Kevin Benedict Ponders the Future

I am excited to share our latest FOBtv interview! We welcome back Mark Bramwell, CIO of the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford.  We recap our 2020 pandemic discussion and then complete our post-pandemic debrief.  We discuss the changes in the threat space around cybersecurity and the impact of generative AI.  This is a deep dive into what the world looks like from the CIO’s seat in an elite university. *I use generative AI in all my work. ************************************************************************ Kevin Benedict Futurist at TCS View my profile on LinkedIn Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict Join the Linkedin Group Digital Intelligence ***Full Disclosure: These are my personal opinions. No company is silly enough to claim them. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Remember a time in your life when you faced a challenge and had no idea how to solve it? A time when complexity seemed less like a captivating puzzle to solve and more like an impenetrable wall? We have all had such moments. I remember myself as a 12-year-old, hunched over an old Suzuki 90 motorcycle, its mechanical labyrinth a confusing pile of parts, an enigma I couldn't decipher. I also remember the frustration of troubleshooting a lineup of ancient lawnmowers, each one refusing to start, their non-compliance a mystery as intriguing as it was infuriating. I must admit, that again this week I am taking an old lawnmower to a repair shop to reveal its mysteries. But what if we reframe this narrative? What if, instead of seeing complexity as a hurdle, we choose to perceive it as an opportunity, a frontier ripe for exploration? Throughout history, humanity has done just that. Think back to our ancestors, the early sailors who dared to venture beyond sight of land, guided only by prim

Last week, while researching the history of innovation, I stumbled across a reference to the role the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 and 1890 played in elevating the standard of living in America.  I was not familiar with it.  Seems the act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, and it was a groundbreaking piece of legislation that permanently altered the American educational and economic landscape.  It was the vision of Vermont Congressman Justin Smith Morrill, and supported by a broad coalition of lawmakers.  The Act aimed to democratize access to higher education and promote practical scientific research. The Morrill Land-Grant Act significantly contributed to the improvement of the American standard of living, a testament to the foresight of its proponents. In the United States we have a long tradition of being very sceptical of government involvement in just about everything, but the Morrill Land-Grant Act stands as a powerful example of how we can use foresight

As we navigate the intricacies of the 21st century, we must recognize the influential role public sentiment plays in shaping society's progress. By “progress,” I mean the combination of economic, technological, scientific, cultural, and organizational advancement that has transformed our lives and raised standards of living over the past couple of centuries. We will explore the relationship between societal mood, trust in science, and innovation, highlighting historical case studies and data points that emphasize these relationships. By fostering trust in science and promoting a positive public sentiment today, leaders can create an environment conducive to sustainable innovation and societal growth. Science has always been a formidable catalyst for societal progress. The ancient Greeks, for instance, used rudimentary scientific principles to engineer astounding structures like the Parthenon and pioneered advancements in medicine, mathematics, and astronomy. During the Middle Ages,

Generative AI is one of the most important developments I have seen in my career in high tech.  I find it endlessly fascinating, powerful, astounding and terrifying all at the same time.  In this episode our guest is the brilliant Deepak Seth.  Deepak is an expert in financial services platforms, artificial intelligence and machine learning.  Join us for a deep dive into these subjects and more. *I use generative AI in all my work. ************************************************************************ Kevin Benedict Futurist at TCS View my profile on LinkedIn Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict Join the Linkedin Group Digital Intelligence ***Full Disclosure: These are my personal opinions. No company is silly enough to claim them. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Innovation and progress are not random phenomena; rather, they are the result of purposeful optimism and a forward-thinking mindset. Historically, a good example of a future-focused perspective is the Renaissance, a transitional period between the Middle Ages and our contemporary times. During this era, society collectively shifted its mindset, emphasizing the possibilities of human potential and reason over entrenched traditional belief systems. This forward-thinking and hopeful transformation paved the way for an explosion of creativity and intellectualism in the arts, literature, philosophy, and science, underscoring the significant influence of mindset on societal evolution. The Enlightenment Era further demonstrated the transformative capacity of a future-facing perspective. Anchored by intellectual stalwarts like Locke, Kant, and Voltaire, the Enlightenment was characterized by a steadfast conviction in human rationality and its potential to advance society through knowledge acqu

The "Special Century" is a name given by historians to the period of time starting in 1870 and ending in 1970.  This century launched an astounding variety of innovations and inventions, plus supported a historic rise in the standard of living for much of the world.  Never before in history had so many far reaching history-shaping developments happened in such a relatively short period of time.   Why 1870?  What about the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, the Age of Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution and the Information Age?  Why was 1870 the date when innovations and inventions came together to dramatically raise the "standard of living" for many? I propose the telegraph is a key part of that answer.  It was a keystone invention that not only enabled economic growth in ways never before possible, but it also played an important role in making all of our lives better.  The most direct impact of the telegraph was the revolution in time and communication.

In this deep dive with Munich Re (Groups) cybersecurity expert Bob Parisi, we learn how the insurance and reinsurance industry develops policies to cover different cyber security threats.  We ask questions like: How have you seen the risk for cyber attacks change over the past 5-10 years? What are the risks around generative AI, and other forms of AI that insurance companies are thinking about? How do you calculate or quantify the level of exposure or risks a particular company might face? What standards do you use to judge how secure a company is against cyber threats? How do you anticipate the threat surface for cyberattacks evolving over the next 5-years? Much more... ************************************************************************ Kevin Benedict Futurist at TCS View my profile on LinkedIn Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict Join the Linkedin Group Digital Intelligence ***Full Disclosure: These are my personal opinions. No company is silly enough to claim the

I had a great time participating in the filming and development of a 10 minute film on digital twins recently.  Last week was its premier at the TCS Innovation Forum.  Many thanks to the brilliant production via the communications and storyboard teams at Tata Consultancy Services - Ian Vollmer, Andrew Corcione, John O'Leary Emily Jane Lewis, George Faulkner, Katie Hemcher, and great contributions from Alexandra Whittington and Frank Diana. Here is the film!  We hope you find it insightful and interesting! ************************************************************************ Kevin Benedict Futurist at TCS View my profile on LinkedIn Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict Join the Linkedin Group Digital Intelligence ***Full Disclosure: These are my personal opinions. No company is silly enough to claim them. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Futurist David Espindola’s new book has just been released, "Soulful: You in the Future of Artificial Intelligence."  Alex Whittington and myself were fortunate to be able to interview him a couple of weeks back so we could share it with you today.  David doesn't shy away from the challenging topics of God, soul, purpose, Christianity, religions, and AI.  I applaud him for sharing his perspectives and giving us much to contemplate.  ************************************************************************ Kevin Benedict Futurist at TCS View my profile on LinkedIn Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict Join the Linkedin Group Digital Intelligence ***Full Disclosure: These are my personal opinions. No company is silly enough to claim them. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.