‘Technology’ failed - now let’s get to work to make it work
Digital transformations are failing everywhere (1) and AI is assumed to hit peak hype (2). As with every other previous technology installation (3) it's time to take of the technology sunglasses and get to work solving real issues that matter. Which means applying a human and organizational understanding and lens.
“primary technologies—like LLMs—always require a second wave of technology innovation that involves the development of applications and adjustments of organizational structures.” - Carlotta Perez (2)
Technology doesn’t know what it wants (4). In fact if you let technology lead the way then “more is better” which is seldom the case. Several companies are led by a strategic purpose similar to “drive innovation through technology” .. again, a meaningless statement that doesn’t give any direction apart from building as many technology silos as possible solving any invented problem.
Nobody needs technology. We use technology to achieve progress as humans either individually (needs) or collectively (organization).
Any technology development needs to have direction (if not we will only get to: ‘more is better’) and if we are able to give that direction through the lens of how it will make our lives better or our organizations better (through how we work together or the outcomes we produce) technology will start to make sense and produce value from our investments.
We already have the means and the methods to do this (this is not our first technology transformation). The humans in the room have been waiting patiently as technology wades around like a drunken robot for it to fall over and sober up. I hope now is the time, we are ready to clean up the mess and start getting to the value.
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Sources:
(1). Michael Mankins and Patrick Litre, Transformations That Work, https://hbr.org/2024/05/transformations-that-work
(2). Christian Stadler, The Generative AI Hype Is Almost Over. What’s Next?, https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianstadler/2024/09/06/the-generative-ai-hype-is-almost-over-whats-next/
(3). Jeremie Averous, How the Carlota Perez Framework Explains Major Technological Disruptions and Related Financial Crashes, https://thefourthrevolution.org/wordpress/archives/7050?doing_wp_cron=1725689723.7355151176452636718750
(4). Kevin Kelly, What technology wants, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Technology_Wants
Ich unterstütze Kundenzentrierung ?? von der Zielkundendefinition bis zur Kundenbindung.
2 个月Very true, Helge Tenn?! We get quickly carried away by the possibilities technological advancement offers, but lack thinking about the why and how before implementing the “latest sh…” ??
Digital Transformation & Mkt Assoc. Director @ MSD México
2 个月Technology is an enabler not a goal!
Turning your ideas into action. Helping you revive & refocus in challenging times. | Design Thinking | Collective Imagination | Coaching | Workshops | Training | Podcast of the Year - A Beginners Guide to Design Thinking
2 个月Without empathy and human connection, technology remains that drunken, flailing robot! (Great analogy.)
Omnichannel Strategy and Digital Marketing | Pharma | Healthcare | at Chiesi
2 个月Thank you for this reflection. I think that in a very elegant manner, you have touched on some very relevant themes. On one side, from a concrete perspective, when it comes to AI hype, I think everybody agrees we're far from technology truly helping us. I recently listened to a technology podcast (Hard Fork, from the NYT, suggested) where they attempted to discuss and assess the overhype surrounding AI. They cited a series of interviews conducted with professionals across various industries in the U.S. These professionals generally mentioned that the main utility they currently see in AI is for summarizing work meetings, taking notes, and correcting emails and drafts. Is this truly worth the hype? This reminds me of the famous Italian philosopher and writer Umberto Galimberti, who has been writing for some time about how technology has surpassed the concept of utility. It's no longer just a means to achieve human ends but has become an end in itself. One of the most powerful points he makes is that technology develops and expands not because it is useful, but simply because it can. As professionals working in Digital Transformation and Innovation, I believe we need to keep this in mind—or at least I try to remind myself of it.