration.
Built on empathy and human understanding.
According to Tobias, that's the differentiator between human and machine --for now. And the opportunity we have with AI is to amplify the capabilities that arise from that difference; to harness our collective intelligence more efficiently, and in more effective ways.
Instead of trying to avoid AI disrupting the workforce or changing our roles, we should be leaning into these things. The fewer traditional tasks we have to do -- or the faster and better we can do them -- the more space we have to work on what we alone are good at. Sharing, connecting, building up our collective intelligence and implementing it to address deeply complex problems like climate change and global health.
The together
I try not to engage in any kind of marketing related to guests of the podcast, but (and to be fair, this isn't really marketing) I just want to share this bit of copy from Mentimeter's website, as it feels extremely appropriate to the topic.
"The power of together. It is the conviction we build our culture on. It is the purpose of our product and it is woven into the fabric of everything we do."
Tobias says his background in biotech engineering was founded on an interest in how humanity uses technology to elevate itself. It certainly looks like AI will help us reach new heights.
But will we allow it to give us the "power of together?" Is it something we're prepared, or even willing, to use?
The comments await your thoughts, opinions, fears, strategies... I'm very keen to learn how people in different roles and industries are adopting AI and how it affects culture and outlook.
???????????? Also – watch the full podcast here: ????????????
???????????? scrolled too far! up here! ????????????
Bonus content: Unhinged, or just Elon?
If you haven't seen this , I'm very happy to be the messenger. It's ... wild.
AI and its influence are growing exponentially, creating a world filled with deep opportunities and even deeper unknowns. TomTalks ?? is a weekly exploration of the benefits, risks, and costs of AI adoption, featuring brief but crucial conversations with AI experts and global business leaders.
Want to be a guest on a video podcast for TomTalks? Please DM!