How Beliefs Influence the Future

As a futurist, I spend a lot of time studying history.  Why?  As Aerosmith frontman, Steven Tyler sings, "We are all somebody from somewhere."  And that somewhere is often revealing.  We can see patterns in history.  Patterns that just might extend from the past to the future.  

One of the surprises of history is what historians refer to as the, "Special Century."  From 1870-1970 massive improvements in the standard of living were achieved across many regions of the world all at the same time.  These levels of improvements had never been seen before. During this period, we went from riding horses to landing on the moon!

A look at the history of technology and we see that during one 5 year period during the Special Century, 1875-1880, telephones, internal combustion engines, electric light bulbs and phonographs were all created.  During another 5 year span, 1900-1905, we invented the radio, air conditioning, vacuums and airplane flight!  Huge inventions that are still in our lives today.

When the World Changed - Art and AI

In this episode, artist and podcaster, April Harris, shares her thoughts and feelings as generative AI changes the world around her.  Join us as we dig deep into the impact AI will have on the world of art.

*I use generative AI to assist in all my work.

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Kevin Benedict

Futurist at TCS

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Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict

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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.

Reading the News Like a Futurist with Alex Whittington

In this episode, my guest is futurist Alex Whittington!  She shares her behind the scenes life as a futurist, and it's impact and influence on how she reads the news, thinks about the world and contemplates the future.   We discuss utopian smart cities, Cobots, podcast recommendations and much more!

*I use generative AI to assist in all my work.

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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.

AI, Eldercare and Innovation with TCS Expert Ved Sen

In this episode, my long time friend Ved Sen joins to talk about AI, the future of jobs, robots and Eldercare, building organizational innovation, AI’s impact on software development lifecycles, and much more.   Ved is the Head of Innovation, TCS UK & Ireland, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the show today!  Enjoy!

*I use generative AI to assist in all my work.

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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.

Healthcare AI with Oracle Expert Suhas Uliyar

In this deep dive, we take a fascinating look at how the artificial intelligence revolution is impacting patient care and medical professionals with Oracle AI expert Suhas Uliyar.  We explore how AI can help in many areas including the roles of: administration, scribes, insurance experts, and even as a digital doctor potentially providing a second pair of eyes on patient accounts.  Join us as we pull back the curtains on a fast-evolving revolution in healthcare AI.

*I use generative AI to assist 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.

The Evolution of IoT, Digital Twins and AI with Rob Tiffany

Dive into the future of IoT, AI, and Digital Twins with Rob Tiffany, an expert in digital innovation. As VP and Chief Product Officer at Red Bison, former US Navy submariner, and a seasoned keynote speaker, author, and podcast host, Rob offers unparalleled insights drawn from his rich background in technology and services.

In this episode, Rob doesn't just forecast technology trends; he shares his Super Bowl predictions and favorite snacks for the big game. It's a unique blend of expertise and entertainment you won't want to miss. 

Join us for a session where cutting-edge technology meets everyday excitement with Rob Tiffany.

*I use generative AI to assist 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.

The Evolution and Future of Information Dissemination

The history of human communication is marked by groundbreaking technological innovations that have reshaped societies. Among these, there are two in particular that stand out, the invention of the printing press in the 15th century and the rise of the digital age in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. These eras, while centuries apart, share a common thread in their transformative impact on the dissemination of information and the societal implications that followed.

The advent of Johannes Gutenberg's printing press in the mid-1400s revolutionized the spread of knowledge. It broke the stranglehold of the elite on information dissemination, democratizing knowledge in a way that was previously unimaginable. This democratization played a crucial role in significant historical movements, most notably the Reformation, which saw a profound shift in religious and political power dynamics and the scientific revolution. The printing press not only facilitated the widespread challenge to the Catholic Church's authority but also heralded an era of increased literacy and intellectual exchange across Europe.

Ideation Equals Progress: Navigating the Future through Collective Ingenuity

The label of an 'idea factory' bestowed upon our TCS Future of Business team is not just a compliment; it's a testament to the power of innovative thinking that has historically shaped civilizations and will continue to mold our future. Every monumental leap, from the pyramids of Egypt to the digital revolution, began as a mere idea. Ideas are the seeds of progress, be it sending astronauts to the Moon or deploying AI to solve climate change.

During a recent interaction with executives, one asked, "What new ideas are you bringing to the table?" This is the modern Socratic question. It echoes the inquiries that led to great historical discoveries, whether in the ancient Agora or the Renaissance courts. 

