Rethinking the future...

I spend a lot of time thinking about the future. But it’s difficult to think about the next decade when we've been so focused on keeping our families safe and our finances secure. But it’s more important than ever to look ahead and envision the world after the pandemic. And that world - if we build it properly - will allow all of us to benefit from dramatic technological advancement, without having to give up our privacy. 

Imagine owning a Ferrari that can go 300 kilometres per hour, using just ? of that potential. Why would you do this? You (mostly) respect the speed limit to avoid the consequences, ranging from a hefty fine to something much worse. But when the school calls to tell you that your child has been injured, it’s suddenly tempting to disregard the speed limit altogether. The COVID-19 pandemic is such an emergency. Lives have been lost, more are on the line, and yet our desire for privacy is (rightfully) limiting how we use data and technology. Contact tracing is just one example where life-saving technology has been delayed. When forced to choose between speed and control, we mostly choose control.

It’s hard to be an optimist in the middle of a global tragedy, but the way I see it is we’re at the beginning of a once-in-a-century opportunity to rethink everything. Effective immediately, every service is digital, everyone is remote, and everything will come to you. The “touchless economy” won’t last, but the acceleration and transformation required to survive the next 18 months will outlast us all. Think everyone will go back to the long commute, back to the malls, and revolt against online shopping, home delivery,  and curbside pickup? Think again.  

While major change is already happening and unavoidable, the fate of individual businesses, big and small, is unknown. Some will adapt and thrive, and some won’t. Take tech for example; remember when it seemed every business on the planet was quietly collecting and using your data to profit and manipulate? That was so 2019...

Like fake news, destructive data practices are on their way out. The crisis has accelerated the shift toward data autonomy, and Canadian tech is uniquely positioned to lead the coming revolution. 

Imagine a future where you control your data, where data is treated with the same respect as money. There's a good reason why copying money is illegal (counterfeiting), and the same reason applies to data. “Access, not copies” is the future of data, and anything less would be like fighting climate change by pretending science doesn’t exist.

Personally, I look forward to driving 300 KpH without risk of consequence :)