From Cave Walls to Artificial Intelligence: The Evolution of Information

Our pursuit of knowledge has driven an extraordinary evolution in how we capture, distribute, and utilize information. From the dawn of humanity to our modern digital age, the evolution of information technologies has been a driving force behind progress, innovation, and societal transformation.

Our ancestors etched stories onto cave walls and shared knowledge through oral traditions, their brains serving as the primary repositories of information. As we developed written language and printing, information became more accessible, democratizing knowledge and empowering individuals to challenge established norms. The printing press, a revolutionary invention of the 15th century, fueled the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, facilitating the widespread dissemination of ideas and accelerating scientific discovery.

In the 20th century, the advent of digital media marked a paradigm shift in information capture and distribution. Computers, local networks, and ultimately the internet transformed the way we interact with information, making it instantaneous, global, and participatory. Today, cloud computing and artificial intelligence are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, with large language models and sophisticated algorithms capable of generating insights and understanding from vast datasets.

The Battle for the Future of Information Logistics

It is well known today that psychographic profiling of us humans, combined with social engineering strategies are effective at influencing our thinking.  Our brains are vulnerable to all kinds of external and internal influences.  Given this knowledge today, there is a keen sense of urgency to monitor and control information logistics, the movement of information around the world, and the massive quantity of influential information that can be targeted at each one of us.  

Let's quickly review the history of psychographic profiling and its partnering with social engineering strategies before continuing our discussion of information logistics.  In the 1960s psychographic researchers began studying how to understand consumers and their behaviors at a deeper level based on personality traits, emotional triggers, interests, needs, values and attitudes, etc.  A few decades later these findings were dusted off and combined with neuromarketing (the measurement of physiological and neural signals to gain insight into customers' motivations, preferences, and decision) to study how various advertisements and political messages impacted people with different psychological or psychographic profiles.  

The Role and Future of Information with Futurist Alex Whittington

In this deep dive discussion with the brilliant thinker and futurist Alex Whittington, we explore the topics of data monetization, social media, facts, information/disinformation and the future of data driven economic models.  I hope you enjoy!  

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Kevin Benedict

Partner | Futurist | Leadership Strategies at TCS

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***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.