Futurist Gerd Leonhard's words resonate profoundly: "Idea evolution is like biological evolution on steroids." In our digital era, ideas metamorphose at a dizzying pace, propelled by the collective intelligence accessible through the internet. As Frank Diana eloquently puts it, we are not just consumers of ideas; we are participants in the 'combinatorial' dance of innovation, where the melding of existing concepts often yields groundbreaking results.

Using Physics to Understand the Future

"While there can be surprise technological and market disruptions, classical Newtonian mechanical physics’ suggestions that trajectories are the flight paths determined by mass positioning, direction, and momentum as a function of time can help us make accurate predictions." ~ Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld & Steven Tian

As a writer, I appreciate gifts of inspiration.  Reading the above quote set my mind off this morning.  It is so true! As a futurist we are always studying trends, innovations and developments, and then searching for signals that will inform us about the "trajectories," each of them will follow.  Using Newtonian mechanical physics as helpful metaphors to understand directions and how much inertia a trend has, how fast it is changing, and how much resistance it might face are all useful considerations.

I have had the pleasure over the last year to meet with the leadership teams of many large companies around the world to talk about the future.  Bringing a list of over 350 fast evolving trends across the domains of science, technology, societal, geopolitical and economic is a good place to start, but these discussions almost always turn quickly toward Newtonian mechanical physics.  How much?  How fast?  When? What direction?  How much inertia?  What kind of resistance?  These are the right questions!

As I covered in an article earlier this week, we can create different buckets of trends, innovations and developments.  Some, are incremental innovations, while others are "launchpad" developments that will support entire new ways of thinking and will change the direction of our future.

It's not enough to pocket a list of quickly evolving trends, developments and technologies.  One must understand the physics involved, the dependencies for a development to move forward, understand which rung on the historic ladder of progress a development is sitting, and also understand it's potential for scaling.  These, of course, are just the beginning, but they are a good place to start. 

*I use generative AI to assist in all my work.

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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.

Mastering the Art of Decision-Making:Navigating Complexity and Speed in Modern Leadership

In today's rapidly changing leadership landscape, the ability to understand and execute good decisions quickly has evolved from a skill to a critical necessity. Leaders are now compelled to adopt a formalized approach to decision-making, anchored in an efficiently optimized information logistics system. This system is essential for the swift flow of vital information - encompassing its capture, transmission, analysis, and reporting. Any hindrance in this flow can significantly impede a leader's ability to make timely decisions and act effectively, crucial components of the decision-action loop.

The core of decision-making is a three-step process: comprehending the situation, making an informed decision, and executing an action that leads to the desired outcome. The emphasis on "effect" here is crucial. It signifies the variety of tactics that can achieve the same goal. For example, in home security, a dog's bark might be as effective as its bite in warding off intruders - both strategies aiming to secure the home.

John Boyd, a renowned military strategist, introduced an expansion to this process with the OODA loop - Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Boyd's inclusion of "observe" highlights the importance of monitoring the outcomes of one's actions and quickly adapting to meet objectives. This becomes especially significant in situations where decisions are not clear-cut but surrounded by ambiguity and complexity. In such environments, initial insights, decisions, or actions are seldom perfect; instead, the focus is on the speed of iterating through these loops, outpacing the competition.

This principle of rapid adaptation is not confined to military strategy but is equally applicable in business, sports, and other domains. Despite thorough planning, the ability to swiftly adjust to changing realities is key. In today's competitive landscape, the ability to make quick decisions and actions is increasingly crucial, a concept that has permeated various sectors including marketing, manufacturing, logistics, and supply chains.

In his book "The Kill Chain," Christian Brose explores decision-making in combat - a high-stress, emotionally intense environment. He argues that decision-making is inherently sequential and must follow a correct order to be effective. Acting out of sequence, such as taking action before fully understanding or deciding, leads to inefficiency. Successfully completing this sequence is termed "closing the kill chain."

On the flip side, "breaking the kill chain" refers to the tactics used by adversaries to disrupt their opponents' decision-action loops. These include disinformation, attacks on communication systems, and psychological operations, all aimed at confusing the opponent and impairing their decision-making and action capabilities.

The strategic efforts in military contexts to disrupt decision-making processes highlight their vital importance in achieving objectives. However, the growing complexity and pace of decision-making are pushing the boundaries of human capabilities, suggesting a near future where machines might play a larger role in these processes. This anticipated shift, surpassing human limitations, promises to redefine the nature of competition and decision-making.

As a futurist who values historical insights, observing how strategies and decision-making paradigms have transformed in the age of technological progress is intriguing. These developments provide valuable perspectives on how leaders can adapt and excel in an increasingly intricate and fast-paced world.

*I use generative AI to assist in all my work.

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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.